Question:
I am going in for a sleep study on Saturday....
Can anyone tell me what I will need besides pajamas? I heard they put all this goop in your hair and wake you up if you turn onto your side. I don't want to be up half the night. Is it easy to fall asleep? Is there someone in the room all night watching me sleep? When will I find out if I have sleep apnea? I have ablsotlutely no idea what to expect. Please help! — Carol E. (posted on March 14, 2002)
March 14, 2002
I had a sleep study about a year ago. I did not have anyone in the room.
But there was a infered camera so they can watch you. Nothing went in my
hair. I did have a lot of wires all over me. My room was very nice. It look
like a normal bedroom. There was even a TV in there. Good luck
— sarah C.
March 14, 2002
They do put goop on the contacts they put on your head. Otherwise, they
wouldn't stay put. They should have told you what to wear and to come in
with your hair clean, no conditioner or spray, etc. I was never waked up
because I changed position. The only time they woke me up was to put the
CPAP mask on me. There won't be anyone in the room with you. There will
be a camera in the room and they will watch that. They will mostly be
watching the monitors that are used to measure REM sleep, oxygen
saturation, heart activity, leg movement and so on. I fell asleep really
easily when I had the first one because I was so sleep deprived I could
have fallen asleep almost anywhere. If they come in during the night and
put a mask on you, then you probably have sleep apnea. They put the mask
on you so they can monitor you with it on and get it calibrated so that you
are getting the best sleep possible. It's really not all that horrible.
I've actually had 3 of them. The first one was over 7 years ago, the
second about 4 years ago and then one more last September.
— garw
March 14, 2002
You're not allowed to sleep on your side during a sleep study?? I'm going
in for one soon, and I already know that I can't breathe at all if I lie on
my back -- my throat closes up completely. Does that pretty much confirm
that I have sleep apnea?
— Tally
March 14, 2002
I had a sleep study a few months ago. They attach electrodes to your scalp
and I did end up with some goo in my hair. The camera "watches"
you all night. My experience was that they wake you up after 2 hours if
you have sleep apnea. This gives them the opportunity to put the
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine on you. They can adjust
it to your proper pressure. I resisted this because I have clausterphobia.
However, the tech talked me into it by saying that I might have to come
back another night. Basically, you don't get much sleep because you have
to keep on your back. Be assured that it is worth the trouble, however.
Now that I have a CPAP machine, I feel more rested.
— jm3218
March 14, 2002
Carol, You might want to take your own pillows since they never really
tell you what you should bring. I had my sleep study almost 3 years ago
and had no goo in my hair, although both my sister and brother got gooed.
— Pamela B.
March 14, 2002
I had a sleep study done last April and I have been on CPAP and Oxygen
since July. They told me I could sleep in whatever position I wanted to and
to bring my own pillow if I wanted to. The glue holds the electrodes on
pretty good, but it stinks. I too was worried I wouldn't get enough sleep
in for it to "count", but I did. My insurance company made me
have the test on one "sleep over" and I had a second "sleep
over" to fit for the CPAP. If your doctor prescibes CPAP also ask him
for a heated humidifer to go with it. I couldn't stand my CPAP without the
heated humidifer. I never try to sleep (even naps) without my CPAP. Here is
a great site for sleep apnea:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=alt.support.sleep-disorder&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search.
Good luck.
— Loretta D.
March 15, 2002
I am dreading this sleep study ~ I have been told that the opening from in
my mouth never developed past the age of 9 or 10 and I've snored like crazy
since my skinniest weight and now, even worse, at a high weight. I am
creeped out about some guy watching me sleep and even more wigged out about
them taping it. I swear, I can almost envision them sending off my tape to
every world record documentor in the nation - listen to this big woman
snore !! It's amazing !! :) I'm NOT looking forward to this...I've been
recorded by my daughter and it sounds H O R R I B L E !! I'm anxious to
see the answers to your question - see what else I can "look
forward" to. :)
— Lisa J.
March 15, 2002
I got gooed I also got a bandage around my head and beard. I got a CpAP
machine and have never gotten such a restful nights sleep. So the price of
one nights discomfort is well worth the outcome. By the way L.R.(previous
poster)the guy who is watching you may be a gal. Please don't be
predejuiced against men.
— Robert L.
March 15, 2002
To LJ, really. We don't snore because we are pigs, regardless of what TV
says. When you think of it in a more medical way, and realize that sleep
techs MIGHT actually have compassion for those with breathing disorders, it
might be easier to be watched. It's no more disgusting to them than an
xray is to a good tech. The team I had were fun, made me laugh while I was
awake & were very kind in my middle of the night encounters & in
the morning. The sound of snoring is the sound of the VICTIM trying to
draw air through a CLOSED passageway. When you realize it is a medical
condition, and not part of that PERCEIVED "universal character
flaw", it might be easier to let go of your fears of humilation. Like
the other one, my CPAP became my very best friend in 4 hours flat, and I
did NOT want to go home OR give it back. That's where they were very
tactful in keeping their machine & getting me to go home! AND, BTW, we
have our "his 'n hers" CPAPS still stored in the garage for many
years now, since the condition vanished with the weight.
— vitalady
July 7, 2005
I am late to this discussion but wanted to add my 2 cents worth... I am
presurgical & have had diagnosed Sleep apnea for 2 1/2 years. I don't
have any Idea if it will get better post surgery, however I love my Cpap
the best sleep i have ever had was the second phase of my sleep study. The
compassion I was privy to from the sleep center techs & my
pulomonologists office were legendary. They helped me understand that it
wasn't a character flaw to have apnea just something that happens to some
of us. My pulmo doc was the first doc who told me that I needed to have
WLS for ME because at my BMI which was 51 then & is 54.3 now that my
apnea would just get worse & I was way to young to let my self go down
that path. I am very thankful to Dr cohen he is a great man!
— steeltoedwmn
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