Is your first sleep test always at home?

After you go into the neurologists and have your consultation, do you get to take your first test at home or do you have to plan to stay overnight? I was wondering because I am a fulltime college student and I dont have the time to drive three hours each time that they would like me too

I didn't have to do any tests at home, they were all done during my sleep study. I did have a million wires and electrodes connected to me, but I slept for the first half without the cpap and the other half with it. I didn't even have a consultation with the neurologist, my PCP took care of that and getting the appt set up. Don't be nervous about your sleep study, it doesn't hurt. You will definitly sleep better with the cpap if you have sleep apnea. Good Luck! Courtney

I had to go and sleep there for 3 nights all together! It was awful. I couldn't sleep for the first two nights. Luckily, I was able to sleep on the third night and will be getting my CPAP tomorrow. It seemed to help a lot. I was able to sleep for 4 hours, something I have not been able to do for years. I normally sleep 1-2 hours tops. So 4 hours was phenomenal. I should have had this done years ago, but I, like you, had other commitments and put my health on the back burner. As a result, my health has deteriorated horribly in the past few years. If I had known then what I know now, I would have done ANYTHING to take care of myself. I am now on disability because I pushed myself for years and put myself last. I thought college and work were the most important things in my life. But without your health, you have nothing and cannot go to college OR work. I was always healthy and never missed work, always working lots of overtime, usually two jobs while going to school full time. Then when I got to be 40, I fell apart...all at once, without warning. So now I'm trying to repair what I should have taken care of to begin with. Anyway, don't mean to sound negative, but from my own personal experience, this is WAY more important than school or anything else. I know you probably won't think so, because I wouldn't have. People used to warn me that I would pay for the way I was pushing myself all the time, but I didn't listen to them because I was always healthy. But it will hit you all of the sudden and then it's too late. So please, at least think about putting yourself and your health first? Hugs, Joni

That is horrible that you had to put your life on hold all this time....the only reason that I was asking is because I originally went to my PCP and told him about my difficulty with sleeping and gasping for air at certain times in the night, and once again, just like how he has always done my whole life, he handed me a specialists card and told me to call them and schedule an appointment. When I did call, I was told by the neurologist secretary that since I was calling myself, it would be a longer wait before I could be seen, and even on that day, I would have to have a consultation with the neurologists first to determine if any testing was neccessary because my PCP APPARENTLY didnt feel that I was at risks for sleep apnea.....so I wanted to know the procedure because I am a fulltime student and I dont have the time or money to constantly travel 3 hours for one consultation and then come back for a follow up...I would just like to get it all done in one or two days...you know? I am sorry that you didnt take care of your health problems earlier in life. Sometimes as humans, we put everyone and everything else befroe ourselves and then we always pay for this unselfish act later in our lives. I am happy that you have started to take the time and care for your help....I will pray that your health will improve. Thank you soo much for the useful information and your concerns........hugsss! Finda

I didn't have to go through my PCP for the sleep study. I had an appt. with a bariatric surgeon to discuss the surgery. Since a sleep study is a prerequisite for the surgery, I just called the sleep clinic at the local hospital and they recommended a couple of doctors. The doctor I went to is a pulmonologist, not a neurologist. Wonder why they sent you to a neurologist instead of a pulmonologist? Anyway, if I were you, I would go talk to the bariatric surgeon first and he/she can tell you everything you need to have done and recommend doctors who are more conscientious than your PCP. My PCP doesn't even know about my sleep study. I'm going to tell him so it will be in my file, but I didn't even ask him about it. Sometimes PCPs have no clue. I used my CPAP for the first time last night. I woke up with the mask in the floor, so don't know how that happened. I guess I was just subconsciously not used to wearing it and took it off. I turned the machine off though, so must've been somewhat conscious. I did seem to sleep longer, but don't know how much longer because I didn't check the clock when I went to sleep. It supposedly takes a while to get used to, so maybe I will wake up with it on tomorrow morning. Again, the best of luck to you! Joni

I dont know what my PCP is doing!!!! He thinks that he knows everything and that he has to refer me. The common problem that I have is that the only way insurance will pay for the visits to the sleep lab is if I am referrred by my PCP because M-Plan thinks that it isn't neccessary UNLESS your PCP thinks it is....so I have to commonly walk into my PCP's office and ask if I can be referred for different tests......its so stupid! But anyways, thanks for all the information....it really helps and you hae made me understand alot!