Question:
What is a sleep study?

I want to know what kind of sleep study Dr. Patterson requires. Is this something I can have done myself before my initial consult with her--I don't want to wait 6 more months for a surgery date! HELP!    — jenn2002 (posted on September 23, 2001)

September 23, 2001
A sleep study is to see if you have sleep apnea. I went into the hospital for one nite from 8 p.m. to 5 or 6 a.m. You're hooked up to a lot of wires (head, finger, chest, legs)and you sleep. The wires you're hooked up to will tell them all kinds of stuff: if you have sleep apnea; if you have muscle cramps in your legs, all kinds of other stuff. The room is like a hotel room. When I got there I was hooked up and then I had to go to sleep. Geez, I couldn't sleep at 9:30 p.m. and it's kind of hard to sleep when you're all wired up. Plus, I kept trying to pull the thing that was hooked to my nose out when I was dozing off. I did have a mild case of sleep apena. I don't think you can do this on your own, you must do it by someone they recommend. I had it done in November and my surgery was in early January. Good luck!
   — Betty Todd

September 23, 2001
Why would this put you back another 6 months. I had a sleep study done. My Dr prescribed it on a Tuesday and my sleep study was done by the following week. They hook you up to many wires to check for sleep apnea. I have a severe case of sleep apnea which is the key to getting my approval. If the clinic you are going to is booked 6 months out, check with your PCP for another. Good Luck
   — skymaxjr

September 23, 2001
A sleep study is for sleep apnea. Since this can be a serious condition, it's not something you want to wait 6 months for..although sometimes if there's only one clinic they refer you to, it can get backed up. What I would do if you have symptoms of sleep apnea (excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, waking up gasping for air sometimes, etc)..then you should ask your PCP to request a sleep study for you. My consult with Dr Keshishian is in October, but I already got my sleep apnea confirmed after my PCP referred me.
   — Anita N.

September 23, 2001
When I was told I was supposed to have a sleep study, I was given an appointment 8 weeks later! I told the lab that I was scheduled for surgery in 4 weeks (okay, a fib!) and they put me on a cancellation list. I was in one week later. It is really hard to sleep in the lab. I had read that someone on this site was not able to sleep and they had to go back to do the test. So, I stayed up most of the night before (I slept about 3 hours. I was able to sleep fine in the lab.
   — Julie S.

September 24, 2001
Here is how it goes, I have had three. You go to the lab about 8pm they ask you some questions about your sleepiness during the day. Then they let you put your pj's on. Then they hook you up to EEG, muscle monitors (to measure leg jerks, grinding teeth etc. ) there are alot of wires connected to yor heaD. there will also be a video camera to watch you sleep. They erase it after they review it. Oh i forgot you get to watch a video on sleep apnea. Ten after your hooked up they tell you to go to sleep. I went to sleep in 6 minutes the first two times, couldn't sleep the thrid, they had to give me a mild setative. After that they get you up about 6-7 unhook every thing, give you an opportunity to bathe, and send you on your way. No big deal. Some places will let someone stay with you.
   — sherri W.

September 24, 2001
I have to add something about the sleep study. They attach the electrodes to your scalp with a glue that ends up stuck on your head and hair like big plastic knobs! Make sure you bring shampoo and conditioner to work them out of your hair (especially if you are going straight to work after the test like I did).
   — Julie S.