Question:
I am going for the sleep study and need some advice please!

You guys and gals have been great at helping me get through my scary, nervous moments and here is my latest one. Saturday I go for my sleep study. I am really nervous because I am the kind of person that can't sleep anywhere other than my own bed. I know the wires and stuff they hook up will only make it worse. Should I stay up the night before to make sure I sleep? Should I take something??? Any advice will help. What if I don't sleep enough, do I have to do it over? I am really nervous. Thanks again!    — Female C. (posted on August 15, 2002)

August 15, 2002
NO DRUGS! Or even OTC, as that sorta invalidates the test. I felt exactly as you did, so I took letters to write, stuff I'd been meaning to read, thought it'd be 4am before I slept. 100 wired, straps (not uncomfy though), but at least they tried to make it homey with a real bed, pretty linens, and a great staff... My sleep apnea was so severe I was asleep before I even got my little pile of papers organized! LOL! I woke up and put myself down in the bed, and within an hour they were messing with me. I resisted at first, but figured I missed my honey & my kitties, didn't wanna do it again (though nothing BAD at all), so put the stupid machine on so I wouldn't invalidate the test. GOOD THING I DID. Once on & comfy, I slept for h 4 solid hours, the longest I'd slept without interruption for FOUR YEARS! When they came to take it away in the morning, I was NOT giving it back. NO WAY. And that test probably saved my life, as I had a LONG battle with ins for my WLS, but I was treated for my "critical" sleep apnea the next day! Aside from missing "home", the experience was NOT unpleasant AT ALL.
   — vitalady

August 15, 2002
I had to repeat mine because I didn't sleep. They sent me home at 3:30 am. They need 4-6 hrs of recorded data while asleep. My pulmonalogist (Md who ordered test) gave me Ambien 10 mg for the next test. He and all others at the sleep lab said this will not falsify the testing. I was told I could even take Tylenol PM. It won't affect it either. I would not stay up the night before--you'll only be miserable all day until 8pm that night. Good luck!!
   — Annette M.

August 15, 2002
I understand your anxiety! I was stressing out the same way before my sleep study. The doctor gave me a mild sedative and said that it would not affect the test at all. I took it and was getting drowsy even as I was getting "wired". This doctor was from the Sleep Study Center so I knew it was okay. Relax, everything will be fine! It really will. Take care.
   — Sheila T.

August 16, 2002
I took my own pillow. Putting your head down on something familiar helps. Believe it or not, the night goes fast. If you have sleep apnea then your body is already tired. Mine was severe and helped me get immediate approval for surgery.
   — Sue A.

August 16, 2002
Yes do take your pillow and most comfy pj's. If you do have apnea, there is no reason to stay up the night before, as your body IS already tired. Maybe an earlier rise time the morning of though :) It's not 100 wires.. just feels like it, 26 I believe is the average number. I too cannot sleep anywhere but in my bed, but was doing it fitfully for the longest time. My Sleep test was 2 nights, first night monitering to see if and how many apnea episodes a night, well I slept for diddly...(I always slept for diddly) I think I had to go to the bathroon 5 times that night, and you just have to remember to say, I need to go. So they can come unplug you for those few minutes. The sleep center where I went had everything but a TV in the room. The lights out at 10 pm was what nerved me up. I am also an insomniac. In the morning I had to fill out a 567 questionaire, I could barely keep my eyes open for that, throughout the day I had to take a series of naps, or rest periods, (I NEVER sleep during the day unless I'm ill) At the 4 pm nap, they had me try the C-pap, seeing if I would adapt to it. Wasn't too bad at all. I was so totally whipped by bedtime that night, but they let me stay up an extra hour to watch ER, then off to bed. Wired for sound and with this C-pap on that makes me look like Snuffalumpocus lol, but then I slept better than I have in like forever! I was diagnosed with hypersomnia sleep apnea. It's taken some time to get used to the C-pap, but I know now how fortunate I am to have it. When my pulminologist read my results to me I cried. I am sooooo lucky to be alive! I cried all the way home, then hugged my kids so tight, and said Thankyou Lord. Now I find I can't go to sleep W/O IT!
   — Moma V.

August 16, 2002
It's kind of funny that one of the side effects of sleep apnea is we don't think we're sleeping when we really are. Both times I tested, they asked me the next morning how I slept and I said terrible, didn't sleep much at all. They laughed and said they had over 4 hours recordable data showing I slept better than I thought I had. Both times it seemed like I laid awake for hours and hours! Just relax, take your pillow, something good to read, whatever, just nothing that stimulates you (like using a computer does!!! Never can sleep after playing on that!). My last test had a TV in the room even. They had a fan too and that seemed to help. Anyway, just be comfortable and quit worrying about it. You will either give them recordable data or not and there's not much you can do about it if you're not relaxed. Great luck!
   — Nell C.

August 16, 2002
As everyone has said before, just relax. When I had mine I wanted to go back the following day. I felt so refreshed and energized. It was the best night sleep I have had in a few years. Since I got my CPAP machine, I have been doing much better in terms of sleep. I do not fall asleep in the middle of a conversation (I do customer service work on the phone, so this is a wonderful thing). :)
   — sharon E.