Hi,

This is my first time posting here and I have had problems for over 10 yrs sleeping.  My problem isn't falling asleep but going into a deep sleep.  I wake up so tired with a headache and I am tired all day.  I have been told it was depression and been on meds but none worked.  I have finally been to a sleep specialist and I am going for a sleep study tomorrow but I was SO nervous.  My main concern is that I won't be able to sleep being hooked up to all the machines.  I really don't know what to expect.  Surely they expect some people to have problems falling asleep knowing that someone is watching and monitoring you?  I told dh about the test and he said he would never be able to fall asleep either so I am not the only one.  Please can someone put my mind at rest.  These problems have been going on for most of my life and the thought of finally getting a diagnosis scares me.  At the same time I cannot go on anymore like this.  Thanks for letting me rant.  I really have no one else to talk to about it because dh doesn't really believe in it and knows nothing about sleep apnea (if that's what I have).  Things will be easier when I find out what the problem is.  I do wake numerous time during the night but can fall asleep most of the time fine but I don't feel like I am getting quality sleep even though I am in bed from 10'ish until about 6:30am.  Something is wrong and I hope they find out tomorrow night.

Wendy
Female, 28, maybe 15lbs overweight.

hi wendy, i'm new to this aswell, i was diagnosed over a year ago and just got my cpap macine 3 wks ago... the sleep study isnt that bad really! it takes about 20 minutes for them to attatch all the wires and you can't sleep for trying!!! while you are lying there telling yourself to go to sleep - before you know it they will be waking you up!!!!!! hope everything goes ok   good luck!!!!!!!

Thanks Fiona!  I know I am just making myself worse by thinking about it.  How come you were diagnosed over a yr ago and just got the machine?  I hope it is working for you.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Wendy

quickly here. sorry about the gap i pressed a wrong key! do you stop breathing in your sleep?

Hi Wendy,

I just finished two nights of sleep study. I go to the doctor tomorrow for the results.
Like you, I feel like I never get deep sleep. I am always so tired. I have been like this for years. The study wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. After being hooked up, I watched a little tv before falling asleep. It did take me longer to go to sleep than usual, but I was so tired that I did go to sleep faster than I thought I would. Good luck and let us know how everything goes.

Peggy

I took lots of valium for my first sleep study as I was very nervous and  usually had lots of trouble falling asleep in my own bed, I didnt want to stay awake all night, some say this shouldnt be done

if you are awake during the sleep study, some places give you a sleeping pill but others dont

hint, take something to wear on your head in case theres a draft from the air cond, also wash hair but dont put anything on it

Fiona, as far as I know I don't stop breathing and dh hasn't noticed anything unusual.  I don't snore or jump or anything so that is why it has been over 10 yrs and I never went to see a specialist.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong and my symptoms don't sound like sleep apnea, however, the doc said that symptoms in women are less prominant and you don't have to snore to have it.  

Peggy, good luck with the results.  I hope everything works out for you.  That won't be so bad if I can watch tv or read for a while.  I am thinking they will say, "right time to go to sleep now" and then I won't be able to.  

Yikes, valium!  I have never taken anything like that before.  The specialist told me not to take anything but to bring my sleeping tablets.  (3mg of Lunesta) however it doesn't seem to make me sleepy.  I have taken it up to an hr before I go to bed and it doesn't make me sleepy any sooner.  I don't need it to fall asleep though because I can fall asleep quickly.  
Wash my hair? What does that have to do with a sleep study?        Anyone????  When do I wash it, right before?  I am confused!  Also, I don't think I have anything to wear on my head.  Surely they have the room set up so there isn't a draft.  

Thanks for your help everyone.  I will let you all know how it goes.

Take care,
Wendy

Fiona, as far as I know I don't stop breathing and dh hasn't noticed anything unusual.  I don't snore or jump or anything so that is why it has been over 10 yrs and I never went to see a specialist.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong and my symptoms don't sound like sleep apnea, however, the doc said that symptoms in women are less prominant and you don't have to snore to have it.  

Peggy, good luck with the results.  I hope everything works out for you.  That won't be so bad if I can watch tv or read for a while.  I am thinking they will say, "right time to go to sleep now" and then I won't be able to.  

Yikes, valium!  I have never taken anything like that before.  The specialist told me not to take anything but to bring my sleeping tablets.  (3mg of Lunesta) however it doesn't seem to make me sleepy.  I have taken it up to an hr before I go to bed and it doesn't make me sleepy any sooner.  I don't need it to fall asleep though because I can fall asleep quickly.  
Wash my hair? What does that have to do with a sleep study?        Anyone????  When do I wash it, right before?  I am confused!  Also, I don't think I have anything to wear on my head.  Surely they have the room set up so there isn't a draft.  

Thanks for your help everyone.  I will let you all know how it goes.

Take care,
Wendy

I went to the sleep study about two months ago.  I made the mistake of trying to sleep in shorts and a tee shirt.  When I went back to the titration tests, I wore long pajamas, put all the wires either at the top of my head or in the sleeves and legs, and slept well.  If they offer you medication, take it.  If they don't offer, ask.  I have been on the machine 13 nights, have averaged 8.3 hours per night, and I am falling asleep faster, sleeping better, and awakening more refreshed each day.  Go for it.  I wish I had done so years ago.  Good luck.

Wash your hair the day of the study because they will attach some wires to your head with a sticky stuff. Don't use any conditioner or hair spray either that will cause problems with the sticky stuff not sticking. Then you can wash your hair again as soon as you get home after the study.
My study was real easy I had a very nice room and watched tv for a while, the only thing that was ask of me was to please turn tv off by 10:30 which was no problem with me.
Hope that you have an easy time with your studies, keep us posted on how you do.
Go in with a positive attitude that it will be just another night in a nice hotel room with some strange wires on your face, head, cheast and legs along with the belts around the chest (not tight) there is nothing to be afraid of.


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Sleeping at long last

Hi Wendy,

You can call the lab and talk to them about what to expect, how the room is set up, etc.  You don't have to be overweight to have obstructive sleep apnea, that is a common misconception.  On the other hand, you may not have OSA but some other sleep disorder.  Your study will show whatever is disturbing your sleep.

Take whatever you want with you to feel comfortable and at home.  I typically sleep with and bring, a fan, my wedge, my pillow, a backpack with water and magazines and my favorite flannel PJs.  The only things they won't let me bring are my cats!  Call the lab and talk to them and that will help a bunch.

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Hi Wendy,

I had a sleep study done back in May at my local hospital and everything went fine.  The reason you need to wash your hair is simply so the scalp is clean so it's easier to attach their wires.  I wish I had thought to bring a fan with me as it was too quiet and it seemed to take a long time to get to sleep.  The tech was in a separate room so I didn't have anyone "watching" me.  I'm not sure if you go to a sleep lab, what their policy is.  You may want to call the place where your sleep study is being performed.  That way you can ask the questions that are concerning you, which will allow you to relax.  

I thought it would be upsetting to hear I had OSA, however, when the tech came in to hook me up to the CPAP and said I had it, I was actually fine with it.  When I woke up, I was actually happy to know what the heck was wrong with me.  For 3-1/2 months I had been so tired when I woke up and had no energy, that it was a relief to actually find out the cause.

Good luck...I'm sure the sleep study will go just fine.  Keep us posted.

I guess you had your study.  How did it go? I was recently diagnosed and have just used my "equipment" for the 2nd night.  I'm having a little trouble with the mask, but I have support and I'm sure I'll work it out.  I was kind of surprised when I found I had sleep apnea, but now I'm relieved and am looking forward to sleeping well and also breathing--protecting my heart, brain, immune system, etc!   If you do have it, you can now start to feel better!

how did you fare, wendy?? this is a first post for me (just found the forum). everything you said about yourself in the first post described me completely!!! i recently went in for 2 sleep studies..the first for diagnosis the second for titration as i didn't sleep long enough in the first study to collect data and try the mask. yesterday i met with the doc to go over them. apparently i stop breathing an average of 124 times an hour. :?:anyone heard of that high of numbers? my c-pap machine & mask are being delivered tomarrow (friday). as much as i am dreading sleeping with a mask i am looking forward to hopefully feeling more alive!!  

Thanks for the support everyone.  The sleep study is tonight.  Sorry for the confusion.  I am leaving about 20 mins and I am so nervous and I know it is over nothing.  Thanks for the suggestions on what to take.  That was really helpful.  I will let you all know how it goes.  It's good to talk to people that understand.

Wendy