Ok here is my story - first post just trying to get this sleep study stuff done and confirmed if i need a cpap or whatnot, I am overweight 38 male, snore like crazy, wife says i stop then gasp in a big snorelike way and shake the bed waking her and I up at times during the night (altho i dont recall this happening) I must be too tired to realize I woke, and I do know that I raise my legs OFTEN at night and that wakes me up when my leg is up and jerks often.

Overall just very poor interupted sleep that my doctor sent me in for a first consult with sleep clinic, saw them yesterday afternoon at 1pm they seemed to think I should take a sleep study and there was an opening for that night! So I took it, went in tired yawning even, 8pm arrived got in room watched a bit of tv relaxing heck almost fell asleep waiting, got hooked up 9pm lights were out by 945pm eyes shut (trying to fall asleep).

Had a very hard time with the wires everywhere especially on my ears, finger and that thing that goes in your nose kept tickling and annoying me. I was WIPED out tired yet between all that stuff , it being hot, the bed being hard as a rock and in general the noise from other patients rooms of them snoring and the techs out there occasionally closing a door, running a washing machine etc I could not get to sleep.

About 5 am I just pulled the finger thing off (it fell off earlier and the machine beeped LOUDLY waking me from what little sleep i was getting, he rushed in to reapply it) so I pulled it off this time on my own about 5am and said I need to use the bathroom and I want to leave cuz this just isn't working out obviously.

He unhooked my main cable so i could go to the bathroom and said yeah its almost over anyways so lets unhook you, then said in the about 30-45 mins of broken sleep that he observed that I stopped breathing a few times even in those short bursts of sleep.

I asked if that was enough to give them their answers and not have to redo this thing (it was a BAD experience and I am/still am wiped out from it) and he said that is all upto the doctors, but I recall the sheet saying a successful test requires 6 hours of sleep time!

If I got 6 hours of sleep a night I wouldn't even BE there hehe seriously tho I am dreading having to go back and do this again, has anyone experienced something like what I mentioned above and if so were the episodes they saw enough to say ok yes onto the next step - sad to say it would be yet another sleep study but with mask AND wires that is if they determined i was a candidate from this first visit.

Also if I have to redo this is there some mild sleeping pill I can request or something to maybe help with the discomfort of the wires and bed that I was experiencing? I did bring my own pillow and that helped but the bed was ROCK hard, I have a sterns and foster double pillow top and after 20 mins on their bed my hips were even hurting much less restful sleep.

I guess in this day and age of wireless micro sized devices etc, i am just surprised a sleep study involves all those wires and bulky loud beeping machines.

Anyone with any input about any of the above would be greatly appreciated I just feel very frustrated at the moment, i know there is an issue from wife and such and even the tech said yes during the short times sleeping i stopped breathing I just hate to think I have to redo this from step one again...


Bill :(

Welcome to Apnea Board, Bill.

Sounds like my first sleep study! Nowadays, I fall asleep as soon as I get there, and they have to wake me up to prep me.

From your description of events I doubt that there will be enough data to convince your insurance company to pay for a CPAP device, which is the real reason behind most sleep studies.

To answer your question about a "sleeping pill", many sleep labs are authorized to offer you an Ambien the night of your study. That should help you to relax and fall asleep.

I would certainly share your concerns with your sleep doctor. He might be able to instruct the lab to increase your comfort by use of a less obstrusive pulse oximeter, or other means. Failing that, you could always ask your doctor for a home trial of a recording autopap machine. This sort of test, while not as exhaustive as a formal polysomnogram performed in a sleep lab, might be able to provide your doctor with enough data for a diagnosis. On the plus side, it is typically cheap, easily arranged, and allows the patient to sleep in the comfort and familiarity of their own bed.

Let know how it goes! Carl

See if your insurance will pay for a home study.

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I was hoping (did study Monday night) to hear back from them during the week, gave them all week and weekend no reply so I will call Monday (today as I write this) May 8th to see ok what happened here, do I go for retest or did you get evidence enough to make a decision or what is next in general.

I just wanted to give them a few days to call me vs me bugging them but now im too curious and just wanna KNOW whats up so ill call mid day Monday and see what if anything they can tell me about that test we did last week Monday and what my next step is.

I will be asking for a pill or something if i have to redo, might also bring a small fan, it was SO hot in that room! and a small radio with soft music cd, that will help block alot of that noise i was hearing out in the halls and other rooms etc.

Bill :)

After 2 messages and not getting a reply i called today again and got word the results were positive that even tho i didn't sleep much i did stop breathing enough to warrant a cpap and second study to fit a cpap.

Immediately i thought ok to make this better ask for sleep pills! So the lady on the phone took my pharmacy number and is calling in a few 2-3 i guess, so that the night of the 2nd study i can take that she said.

The pill plus a small radio and a mini fan will do wonders for me (i was way too hot and too much outside room noise kept waking me) so I think between the stuff mentioned above i hopefully CAN get some sleep on this second one.

Bill :)

Here in Finland I had a choice of taking the sleeping test at public hospital for free, or taking the gear to home, and sleeping at my own comfy bed for 200 euros. Just guess wich option I took?

edit: cortectet wtring ertorts