Sleep Study

Ok, so Im supposed to go have this sleep study done on Saturday...Now, I have some sleeping issues as it is, such as I am a pretty light sleeper and have a hard time sleeping when I am some place unusual. I kinda feel like Im only being forced to have the study done cause Im fat and there is a chance that I could have sleep apnea....in that case, shouldnt everyone who is fat have this test done before any surgery?
well, im done complaining and I'll suck it up and go have it done (cause I have to). My question is if you have had this done, how bad is it? I cant imagine being able to fall asleep all hooked up to machines by a big window where I know people are watching Me! LOL

I had a sleep study last May.  I was diagnosed with sleep apnea.  The test wasn't bad at all.  The room was set up like a hotel room complete with tv.  I was suprized I sleep all wire up.  You will electrodes on your head, wire near your eyes, nose, and jaw.  A belt around your chest, waist and a couple of wire on your legs.  I have to sleep with either a TV or radio on.  After you are diagnosed you will go back for a 2nd study to be fitted with your cpap machine and to find out what pressure you need.  I sleep so much better now i am getting enough oxygen.
Val

It's not as bad as you might think.
The rooms are comfortable and you are monitered with a night vision camera so it's not like your in a fish bowl.
The wires get in the way a little but that also is not so bad...I managed to fall asleep quickly once lights went out...I actually woke up a couple hrs later as usual and asked if I could sit up and finish sleeping in the recliner chair..sometimes I am more comfortable sleeping upright..it wasn't a problem for them...I think they have probably seen it all.
Make sure you don't nap that day so you will be tired...I was given the option of reading for a while before lights out..I even asked for a fan..cause I sleep with one at home and I missed the white noise..lol
There may be a reason why you are a light sleeper...if your not getting into a deep sleep you may not be getting enough oxygen.
I was having 87 events (meaning I stopped breathing) per hour!  Who knew!?
Anyway don't worry and best of luck to you.

i had to have one done also. Everyone has pretty much described it pretty perfectly. It was a little awkward, not gonna lie. I felt like i was on big brother... because i knew there were people watching me. I tried to stay up almost all  night the night before so that i could be super tired. I did end up falling asleep and staying asleep. The only cool part was i got some alone time in a pretty nice room to watch tv and read books for a while before bed. All in all it wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be. GOOD LUCK!!

Be sure you do the test!! I was diagnosed with sleep apnea AFTER being put under general anesthesia for my procedure.  They had a hard time waking me up and scared my husband pretty good.  I had to stay in the hospital an extra day so they could make sure all the effects of the anesthesia were gone and I was gonna keep waking up!!!

Mary,

I kinda feel like Im only being forced to have the study done cause Im fat
Well, yes.  The incidence of sleep apnea is higher in the obese population.

While it's important for the anesthesiologist to know if you have sleep apnea, I believe the main point of a sleep study prior to WLS is to diagnose sleep apnea as a qualifying co-morbidity.

My insurance would only cover my WLS if I had at least one co-morbidity.  So I was actually kind of glad to have a sleep study and discover that I did have sleep apnea, because it helped me qualify for WLS.

If a sleep study is the worst experience of your life, you have had pretty easy life.  No, it's not fun, but neither is it painful, and it's just one night.  If you're concerned that you won't be able to sleep at all, ask your doctor if he/she will prescribe a sleeping pill for you to take that night.

Jean

Hi Mary,

I had my sleep study done on January 13th.  It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't my favorite thing either.  I work third shift, so I stayed up the whole time so I would be able to sleep that night. I got to the facility about 8 p.m.  My husband and son came in with me while I fininished some paperwork.  Then they left after about 30 minutes.  The came in and glued everything on me, which took probably 30 to 45 minutes.   They will let you read or watch tv until you get ready to fall asleep.  My sleep study was not very comfortable because I don't sleep on my back.  I am a side sleeper.  So, when the tech told me I needed to sleep on my back for at least a little while, I guess that stayed in my mind and slept on my back all night long.  Mine was a split night study, meaning that for the first half of the night they observed.  If I showed signs of sleep apnea and quit breathing 20 times or more they would put a CPAP mask on me.  So, I fell asleep a little after 10:30.  Then at 1:10 a.m. the tech came in and put a nose CPAP mask on me. I am prone to feeling claustrophobic so when she put that on I almost freaked out, but after I got used to it, I fell back to sleep again.  Then she came in and put an ace wrap thing around my head to keep my mouth closed LOL  I am a mouth sleeper I guess.  Anyway, I woke up about 4:10 with my jaws clenched shut, I guess because of her saying if I didn't keep my mouth shut they would put the full face mask on LOL.  I actually got up and out of there by 5 a.m.  When I called yesterday to get my results, the sleep study place recommended I come back for a full night CPAP study.  :-( So it depends on if my doctor schedules that or not.

It's really not that bad, but just keep in mind you only have to sleep on your back for a little while.  You can move positions after that.  If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me. 

Good luck and it's not that bad really. 
Paulette

This is my first post but I thought I would reply.

I had my sleep study on 12/29, and I am going to be honest, I hated it. I was told the room was like a hotel, and I wouldn't have exactly said that, but the room wasn't horrible. It was just freezing cold. As someone else said, it took about 30 mins to glue everything on me, and then the tech wanted me to go to sleep right then. I was nowhere near tired even though I had taken something to help me fall asleep.

I couldn't get to sleep and kept moving I guess, b/c the senors kept coming off of me, so the tech kept coming in to reapply them. I finally drifted off to sleep and was awakened about 5 hours later. Since I had taken something to help me sleep but had not gotten enough sleep I felt awful. I was so glad to go home and get back into my own bed.

I ended up not having sleep apnea.

Good luck with yours, and remember, its just one night, and you'll live!

I have been on CPAP since September.  I had to do two studies.  The first time I didn't take the ambien she offered me, and then when I couldn't sleep (after midnight) and wanted one, she wouldn't let me have it!  I certainly took it the second time.  So my advice is to take it if offered.

Other than that, I agree with the other posters that it wasn't so bad.  The quiet time was kinda nice too.
Now adjusting to using the CPAP is another subject.   I'm barely up to 5.5 hours a night.

Robin

I work for a sleep specialist so here is the rundown. not everyone who has sleep apnea is overweight although being overweight doesn't help much, but the vast majoity of people who have sleep apnea don't know that they do. Did you see a sleep specialist? Did they have you do an epworth sleep scale? Did they have you do a home oximetry? The study isn't the most enjoyable thing in the world. Did your doc prescribe you a sleep aide to take during the study, like Ambien or Ambien CR or even benadryl? Also check with your doc to see what type of study they ordered. I would recommend that if they did not order a split night study that you get them to order it as it could prevent you needing an additional study being done. If you have any other questions about the study or sleep apnea in general feel free to message me.