SLEEP STUDY..........

Now,,,, I knew all this stuff was coming.. Now I got the call that its time to set up the sleep study.. I've never had one, never had a reason for one. I dont know what it's about. But, are they actually expecting me to get a good nights sleep in some strange room with some strange poeple watching me WITH OUT MEDICATION??? I mean thats the only time I do have a problem sleeping is if Im away from home. Can someone discribe what this will be like?

I would not worry too much about not sleeping.  Depending upon the sleep lab, they will certainly put dozens of electrodes on you, wire you up in unspeakable ways and then send you to bed while they watch. 

If you do have apnea or some other problem, they may wake you in the middle of the night to put a cpap machine on you.

I've had four or five of these studies, and I often think I didn't sleep at all, but they tell me that I have  been sleeping part of the time.

It is highly worthwhile to get this study.

For fun, bring a camera and have someone take your picture when you are all wired up.

Same experience as Henry for my multiple sleep studies. Didn't think I slept that much but they were able to get the data they needed to determine I had severe sleep apnea. They told me I would stop breathing a couple a times each night which put the fear of God in me. They put me on a bipap machine and once I got it, I started getting a decent night's sleep. Tossed the machine the day of WLS and have never looked back.

Best of luck with the test.

Boner

Your going to have so much fun.  They do hook you up with all these electrodes all over your head and face, including one right under your nose.  You also have a strap around your chest.  The first one I had didn't go well at all, because the lady doing the test was a real *****  When she came in to put the c-pap machine on me in the middle of the night, and the air pressure was terrible.  I couldn't breathe.  The most recent one was better, but I am like you and can't sleep well away from home.  I have to have a fan on me, but they did have one in the room.  Also, they did give me a sleeping pill this last time, but it still didn't do much good.  If it's a good place, they will try and make it as comfortable for you as possible.  Enjoy!!!!

So I should bring the light bulb again..... Thats becoming my good luck charm you know. People think Im nuts.. But as long as I dont take it to the phsyc........... appointment I guess thats okay.

I found out I had sleep apnea during pre-op tests in March. The first sleep study I just slept normally with no machine....but lots of wires placed all over my body. Wasn't too bad as a TV was in room (like a hotel room!) and A/C was on. The only hassle was when I had to get up to pee and I had to call for my cute little female attendant to unhook me. My second study was with CPAP machine to compare my oxygen levels and other numbers....and also to find a mask I preferred. Had surgery on June 10th and first visit with sleep doc checking Smart Card from machine showed vast improvement after only 2 mos. I see him again later this month and he said maybe he will lower my pressure and then next visit have no more CPAP machine!! But put up with the study...you will sleep some even if you felt you didn't.....because apnea can be deadly! Reggie White from the Green Bay Packers was one who died suddenly one night when he had stopped using his CPAP machine.   So...good luck and hang in there....it's all worth it!!!       John

 Okay,,, Thank you all for your helpful info... I STILL dont like the fact that someone is going to watch me sleep. Its kind of like one of the horror movies.. I wonder what kind of person would perform a job like that... It cant be too exciting....... Well,, appointment set two weeks from now.. I got in on a Friday Night  after work so I wont have to worry about being tired for work the next day. We'll just have to see how this goes.

Yes, definately take the light bulb -- I forgot to tell you that.  You might need it in the middle of the night.