Question:
I have 2 questions on Sleep Apnea

1.If you have sleep apnea, do the symptoms occur every night? I would hate to go have this sleep study done and have NO symptoms of it. 2.When you go in for a sleep study do you go to sleep on your own or do they give you something to make/help you sleep. I am a very light sleeper and don't know if I would be able to sleep.    — [Anonymous] (posted on July 28, 2001)

July 28, 2001
Hello! I was diagnosed with sleep apnea four years ago, and wear a CPAP mask to get the sleep I need, so I think I can help :) Apnea will affect you ANYTIME you go to sleep, though more so lying down than dozing in your armchair. Depending on how severe it is. At the sleep study they will stick electrodes all over the place, your leg, chest, and even on your head. There is no sedative as anything that is a depressive agent (alcohol, sedatives) can make apnea worse as the effect is magified by the agent (so I'm told) and can skew the results of the sleep study. It will help if you take your own pillow, wear a favorite nightie, anything that will let you feel more at home. It is hard to be 'wired for sound' and try to sleep in a strange bed. So many complain about what a hassle the sleep study is, or what a rip off it is, but apnea is nothing to joke around about and the test should simply be seen as another tool to make sure all of our issues in regards to our obesity are addressed. Best of luck to you and feel free to email if I can be of any help. ~Peace!
   — Joscelin

July 28, 2001
I agree with the previous post on the sleep sedatives. It would affect the results of the sleep study and is not allowed. As far as the other question, if you have sleep apnea you would have it every time you fall to sleep. It's not like you would have it one night and then not the next. I had it to the point that I was falling asleep while driving - you think you can control it, but you cannot. I would get up from sleep ten hours and still feel tired. You fall asleep within minutes of your head hitting the pillow...and you nod off and wake up real quick during periods of quite during the day. This was nothing to take lightly...I almost had an accident with my 4 yr old in the car...scared me to death and it would have been my fault. I could never have lived with that or taking someone else's life because I didn't want the sleep study.<p>To me, the study was very uncomfortable...you are hooked up to so many electrotodes that it's hard to get comfortable, but the sleep apnea did take over and I feel asleep for about 4 hours. I woke up extremely claustrophobic and asked her to unhooked me for a minute and she refused. SO I said I had to go to bathroom, so then she unhooked me for a few minutes...then I was okay for about another hour and then I couldn't take it anymore, they said they had enough and I could go home. I will have to say that it was the BEST five hours of sleep in my life. I came home with so much energy that I had done my entire housework in 4 hours when it usually took me all day. Don't be paranoid about not being able to sleep, I think eventually if you really have sleep apnea that you'll be able to sleep long enough to give them what they need.
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 28, 2001
I agree with the last posting.The only thing I hated about it was I had to lie on my back the whole night.I usually sleep on my stomach or side.But you HAVE to lie on your back.I hate to suggest this but,It might help if you stay up later the night before so that you will be able to sleep when it is time for your sleep study.
   — Miko P.

July 28, 2001
I had severe sleep apnea....my oxygen went to 40% but no more! The reason to have the study is to find out if you have it. Yes, the symptoms occur even if you take a short nap. I would notice when I fell asleep while my husband drove the car...you know when you "doze?" I would wake myself up by blowing out puffs of air and I didn't know I had sleep apnea but I did know I woke up many times. I would wake up with a kind of choking sound. It was very scary. I put a little tape recorder by the bed and taped myself. I would snore and then there were long pauses of nothing and then a sudden gasp. I found out I had it on Halloween last year. It was truly the scariest thing I ever realized! Anyhow, yes the electrodes are very primitive and very uncomfortable,but somehow you sleep long enough for them to determine. I was not allowed to take anything to help me sleep. It was a long night. Then I had to go back for the c pap to be put on....another long night. I am so thankful that it is gone with the wt loss I have had. With sleep apnea, there is one major concern. You must be careful not to over medicate yourself with pain meds after surgery. The body is programmed to wake you when the breathing stops but if you override this natural survival instinct with morphine or anything that is very strong, you may not wake up. Be careful if you have sleep apnea with sleep medications. Also I have read that Tylenol PM, Benedryl, and all those "sleep" medications that have diphenhydramine in them actually make sleep apnea worse.
   — Marilyn C.

July 28, 2001
If you sometimes take a mild sleep aid take it with you and use it if your a light sleeper. I ended up having 2 tests because I didnt sleep on the first one. The need for the second test delayed my surgery by over 2 months sleep labs here are all backed up.
   — bob-haller

July 28, 2001
I too have recently been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. It was a very long and uncomfortable night.Don`t worry about not sleeping, i was so sure that i did`nt sleep at all that night then the results came back. I guess i stopped breathing 250 times in 2 1/2 hours.I was not even allowed to have coffee or anything with caffine in it. No drugs of any kind were given.I was at the sleep clinic from 9:30 pm until 5:30 am and then I was told to leave and then come back again for a daytime study from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm. I was totally exhausted and could`nt wait to go home.I also had to spent another night at the clinic while they tried me with a c-pap machine.This is how they figure out what setting the machine has to be at to keep your air way open. I now have my own Cpap machine, the air setting is at 12 and I wear it to bed every night. No it`s not very comfortable and yes it`s very hard to get use to. I hate wearing it but, it keeps me alive and breathing.It`s nice to wake up in the morning with out the constant headache too.
   — Sandra D.

July 28, 2001
It's my experience that if you have sleep apnea, you will have apnea's every time you reach rem. I was recorded with up to 6 per minute at my worst. I'm sure if you have it, they will detect it.
   — Scott F.

July 28, 2001
First sleap apnea is everynight with everyone that I know that has it,including me. And when I had my sleep test ,after they get you all hooked up I laid on the bed and watched tv untill I fell asleep. I have heard that they will sometimes give you something. Everyone I know had no problem. You can bring a book or whatever you want. They don't rush you to sleep.I know it was at least 11:00 BEFORE I fell asleep.If you have more ?'s just e-mail me. Good Luck!
   — Sue R. T.

Click Here to Return