Sleep Study - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

ScootRider · 01-13-2005, 07:22 AM

I go in next week for a Sleep Study ordered by my PCP to confirm Sleep Apnea. That ought to be a strange experience. I told him i had referred myself for Consultation on WLS and he was very supportive. He immediately ordered a full physical and the sleep study, xrayed my hips and made me an appointment with another doctor to discuss ending a maintenance drug I take. He was very concerned about my possible sleep apnea. Dangerous stuff according to him. Who Knew.

watergirl · 01-13-2005, 08:01 AM

Sounds like you struck gold with your PCP! Good for you! Keep us posted on your progress.

Christina · 01-13-2005, 09:20 AM

The sleep study was kind of weird. At first I did an at home sleep study where I picked up the equipment, brought it home, and slept then brought it back to the sleep lab. After the initial results, they wanted me to go down for an over night sleep study at the clinic. I worked nights at the time so I stayed up all day that day and drove down there late that night and got hooked up to the equipment. I thought there would be people watching from a window or something, but that isn't the case. The bed was comfortable, and they watch with a video camera. I slept very well, actually better than I had in years because for one I was really tired, and after they put the CPAP machine on I got some massive sleep because I wasn't fighting to breathe any longer. I wanted that machine that day but I had to wait. It felt so good to wake up refreshed for once. They just let me wake up on my own instead of waking me up and I got to sleep for an extra hour because they got really good readings off of my machine.

Good luck to you.. you'll do great!!!

HapBird · 01-13-2005, 07:59 PM

Your sleep study sounds great - I had two, both at home, with a visiting technician wiring me up in bed, and monitoring me from another room in the house. Bizarre having a stranger in the house all night...

The first one I was so uncomfortable with all the electrodes pasted all over me that I hardly slept a wink all night (although the tech said I actually did, and had some apnea symptoms, but he didn't think they were serious enough to worry about.)

WEEKS later, I got a report from my PCP's office - a copy of the results of that sleep study, written by an M.D., which said I definitely had obstructive sleep apnea and it should be treated immediately. So much for the competence of that technician!

Second study was a "titration" study - where they wire you up again, and fit you with a CPAP mask, and gradually increase the pressure of the air being pumped in until the apnea episodes stop.

Sometimes, I think, if you sleep well enough during the first study, they can do the titration at the same time, but in my case they couldn't, because I never got enough sleep for them to have time to do this.

Later, I learned that at-home sleep studies are usually pretty inadequate for lots of reasons, but they are cheaper for the insurance company than ones in a lab facility, so that's what you often get, depending on the generosity of your health plan.

I HATED using the CPAP machine - I was on it for over a year - and I decided that if the GBP surgery would get me off it, that alone would be a good enough reason to go ahead. I stopped using the CPAP the day I got home from the hospital, and while I still have mild apnea, it's so rare now, that I don't worry about it and am getting good sleep most of the time.

ScootRider · 01-21-2005, 07:37 AM

Well, I had my sleep Study performed last night...my night in hell!!!

The Sleep Tech (torture master) began by carving X's all over my head with a jagged knife disguised as a red wax pencil. Then he proceeded to place all these electrodes about my face and body with super glue and rubber cement. Wires were then hooked up to all these strategic places, i would say there were about 20. So now I look like I got the wiring harness from a 73 Cadillac hangin off me.

All this was tolerable. The one thing about a sleep study that is of prime importance is that the subject actually SLEEP!, which is something I refused to do. I laid there for 8 long hours tossing and turning and tangling myself in the wiring harness. Somebody please kill me!! I call the guy in about 3:00 and tell him this is not working out and I need him to unharness me so I can get the hell outta there but he informs me that unless I stay for the whole time the study will not be covered by insurance (2500.00)

I quietly lay back down.

I think I finally drifted off with 20 minutes left in the study and the guy comes in and turns on the bright flourescent lights (I think I saw an evil smile on his face) and tells me to start looking up and down and left and right...i am still trying to open my eyes. Then he proceeded to rip these permanantly attached electrodes from my body, totally ignoring my sobbing. He sends me out the door into the cold night with goop all in my hair and 15 minutes sleep. So now I am at work trying to make it through the day. I think about last night and just shake my head. Damn that was bad.

Christina · 01-21-2005, 09:05 AM

Scoot & Phil,

Sorry you both had horrible experiences with the sleep study.. but now I must confess.. before I Took the study, like I said I stayed up for over 24 hours so I was already tired.. but on the way there and in the parking lot I took a total of 2 Xanax pills. (Sedatives for those who don't know what they are) and it really helped me to fall asleep.. I could hardly stay awake for them to hook me up.. lol

Either way it worked out real well for me.. I am sorry you didn't have the same luck. I know they say not to take anything, but heck I couldn't help it.. I needed to. I knew I wouldn't sleep otherwise.. and I didn't want to keep doing this over and over.. it was my last thing before surgery.. so I really wanted to get it out of the way.

Dara · 01-21-2005, 11:59 AM

Scoot:

Your post was hysterical!

I felt for ya, buddy!

My sleep study was a do-it-yourself kit. I hooked myself up and slept in my own bed. It was much nicer, but I had a lot of trouble getting up in the middle of the night to pee (dragging console and all into the bathroom). My study still came back as severe obstructive apnea, so it was all good in the end.

Good luck with your results.

bridgetgirl · 01-21-2005, 03:14 PM

Scott soryy to hear about your hellish evening, although well written you had me in stitches! So was the study complete? Best wishes my friend!

ScootRider · 01-21-2005, 03:20 PM

They just called and said I had been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. The only thing I can figure is that my breathing was so labored while I lay there wide awake that I MUST have apnea. LOL. I go back for a cpap study in a couple weeks. Trust me, I will be pulling a Christina next time I walk in that place.