Polysomnogram/Sleep Study - Anyone Ever Have One?

Updated on November 16, 2010
M.R. asks from Chicago, IL
4 answers

Lucky me - I get to do a polysomnogram (sleep study) in December. While I'm not terribly excited about the process, I'm hoping it will provide my physician with data so we can figure out why I'm always so exhausted. (We've already gone through the huge laundry list of what causes fatigue and I'm already doing the basics plus to try and combat it - plenty of nightly sleep, reasonable daily exercise, healthy clean eating every 2-3 hours, proper hydration, no sign of hypothyroidism, no low blood iron, no depression, low stress levels)

Have you or did someone you know had to do a sleep study? Care to share your experiences with me? Thanks!

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K.B.

answers from Tulsa on

I had one and my husband had two. Take your own pillow. Speak up about getting the temp as close to your comfort level(easiest if no one else shows up). You basically go to sleep as normal with those little wires hooked up to you. We hated the hard bed, which caused me to hardly sleep, but others swore it was too soft. ;0) In the morning, I awoke, had a snack, they removed the electrodes, and I went home. It took a few days to get the study. There was cable tv, food, and all the comforts of home.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.R.

answers from Cleveland on

I know you said you've gone through the list but just in case, make sure you're not dairy or wheat intolerant. Turned out that is my issue. I was shocked. I always wanted a sleep study bc I was sure that was my problem.

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S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I haven't but I know people who have.
Other than getting hooked up with a lot of leads,
they said they were relatively comfortable.
I think one said he couldn't turn onto his side,
which is how he prefers to sleep.
Meanwhile, your list of all the things you are doing for yourself
sounds like marvelous advice for all of us.
Keep up the good work.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

Technically, I've had 2. The first one was the standard sleep study to determine what was going on. The second was a titration study for cpap.

I went to a place in Naperville. I showed up around 8pm and they let me sit in the room for a bit while they setup other patients. I believe it is 2 patients to 1 tech. In the room was a full sized bed, desk, light, tv, camera (mounted on the ceiling) and a full size bathroom (shower, toilet and sink). I changed into my pj's and watched tv for a bit. Then the tech came into the room, and was extremely polite and explained how things worked while hooking me up with wires. After hooking you up to the wires, they get you situated in bed and then turn the lights out. They gave me the option of leaving the tv on, letting me turn it off, or having them come in after I've fallen asleep and turn it off. The room is extremely dark as there are no windows. At night, after you get there they have you fill out a sleep survey asking how you've slept within the past week, if you've had caffeine during the day of the study and a few other questions. Then after you are in bed, they go into the control room, where they can hear and see you and do a few diagnostic tests...ie: blinking, pretend snoring, moving your head and legs to make sure everything is working properly. After that you are free to watch tv (I think you can read also) until you are ready to go to sleep. In the morning, they woke me up around 5:15 and have to leave by 6. I think it took about 10 minutes to get me unhooked (which didn't hurt)...but looked a little disturbing (in a perverted sorta way...gotta know me to find this funny) to see whiteish glue on my forehead, cheeks and chin. I was able to shower and get most of the glue off. They also provide towels and soap. Unless you aren't going to work the next day and don't care if you look a little freakish...you will want to shower! They also asked me if I wanted apple or orange juice in the morning. About a week later the doctor will call with results.

The only issues I had is that I toss and turn a lot and the wires got in the way a bit. I was able to turn, but only to 1 side. Otherwise, I slept fine.

The 2nd test was the same thing except wearing a cpap machine (because I tested with mild to moderate sleep apnea ...(30 apneas an hour) and also seemed to have mild Periodic limb movement disorder. The doctor believes that most likely that my airway is being constricted by my tongue as I only have the apneas on my back. Both technicians were polite and friendly and didn't make the process feel awkward at all.

if you have any more questions, feel free to contact me directly.

1 mom found this helpful
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