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Permalink Reply by Annette E. Petrick on July 31, 2009 at 12:47pm

Claire - It might be that the sleep study will be the breakthrough for you. Sure hope so. Many of your symptoms seem as though they could be related to sleep apnea. If the test shows you do have it, be sure to take the CPAP that night and use it and try to sleep with it for several hours. Then keep an open mind about whether you can use this tool. It often takes time to get used to, or find the right mask, but if you can adapt to it, could change your life.

Annette

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Permalink Reply by Cynthia Licharowicz on July 31, 2009 at 12:54pm

I am just outside of Pensacola. I live in Milton. I am having much the same difficulites as you. I pray that you get the help you need. Bring a pillow and that is about it. Once you get there they will hook you up to a Gazillion wires and then wahlah expect you to sleep. I didnt do too well.

I would suggest Baptist Hosp. They are (hands down) the best in Pensacola. They will also work with you if you are uninsured like me. Best of luck.

Best Regards,

Cynthia

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Permalink Reply by pottercb on July 31, 2009 at 1:16pm

Thanks for the reply, I am very eager to find out what is wrong with me., I used to be so energetic and happy. I hope and pray also that this is the problem. I am thankful I found this site for help.

Annette E. Petrick said:

Claire - It might be that the sleep study will be the breakthrough for you. Sure hope so. Many of your symptoms seem as though they could be related to sleep apnea. If the test shows you do have it, be sure to take the CPAP that night and use it and try to sleep with it for several hours. Then keep an open mind about whether you can use this tool. It often takes time to get used to, or find the right mask, but if you can adapt to it, could change your life.

Annette

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Permalink Reply by pottercb on July 31, 2009 at 1:19pm

I live in Milton too- lol- My sleep clinic is thru sacret heart. they sent a package to fill out and have schedule 2 separate nights of study. The pulmonary docotr will look over the first study and decide about the second one. I hope they can put up with my snoring!!!! My husband said its getting louder and louder- that's probably why I wake with a raw throat and headache. Thanks for the reply

Cynthia Licharowicz said:

I am just outside of Pensacola. I live in Milton. I am having much the same difficulites as you. I pray that you get the help you need. Bring a pillow and that is about it. Once you get there they will hook you up to a Gazillion wires and then wahlah expect you to sleep. I didnt do too well.

I would suggest Baptist Hosp. They are (hands down) the best in Pensacola. They will also work with you if you are uninsured like me. Best of luck.

Best Regards,

Cynthia

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Permalink Reply by Mary Noth on July 31, 2009 at 1:20pm

Hi, Claire! I think the sleep study may be a new beginning for you. Getting a good night's sleep with enough oxygen will make an unbelievable difference in your life. I've been there. My depression, and all the other negative things that go with it, is much more tolerable with better sleep. I hope you do get what you need to begin a major improvement in your life. You deserve it!!!! It may be a long haul getting everything tweaked right, but don't give up. I hope you'll have an instant improvement like I did so you can just keep making improvements with the tweaking.

One thing no one told me about a sleep study was to bring pajamas. It seems obvious now, but for some reason I didn't take them. Also take whatever you need for your comfort as part of your usual nightly routine. Sleeping on command in a strange bed all wired up is not easy, but is necessary. Also, during the test, be sure to tell your attending technician of any problems or discomforts. My study was done in something like a nice hotel room, complete with bathroom and shower, phone and TV.

Don't give up! It will be worth it to enjoy those grandchildren and have a better quality of life for yourself. You'll find lots of support from everyone on this site, so let us all know how you're doing. We care!

Best of luck!
Mary

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Permalink Reply by Mike on July 31, 2009 at 1:21pm

from Robert -- "let me tell you, I as well as many others have been were you are right now and first, let me assure you you have nothing to worry about regarding your sleep study. In fact its the beginning of healing for you. sleep is healing you are on the way to a good nights sleep, probably for the first time in years. if you use ANYTHNG unusual or special to help you sleep short of your mattress, bring it, whether it be pillows or blanket, or dental appliance. secondly let me tell you, sleep affects your mental, physical and spiritual condition. you will never heal without good sleep. Good luck my friend and keep me posted
Be blessed
Robert"

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Permalink Reply by Mary L. Montovio on July 31, 2009 at 1:28pm

First of you I think you need to RELAX. and stop thinking bad things are happening to you.
Second the sleep study will help you if you have sleep apnea. Since I have been diagnosed with it and have a CPAP machine, I sleep much better. I wake up feeling refreshed every day, have more energy. From what I was told you lose weight with it. with me I haven't see any weight loss, I too have trouble with my back and I'm unable to walk great distances.
The night you go, take pajamas with you or whatever you feel comfortable wearing to bed. They hook you up to wires and there is no pain involved. Wake up the next morning and it's all over. It's really nothing, so don't worry about it. It's a piece of cake. Like sleeping in a hotel or motel. I know I had a TV in the room, so I was able to watch my late night shows. I'm sure they will too.
I hope this info was helpful to you and good luck!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Craig Levan on July 31, 2009 at 1:32pm

My name is Craig Levan and I have been using the cpap for the past 2 years. I am being treated for diabetes and hormonal deficiencies. Don't worry because you have taken a very important step. I have a few suggestions that will keep you on track. Make sure that you inform your health providers with any information about your past and present health conditions. Don't think that any change in your mental and physical conditions are trivial and shouldn't be reported. That can be a big mistake.I usually make a mental note of any changes that occur when I change medications, receive new tests, and or change my diet. When I started on the cpap I noticed after one month an increase in my energy(400%). My lung capacity increased and I didn't have any cramps in my leg muscles. My increase in energy influenced my urge to eat more. Exercise is very important during this time period. My blood sugar counts went down and I reduced my A1c from 8.1 to 6.9. Be happy that you have taken this first step. I slept on the couch for 10 years in order to elevate my head so that my airs ways wouldn't collapse which would made me wake up. Pathetic isn't it? I am currently writing a book about men procrastinate about their health. Procrastinating almost killed me. Good Luck

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Permalink Reply by Mack D Jones, MD, SAAN on July 31, 2009 at 1:38pm

Claire, you have a right to be frustrated.You have all the classical signs and symptoms including the commonly associated diseases to make you an almost certain long time victim of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Your OSA should have been diagnosed and treated long ago. Get on your PAP machine asap, and use it 100% when asleep. Whatever it takes, lose weight down to a normal BMI and keep it there and you should see your grandchildren's grandchildren grow up.

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Permalink Reply by Dave D. on July 31, 2009 at 1:40pm

Claire,
You obviously need a sleep study. Most, if not all, of your symptoms may be related sleep apnea and may even be a direct result of it. As you are scheduled for one, make sure you go. I can't tell you how many people go through the evaluation and then never show for their study. It takes a spot away from someone else that is waiting.

As far as preparation for your study, you can begin by trying to get yourself into a schedule that will mimic when your study should be--as far as time in bed and rise time. For a day or two before your study make sure you don't take any naps, and stay busy. You can short change yourself of a little sleep by going to bed a LITTLE later or getting up a LITTLE earlier. 30 minutes on each end tops.

Take some comfortable and loose bedclothes with you as well as a favorite pillow if you'd like. Use no lotions that evening, and do not eat anything after a normal dinner time. If they offer you a sleeping agent such as Ambien, Lunesta, or Sonata consider using it that night, especially if you're having trouble getting to sleep. A sleep study is useless if you don't sleep. I agree that you shouldn't be using any sleeping pills until your sleep apnea is quantified and treated if necessary.

Finally, just relax about it. There is nothing you need to do. Just sleep. With some mental and physical preparation, you'll do fine. Keep us posted.

Dave

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on July 31, 2009 at 1:42pm

I don't want to throw a downer into this discussion.. It's my first time on the site. I'm having a hard time getting adjusted to this pump AND to having to fight to get the info I need. I just don't understand why there's not more education available for newly-diagnosed apnea patients. I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago, had to wait TWO WEEKS for a pump despite being told I had "severe sleep apnea". finally got it and have had a really hard time adjusting to it. Two specific examples include being unable to tolerate it because of lack of info re: specific things like NOT trying to breathe with the pump--found out I'm supposed to breathe normally and the pump will breathe with ME. Spent 1 week trying to manage hyperventilating. Then learned after even more difficulty, that the pump settings were wrong--my tech walked me through re-setting, which really helped. The ramp option helps a lot. NOW I have a bad cold, and the info I have is confusing re: whether or not to use the pump depending on whether I have a cold or a sinus infection. Jeez!!! Well, now I know it's a head cold and not side effects from CPAP (which I didn't know about till I had all this nose running and congestion stuff, prior to this cold). Anyway, what I've done now is start Nyquil at bedtime, despite my tech saying he'd rather I didn't take it, but I couldn't breathe with the mask at all. So now I'm sleeping MUCH better, but I'm REALLY sleepy a lot of the time. Have a hard time waking up in the a.m. and stay sleepy, wanting to go back to bed for most of the day. How do you guys deal with having a head cold and trying to stay on CPAP? I'm very focused on trying to use this thing, 'cause I'm a little spooked by my test results. But it feels like my quality of life is plummeting into the can!!! I'll appreciate any input. I live in a large metropolitan city, am a former healthcare provider, and am stunned by the lack of follow-up here. I don't even have my first f/u MD appointment for 3 more weeks. Sounds wrong to me..... -Susan


Mike said:

from Robert -- "let me tell you, I as well as many others have been were you are right now and first, let me assure you you have nothing to worry about regarding your sleep study. In fact its the beginning of healing for you. sleep is healing you are on the way to a good nights sleep, probably for the first time in years. if you use ANYTHNG unusual or special to help you sleep short of your mattress, bring it, whether it be pillows or blanket, or dental appliance. secondly let me tell you, sleep affects your mental, physical and spiritual condition. you will never heal without good sleep. Good luck my friend and keep me posted
Be blessed
Robert"

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Permalink Reply by RD on July 31, 2009 at 1:49pm

Hi Claire,
This is a lot to read but I hope it's useful to you. I just went through a sleep test last week. It's easy, painless, and all you really have to do is sleep. The room at the hospital was private and simulated a normal motel type bedroom as well as they could. I was told that I could bring my own pillow (in fact recommended) and my normal sleep clothes. No cell phones, MP3/5 players, or anything else that might disturb the sleep process. Also, no caffeine products beginning at noon the day of the test and limit your fluids from 6pm on.
When I arrived the nurse hooked me up to several wires, two on each leg in the calf area and (i think) eight more on my head. The leg wires were to measure any muscle twitch I might have when I sleep and the ones on my head were to measure brain activity during the night. She also placed a couple of small tubes (like the air tubes you see in hospital movies/shows) in my nostrils that were to measure the air pressure coming into and out of my nose. Lastly, there are two elastic bands, one around your chest area and one around the stomach to help measure the rise and fall of your chest cavity as you breath. This will help them determine if and when you stop breathing during the night and for how long. That was basically it.
Before the final hook up the nurse let me sit and do sudukos (as I typically do in the evenings before bedtime.) When I felt drowsy, I was able to call her on the intercom and do the final hook up. Once you are in bed and the test starts -- you are in bed for the night. I was told I could roll left or right but could not sit up. If I needed to go to the bathroom all I needed to do was say something and the sleep tech would hear me over the open intercom and unhook me so that I could go. Once the test begins they want it to run as continuously as possible so that the sleep specialist can get the best picture of what happens with you during a typical nights sleep. I was told the test generates over 800-pages of material that needs to be interpreted.
After a few simple tests of the system to make sure she has made good connections you can take a couple of deep breaths and just go to sleep the best you can.
The sleep technician I had to monitor my test (watch me sleep) was very kind and courteous, and answered alot of my questions. The clinic I went to assigns one tech per individual - your welfare and the smooth operation of all the monitors is their sole mission during the night.
The harnessess were, for me, slightly uncomfortable. After a bit I got comfortable on my right side and went to sleep.
In the morning, at around 6 a.m. My sleep tech woke me up and got me out of the harness. I was allowed to wash up in the sink before getting dressed. Once, dressed I was free to go, no muss-no fuss. Whereby I went to breakfast with my wife and when I got home immediately went to bed and slept again until noon.

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