Sleep Study Anxiety?

[Dwwmills]

Hello everyone.

I’m just wondering whether anyone has had any experience with Sleep Studies? They are usually conducted through a sleep clinic where you are connected up to wires and tubes and monitored whilst you sleep to try and detect any problems.

I have had two so far and to say that the word “Sleep” was relevant in any way is an exaggeration. For me more like “Awake Study” would be a better description. The first study I think I managed an hour and a half and the one I had last night, possibly three hours. It’s hard to know for sure until you get the results but when I said to the attendant this morning, “I think I got a bit of sleep last night at least.” He said “Not so much.”

I know with the first sleep study that I was trying to get to sleep too hard and got anxious and worked up because I wasn’t sleeping but I think last night I was fairly relaxed about the whole thing. In some ways it’s understandable as you’re trying to sleep with a bundle of wires attached to you and an infrared camera watching your every move. Other people manage to do it though! My concern is that perhaps my anxiety levels are a little bit high without me realising it.

I’m just wondering how other people have experienced Sleep Studies. Did you find it difficult to sleep?

Cheers

Dean

[White_Rose]

Hello Dean

I have had a couple of sleep studies over the years. I have sleep apnoea and used a CPAP machine for many years. And yes, I find the sleep studies very difficult. For the first two I slept in a hospital bed which was part of the problem. No bathroom and a light on all night so the person monitoring me could see me. Only one person at the sleep study because of lack of facilities. I felt like a rat navigating a maze.

The last one was in a new facility with, as you say, infra red cameras connected to monitors watched by whoever it was. He wanted me to go to sleep at 9: 00 pm so he could have everyone wired up early. I agreed to be wired but said 9:00 was too early for sleep. Even so I spent a fairly restless night and I was used to sleeping with a CPAP machine.

One thing I realised in hindsight was the monitor for oxygen readings. In general this is monitored by a clip on one finger. At least this is where it has always been placed by nurses etc. The first chappie clamped it to my ear and it was very painful. He was adamant it could not go anywhere else.

I think there are several downsides to sleep studies. You are sleeping in a strange bed and you are in a hospital setting. Neither conducive to sleep. No matter which way you lie in bed it seems there is always something sticking into you. And then there is the number of times you dislodge a lead from from one of the terminals and someone comes in to replace it.

No going to the toilet in the night because you need to be unhooked first. Bed was more comfortable though.

When I saw the specialist we discussed how long I had been awake and how difficult it was to sleep anywhere near normally. The specialist took this into account I believe when writing his report and deciding on treatment.

It is certainly anxiety making and I cannot tell you how much your anxiety contributed to your wakeful periods. I think staying awake is due more to the various wires attached to your body and the difficulty of moving at all without setting off an alarm.

Hope this helps.

Mary

[pipsy]

Hi Dean. I have never had the problem personally, but a few years ago my ex experienced similar problems. He was referred to a 'sleep' clinic not far from where we live. I seem to remember he was given the option of remaining in the clinic or going home. There was some sort of monitor attached to the wires, to indicate sleep and no sleep etc. He was 'wired' but sent home. His sleep was difficult to say the least. He did manage a couple of hours, but he did look a bit like Frankenstein's monster. The results for him were inconclusive and we never followed up. I do believe though that if the tests are conducted properly, the results should indicate what the problem is. I believe the infra-red camera is attached to a computer which in turn is attached to a monitor. It's all very scientifically controlled, but whether it actually gives a clear idea what the problem is I have no idea. It could be your anxiety levels stopped you from sleeping, which is understandable. If you still have concerns, maybe a talk with your Dr would be a start. He may be able to suggest another type of test minus wires, camera's, computers etc.

Lynda

[Dwwmills]

Thanks for the replies Mary and Lynda.

I’m not sure what’s going on really but having all those wires connected to you is definitely not conducive to sleep. I suppose it’s probably just the usual cumulative thing with anxiety. The event itself is not necessarily a big trigger but if it is put on top of everything else in your life it may be enough just to trigger.

I’ll just need to wait until the results come back and go from there.

Thanks again for your replies.

Dean

[White_Rose]

Hello Dean

May I ask what you are being tested for? I wonder if the anxiety is more about the possible outcome than the sleep study. Just a thought.

How is the rest of your life going? I gather you have an anxiety problem and I am wondering if there is anything else happening. While we try to support everyone who writes in here there are times when we need to point a person to a different source of information. Consulting the internet is OK for general answers but it is best to go to the experts in whatever field you are researching. Dr Google has too many opinions at times.

I hope you will let us know how you get on.

Mary

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

I've had 3 sleep studies and now use a cpap.

Gotta admit each time I was worried about whether I'd sleep or not so I limited my sleep the night before to 5 hours.

I slept right through with those wires on me in what aren't comfortable beds.

Tony WK