so lately my doctor has been really pressing me to get a sleep study done. He says that he really wants to know what is going on with my sleep patterns, and thinking that something is probably waking me up in the middle of the night (hence the reason I don't ever feel rested).
I know this sounds silly, because a sleep study probably would be beneficial, but I feel very uncomfortable with it. I am not even sure why I feel uncomfortable, I guess I just don't want to feel like a bug in a jar, straped up and getting stared at. I don't know. Has anyone ever done a sleep study test? Are they beneficial? Has anyone shared similar feelings of discomfort regarding this topic?
I have had one recently. I expressed some concern, as I failed to see how you could get accurate reading when someone was somewhere like a hotel and knowing they were being tracked, as you feel. Turned out I didn't have to worry. The new technology is a small machine you take home! Ask if your sleep study can be an at-home one.
It's just under the size of a normal paperback book and has two straps. one goes around your waist and one around your chest. I'm a "big" gal, and they adjusted just fine. The little monitor lays on your chest. It has hook ups for various wires to the two straps, a tiny microphone the size of an earbud that you tape to your throat, a pulse oximeter that fits over your fingertip, and a nasal cannula like the ones on oxygen machines that fits over your ears/under your nose. You turn it on when you get in bed and off when you get up, then turn it in and they download and analyze the data.
It was awkward, but much more comfortable than going somewhere and sleeping in a strange bed. It stays put even if you turn on your side.
I did my sleep study Thursday. My insurance only pays for it to be done at home. I had to hook it all up myself but it wasn’t too complicated. For me, it was miserable because I couldn’t sleep in my normal position and the straps made me hurt the next day. Just my body’s reaction to anything that touches it. But it was one night. It is done and over and they could rule out sleep apnea and move on. The sleep study guy says they realize no one sleeps good during the study but they can still get enough info. I would say do it and get it over with just to be done. I’m just glad mine is done.
I had one done not long ago I do not have sleep apnea. But they did find out I never went into a full sleep because my body jerked all night. I was given meds and now do feel some better than before. I had mine done at the sleep center.
IIt will help your doctor put the pieces of the puzzle together, you are lucky to have such a thorough doctor because part of fibro is that you do not fall into REM sleep that is why you wake up feeling so tired and not rested. I really don't understand your hesitation he is trying to help you and sleep is a big part of the problem, it not invasive, it doesn't hurt' it's not embarrassing so I really don't understand why you are so hesitant, you are hooked up to a lot of monitors but it is a test,your doctor is doing the right thing for you, I think you should have the test if it was a child you would not hesitate to do it if was in there best inters don't sabotage yourself your worrying about nothing but going to sleep you do it probably not very well every night good luck sleepy head
Do the sleep study, poor sleep causes fibro. It is akward and difficult falling asleep in a different environment with wires hooked up to you, but if you really have a hard time sleeping they will give you something to help sleep.
I have had 4 sleep studies during the last 10 years, including the "nap" test the next day. I found out in 2004 that I had restless legs and PLMS (periodic limb movement disorder in sleep). In 2004, when I went to Mayo Clinic, I found out I had Fibro which was caused by Restless Legs, which was caused by low ferritin iron (a blood test they don't usually order). I had a uterine ablation, took iron supplements for several months, and take mirapex, and for a couple of years I was symptom free:) :) In addition, I now have sleep apnea, since I have gained a lot of weight, but it is treated with CPAP.
Yes, Teri, Jeannie and the others are right. Poor sleep is one of the causes of fibro. It is very good information for your doctor to have. Even if we stay asleep through the night and wake thinking we've slept, it can be poor quality sleep. I've had a sleep study. It was at a clinic. Felt like a hotel room. Very clean, very nice staff. Yes, I have sleep apnea. So, I got the machine (can't remember what it's called). No, I can't sleep with that darned contraption strapped to my head.
My current doctor has some other sleep options to talk to me about. I will be interested to hear in October and will share what she recommends. I'm using a small dose of clonazepam now. But, she doesn't seem to think it offers the right quality of sleep.
Thanks, I appreciate everyone's input. I don't expect that everyone will understand my hesitation towards the sleep test - that is ok. It is just a personal discomfort. I am thinking I will probably go through with it anyway, it sounds like it has had positive affects for you all. Thanks for taking time to respond!