Hello,
I participated in a sleep study. I brought way too much stuff to keep me occupied until I dropped off to sleep. I did bring my bottled water. The tech wired me up to check my impulses while I was sleeping. I made sure I was very, very tired so I wouldn't think about all the patches on my body (used to secure the wires). It wasn't a secret that I snored so I planned on snoring. The test showed I had sleep apnea and will have to return to the sleep center to be fitted for some kind of apparatus to help me sleep at night. I heard the machine makes noise and I'm wondering where's the advantage to my family. They'd like to enjoy a silent night.

I couldn't help but laugh at the whole experience, I called it my MONK slumber party.

Has anyone else participated in a sleep study? You report to a sleep center. You have your own private room, er maybe not all that private, and there's a monitor on the wall. As far as I know there isn't a camera watching me, just a machine registering my impulses. I made sure I wore my nicest pajamas just in case I was on camera.

Hi Anne

I did the same thing and I do believe there is a camera in the room. I can tell you that I never slept better once I had my machine at home and started using it. A few tips if I may, You won't be all that comfortable during the study as I guess you found out during the test. It will be pretty much the same experience except for the machine. It may take a few tries to get used to the mask but try real hard not to give up. Ask the tech to show you how you can remove the mask ( if you need to ) before they turn it on and also ask them if they can ramp it so that the air starts out slowly and gradually increases to what you need. Remember if you give up and go home before the test is completed you either have to come back and do it again or you can't get the machine so really try to find a way to tolerate the mask during the study. It will be a whole lot better experience when you get the machine at home. I find that if you put the mask on before the machine is turned on it is better. Another tip when placing the mask on do not open your mouth just continue to
breathe through your nose this is the absolute best way. All it will feel like is air or a wind machine and that is all it really is. All that it does is direct the air through the nose so that the flap stays open and you can't stop breathing.

I have to say that it takes time to get used to but I found that I awake fresh and alert and I don't have that oh I want to go back to sleep tired feeling anymore. I wouldn't sleep without it now because in the beginning I fell asleep once without it and oh my I dragged all day I felt like I hadn't slept at all. I think the benefits far out way the inconvenience and once you get used to it you don't even think about it being there anymore but this comes with using the machine every night. Eventually you will learn how to talk when the mask is on but in the beginning it will be a little hard because when you open your mouth all the air comes out but it can be funny once you are used to it. As for the noise my machine doesn't really make a lot of noise once the mask is on and all you here if you turn it on before you put the mask on is the sound of the air blowing out of the mask.

I wish you all the best with your study and I hope that you can get past the first few tries and that you keep using it because it really has a lot of benefits for you. Just keep trying.

Let me know how you make out.

Bubba you would be amazed how big a difference it makes when you sleep the way your supposed to and not just how we are used to doing it. If you snore the chances are good that you have sleep apnea. And it is usually the sleep apnea that makes our body keep waking us up because we have momentarily stopped breathing and then we toss and turn but we don't know it or realize it while we are sleeping. It is always good to get it checked out because there is nothing better than a good nights restful sleep.








Disclaimer:
Opinions expressed are my own and not professional medical advice. One should always check with their doctor.

Holy smokes! I did one also. I got to do part 2 of it though soon.

Did you get to see yourself video-taped??? It's kinda weird watching yourself sleeping.


But my room had a magnificant view of NYC!!!!


And the funny thing was......can you believe it, there was an episode of Monk about 6 a.m. in the morning that I was able to watch. Unfortunetly I couldn't finish it cause my part of the study was done.

I forgot what the title was but it was the one with Andy Richter I think. Hopefully I'll be able to catch the ending soon.

Hi MDR, no I didn't get to view any of the sleep video but at a follow up appointment the doctor goes over all your sleep patterns and if you had any episodes when you stopped breathing. This can be a shocker when the doctor tells you something like you stopped breathing 90 times during the study. It makes you want to get that mask quickly!

The episode you mentioned is Mr Monk Makes A Friend.