fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2666 ]

[ SECRET POST #2666 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2666 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

__________________________________________________

02.

__________________________________________________

03.

__________________________________________________

04.

__________________________________________________

05.

__________________________________________________

06.

__________________________________________________

07.

__________________________________________________

08.

__________________________________________________

09.

__________________________________________________

10.

__________________________________________________

11.

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 000 secrets from Secret Submission Post #381.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 1 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I have to get a sleep study tomorrow, and I'm kind of nervous about it. I toss and turn a lot, so I'm worried that I'm going to end up wrapped in wires and choking myself.

Has anyone gotten one done?

The only thing I know about sleep studies was learned from movies like A Nightmare On Elm Street, so...

But there are people watching over you, no? They're sure to keep you safe from the wires don't worry -- and honestly, if you're choking yourself I bet you'd wake up on your own.

I thought I was going to have one done at one point but then the sleep doctor just had me do a sleep diary for a couple weeks and then he decided to blame my problems on bad habits and did nothing but lecture me. Luckily my mental illnesses were diagnosed soon after and my sleep problems were helped by the antidepressants that finally worked.

Anyway, I hope your study goes well. Sleep problems are so frustrating.

I have not but I did 'attend' one for my mother since I'm the caregiver. She does not turn around a lot at all (in fact she was determined to no longer have sleep apnea). But they have someone watching all night (sounds spooky but it's all for safety) and I know they've had all sorts of types of sleepers. Those that are dead as a rock to those that toss and turn (which I tend to do).

It's a pun, warning you, but be rest assured! (groan I know) You'll be safe.

I toss and turn a lot, so I'm worried that I'm going to end up wrapped in wires and choking myself.

I haven't done a sleep study, but I've been hooked up to machines and IVs while I slept, and I also toss and turn a lot. I wouldn't worry about this. Unless you regularly find yourself almost choking yourself with your bedclothes. I'd be more concerned with them pulling loose, but even that seems unlikely.

Yes, several. They wired me up - this takes ages, and it took even longer to get the goo out of my hair afterwards. Then they left me to read until I felt sleepy, at which point I buzzed them and they came in and connected the wires to the monitors. Then they left me to settle down. There's usually one or two technicians who stay up all night in another room - one is better, two tend to talk and might need to be told to shut up! If you get tangled, there's a buzzer you can press to get them to come and untangle you. Same goes for toilet breaks.

It's a really useful thing to have done. I've been given printouts of my sleep patterns, which are interesting and reassuring; for instance I slept much longer than I thought I did, even though I didn't get much deep sleep. Problems are generally easy to diagnose from the printouts, and are usually easily dealt with, even for people like me who have a whole slew of them. After dealing with the problems, sleep is much easier and more refreshing. It is all so worth it.

Good luck, and please let us know how you get on!

I had one a few years ago. It was honestly the most awkward thing ever. Prepare to have a lot of wires and gunk in your hair, and the worst sleep you've ever had unless you're truly exhausted because who can sleep with electrodes gum-pasted to your scalp.

Also mine made me feel out pre and post-sleep surveys with questions like, "How long do you think it took you to fall asleep?", "How long do you think your longest stretch of sleep was?" etc.

One of the fic writers I follow got one done. It turns out that he intermittently stops breathing when he sleeps. (Which explains a lot about his state of mind, actually.) It sounded like they kept a pretty close eye on him.

Yes, but it was many, many years ago and I don't remember all that much about it other than it was difficult to go to sleep and getting the gunk out of my hair was hell on earth. Uh...I know there are people who watch you though, so rest assured if something happened to you, someone would be around to help. (However, I doubt the wires are going to be that big of an issue. Talk to them about it if you're concerned. They've surely seen other people who toss and turn too; I'm sure they have experience.)

Yes, I've had sleep-deprived EEGs.

I'm sure they have experience with doing them and they won't let you choke to death or anything.

The main thing is that saline solution they put the sensors in your hair itches like crazy when it dries and is all crusty and yuck. And I always have to wait until I get home to wash it out, and it looks terrible. So bring a hat to cover that.

Otherwise it's fine.

Both my sisters and my brother had sleep studies done. One of them is pretty active when she sleeps, and she had no problems, so I think you'll be all right.

Yup! I had one to get diagnosed with my sleep disorder-- a full polysomnogram & MSLT. Which are you having? Based on your description, the polysomnogram, which is absolutely nothing to stress about. I was worries I wouldn't be able to fall asleep, and had zero problems. The wires were a tad annoying, but they put them on long before you go to sleep, and you get used to them. Just make sure they put them on when you get there, and it won't be a problem by the time you're getting to bed :) Honestly, it wasn't nearly as bad as anticipated. I thought I tossed and turned, and it turns out I fell asleep within 15 minutes of them turning the lights off and slept all the way until morning. The MSLT was vaguely more anxiety inducing, but still went fine. It was pretty boring, but secretly sort of awesome to get to sleep regularly. What are you getting tested for, if you don't mind me asking?

Seriously, though, don't stress! If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask your helpful neighborhood anon (me) :) I've spent a lot of time at the sleep doctor's in my life, and probably double that reading up on sleep doctors, so I am happy to help :)

They think I might have apnea (also have insomnia). They didn't tell me what kind of sleep study, just where I needed to go and that I'd be hooked up.

Almost definitely a polysomnogram, then. I'm not sure how much info you already have on it, but basically they'll put sensors on your head (the most annoying part for me, to be honest), plus ones on your legs to see if you have restless leg syndrome, an oxygen monitor under your nose, and a pulse monitor on your finger. You get a belt with a million and one cords hooked up to it to keep around your waist. It's somewhat silly advice, I know, but relax as much as you can. At the end of the day, they're just trying to measure what your sleep cycle is normally like. And if something tugs or feels terribly uncomfortable-- tell them! My nurse, at least, was very accommodating, and I was pretty anxious about everything.

Good luck!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ SECRET POST #2666 ]

Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study

Re: Sleep study