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10-21-2011, 04:46 PM | #1 | ||
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Hi, Dr. Smith:
A pneumologist did an overnight sleep test on me while I was hospitalized for that night time test, but I do not know if it is complete and accurate. I doubt his qualifications. He studied in Lebanon and he was not even able to diagnose my asthma, disease which a lot of other doctors (specialists and primary care physicians) were able to diagnose. I have the feeling this idiotic pneumologist does not believe me when I describe all my symptoms to me. He treated me like a liar. This test was not done in a sleep lab. I was hospitalized (can you believe it?) in the maternity ward, even though I was not a pregnant woman ready to give birth. Like I said, I am infertile. |
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10-23-2011, 11:19 AM | #2 | |||
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Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
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I don't know what kind of test it was or how it was done. Mine was in a sleep lab by a sleep specialist. They stuck about a zillion electrodes all over my head & body, which were plugged into monitors & stuff, and they had a camera & microphone on me all night. If I even whispered, the technicians could hear me and we could have a conversation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_medicine The dx was based on the number of times per hour I stopped breathing (I don't recall the exact criteria, but I do recall that it can vary with different labs/doctors), and analysis of the data collected from the electrodes/monitors. My apnea turned out to be fairly serious; I now require/use a c-pap machine & foam wedge. Most (if not all) tests are fallible in one way or another. If it's (pardon the sick humor) keeping you up nights , it's up to you if it's worth pursuing. Doc
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Dr. Zachary Smith Oh, the pain... THE PAIN... Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE. All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor. |
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10-27-2011, 01:24 AM | #3 | |||
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Legendary
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I am taking Keppra, about the same as you are. One side effect is drowsiness at times. I am also on Lamictal. At times I am the same as you are on sleeping, usually I lay there and try to relax even more, most of the time it seems to work. I to sometimes sweat in the night, my husband (a nurse) says it could be my blood count. Try drinking some hot herbal tea (caffeine Fee) it seems to relax a person with sleeping problems. We get it at the store under tea aisle, it is under Celestial Seasoning. At my sleeping test the tech said using music doesn't help, but I too like the music. What they do say is sleep under a fan hitting you face. The reason I had the test done is I stopped breathing as I was snoring at night, the doctor tested me at is was positive. Two years later I have been tested again and I still have it as bad. Hopefully you can find out a solution to your situation soon. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Darlene
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Last edited by Darlene; 10-28-2011 at 12:49 AM. Reason: miss spelling |
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10-27-2011, 02:17 PM | #4 | |||
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Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
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I'm sorry, Darlene, could you please clarify that?
Doc
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Dr. Zachary Smith Oh, the pain... THE PAIN... Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE. All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor. |
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10-28-2011, 12:51 AM | #5 | |||
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Legendary
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Thank you for letting me know, I corrected it.
Darlene
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. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil -- it has no point.
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10-28-2011, 08:11 AM | #6 | |||
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Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
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Thanks, that's interesting. I can remember falling asleep under a tree with a light summer breeze on me in days gone by. I occasionally sleep with a fan on me now to help with night sweats, but my c-pap mask covers so much I doubt enough breeze gets to my face!
This won't help everyone, but one thing that can knock me out really fast (usually under 5 minutes now) is some kind of massage or other physical stimulation (vibration, rocking, whatever). It only needs to be a small contact point/area on a hand, arm, foot, leg... I would guess it's from some kind of release of endorphins combined with a type of self-hypnosis. It began when my wife tried to help alleviate headaches or other pain by massage, which gave me something to focus intently (and intensely) on & hence bypass the pain signal. Over time (practice) very little is required. If we're lying in bed she can just rub my forearm with her thumb for a few minutes and I'm out cold. Touching the fan with my foot or resting my hand on the c-pap (vibration) can do the same thing (but there's a lot to be said for the human contact). HTH, Doc
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Dr. Zachary Smith Oh, the pain... THE PAIN... Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE. All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor. |
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11-04-2011, 11:13 PM | #7 | |||
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i find that apnea is nearly nonexistent when i sleep on my side. so sleeping on your side during might give a false impression to the sleep lab. i also have the drooling. i recommend washing your pillow often for that.
i can tell when i have rolled over on my back because i wake myself up with a loud snore and a headache. |
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11-05-2011, 12:28 AM | #8 | |||
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Senior Member (**Dr Smith is named after a character from Lost in Space, not a medical doctor)
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Quote:
My wife & I both had two go-arounds with the sleep lab - once preliminary, and once with a trial c-pap. Each time they told both of us to sleep however we normally do, which makes sense. I couldn't the second time, but the way they conducted the whole test was so unscientific and with so many variables that it was a joke. They didn't seem to care. I was tempted to write about it, but to what end/purpose? They still dxed us both with apneas sufficient to warrant c-paps. Doc
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Dr. Zachary Smith Oh, the pain... THE PAIN... Dr. Smith is NOT a medical doctor. He was a character from LOST IN SPACE. All opinions expressed are my own. For medical advice/opinion, consult your doctor. |
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