I've had sleep problems probably all of my life. My husband has been wanting me to go to a sleep clinic to see if they can figure it out. I do not snore or have sleep apnea. The past 7 months I have been suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy sensations that make it tough to sleep but others who are not poor sleepers manage better then me. If you know anything about these clinics please share. Thank you.

I waited too long before going for a study. I wished I had done it many years before.
3 times before going to a clinic, I was given the oxygen monitor to use a few nights. I always passed with flying colors. My oxygen stayed within normal limits. I don't snore. My husband never noticed me not breathing. I do have bad dreams and would wake a few times but was always able to go back to sleep right away.

I met with a pulmonologists who specializes in neurology for different reasons other than sleep. She wanted me to have a study.

I filled out the survey. My answers wouldn't warrant any concern that I would have a problem other than sometimes not being rested in the morning.

I did the study. I went at 9pm, to a hospital room that looked like a hotel room.
They gave me a bipap because they wanted me to rest my muscles at night which I wouldn't use. (this would not relate to you in any way)
They connected me to many electrodes.
I slept right away waking up maybe 2 times I could remember.
I never fell below 85% oxygen
I didn't snore
But I did wake up over 90 times which is very bad.

Had I done the test sooner I could have caught this much earlier in my life. It is something easy to rule out. I am still hopeful for improvement but maybe it could have been nipped in the bud sooner.

Had I seen a regular sleep doctor I'm not sure they would have found any problem at all based on normal criteria.

Your nerves need proper sleep to heal.

I would look for a good doctor.

Hi Pinkynose,

As part of my PCP's annual exam, he has his patient's complete an online questionnaire each year at his website before coming in for the exam.

When I went in, he told me I failed the Epworth test. I said the "What test?" He said the questions about my sleep. He said he was going to schedule me for a sleep study at the hospital. Well, no one has contacted me yet to set it up so I think the paperwork fell through the cracks. Not sure if I should just let it go or follow-up on it and do it.

Until I developed all sorts of medical problems, I slept like a log. The minute my head hit the pillow at night, I was out like a light. Slept soundly all night and woke feeling rested.

Since my medical issues, my sleep is not only erratic but I NEVER feel rested. I am tired ALL the time and the amount of sleep has NO effect on my energy level. Not only am I tired, but I also get an attack of the "sleepies" and can NOT keep my eyes open no matter how hard I try. I will almost fall off the chair when this happens and it happens frequently. When talking with my doc, I differentiate my fatigue from my sleepiness. I have them both, but they do not always coincide.

Personally, I think my medications and my illnesses have more to do with my sleep issues than anything else.

I guess I will have the sleep study if the subject comes up again with my doctor but until then, I will probably just let the matter stay in the crack in which it fell.

Let us know if you have your study done and the results if you wish to share them with us.

Funny I stumbled into this forum, I just had one last night to check the settings on my CPap.

All the electrodes, the small bed and not being able to sleep on my stomach did not make for a restful night sleep. From what he told me I should start using a chin strap to keep my mouth closed, they will need to change the settings on my CPap and the amount of times I woke from pain in my back and legs. The leg & back pain I knew about I just had a spinal fusion 3 months ago and with the weather change the past couple of days I've been miserable.

I've been waking up tired and from the night time oxygen monitor tests they could tell my oxygen levels dropped below 88% 4 X so it warranted me to go for the sleep study. So all in all it was pretty decent news.

Other than possibly not having a good nights sleep while you are there you have nothing to lose and only something to gain if they can find something to give you a better nights sleep.

Hi MikeK,

Thanks for your post. Glad to hear I am not the only stomach sleeper.

I have slept on my stomach for 60 plus years. Tried sleeping in other positions, sides, back, and that may last about 5 minutes.

Glad you stumbled into the thread.

And I just received a box via Fed Ex that has a home sleep study in it that my doctor ordered. I called for a prescription for a new mask and stuff and since he was not the one that originally dx'd me he went through my records. He said I should have a sleep test every 5 years. So that's why I have the home study to do.

He did warn me that if the results are too bad I will have to go in over night for the real deal.

My original test results: severely moderate....lol....asked the dr to explain that one and he said I was at the very top of moderate without going over into the severe. I woke up 100's of times an hour but thank goodness never had oxygen problems. I also stopped breathing during the night which is why my husband wanted me to go in the first place. He'd been asking me to go for 20 years but I didn't until he got in my face one day and said "You stop breathing....do you understand....you stop breathing!". So I got 'it' that time and went.

I honestly have never been able to tell if it helps me or not as far as restfulness goes. But I do know that every time I quit breathing it is damaging my organs so I do sleep with it every night. The only time I can't use it is if I have some type of infection like a sinus infection. If I can't breathe through my nose it's a no go.

Just wanted to add my story in case it helps anyone else who has any questions.

Debi from Georgia

What is the point of having a sleep study if no good comes of it? It seems it only confirms that you have a sleep problem, surely the idea is to then with the help of a doctor address the problems the study reveals?

The sleep study gives your dr a lot of information on what happens to you during the night while sleeping.

After my results were back I had to go back for a 2nd sleep study where they put a CPAP on me and kept adjusting it until I was sleeping without all the prior problems they found in the 1st sleep study.

I now have a CPAP that I wear every night at 15 lbs of pressure.

I was thankful that oxygen reduction was not one of my many issues during the study. If so they would have had to add oxygen to my CPAP.

Hope this info helps

Debi from Georgia