Fibro Feelings – Sleep Study
This week I had the exciting experience of having a sleep study conducted. I’ve always been intrigued with how researchers say the sleep patterns of people with fibromyalgia typically are different than those without fibromyalgia. You may recall me saying that Dr. Andrew Holman said that all people with fibromyalgia should have a sleep study done. Well, my new Rheumatologist suggested that I get one during my very first appointment with him. I previously went in for a sleep consultation, where they had me fill out paper work, talked to me and decided that I should have a sleep study conducted.
I arrived to the sleep study hours before my usual bedtime (the latest check-in they offered) with my pillow and a bag full of goodies that I thought I might need. I’ll be writing a separate post about that later. There wasn’t a clock in the room, so I have no clue how long I slept or how long anything took, but I’d guess that wiring me up probably took 20 minutes. I had sensors on my legs, abdomen, chest, chin, nose, check bones, near my eyes, on my forehead, one finger and in my hair. I felt like a marionette doll! The sleep technician told me that she’d need me to lay on my back for awhile while she went into the control room and checked my connection. Laying on my back was quite painful, but the technician helped me get a pillow under my knees, which made it bearable. After replacing two sensory pads she had me follow instructions to create a control sample. I did things like move my eyes up, down, left, right, cough (I couldn’t fake snore) and blink.
The bedding was pretty light weight, so I asked for another blanket and they brought in a fluffy comforter, which was perfect! Amazingly, I actually was able to get some sleep. I very carefully was able to turn onto my sides. Around 5am I was awoken by the sound of other patients leaving. The sleep technician woke me up at 6am to unwire me and have me fill out a form. I’ve never been a morning person, so I was pretty much a walking zombie all day. I thought I might try to go back to bed when I got home, but I had to shower ASAP to get the super thick and sticky glue out of my hair. It took almost 20 minutes of me massaging the glue with shampoo and scraping it with my nails to get it all out!
Have you ever considered having a sleep study done?
You my also be interested in reading:
Tips & Tools for Having a Sleep Study
Sleep Issues with Fibromyalgia
The view looking down to my abdomen - there is no way someone could sleep on their tummy wearing this!
Posted: June 2nd, 2011 under Fibro Feelings.
Tags: Back, Bedding, Insomnia, Sleep, Sleep Study
Comments
Comment from karen
Time June 2, 2011 at 8:44 am
When u get your results, let me know. I’m really seriously considering doing one. I sleep all night but wake feeling like I’ve gotten no rest at all. I may talk to my rheumy about doing one later in the year.
karen recently posted: Baby Foot Diet What the hell!
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Comment from Tami Stackelhouse
Time June 2, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Dr. Ginevra Liptan, in her awesome book Figuring out Fibromyalgia talks about how the sleep patterns of folks with fibro are different than those of normal folks. It’s an excellent read for explaining why this happens. I think everyone with fibro should read her book. =)
I had a sleep study done five years ago when I was first in the process of being diagnosed. At the time the only odd thing they found was that I never got into REM sleep. I want to have another done to look for the things Dr. Liptan mentions in her book.
I also want to have my hubby get one done because I think HIS poor sleep is disturbing MY sleep! =)
Tami Stackelhouse recently posted: Book Review- “Figuring out Fibromyalgia- Current Science and the Most Effective Treatments-” by Ginevra Liptan- MD
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Tami – I haven’t read Dr. Liptan’s book yet, but it is on my list. It is good to know that you liked it so much. It is funny that you mention your husband – my sleep technician told me that most of the people who come in are men who come in because their wives think they have sleep apnea. She said they usually are annoyed to be tested, but then shocked to find out they have bad sleep apnea!
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Comment from Monique
Time June 2, 2011 at 8:23 pm
I haven’t had a sleep study done, but I have 2 hospital seizure studies and one bring home seizure study.
I know it doesn’t help any now, and from it sounds like the glue isn’t the same anyway. But, I have found that the sleeping satin caps that you can find in the ethnic hair section help a lot with keeping the glue/goo from getting on pillows & cases brought from home. They only intefered once with one of them, and that was b’cause I put it on too soon. They are less than $2.00, so not a huge loss if they don’t work for you.
And if you have no sores on your head, a good thing to do is take a Q-Tip dipped in nail polish remover, acetone, and let it sit for a few seconds on the spots where the glue was. Leave it on for a few minutes, and then work shampoo in. It doesn’t make it easy, but it has helped make it easier.
Monique recently posted: shake some water in it
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Glue on my pillow case?!? I didn’t even think to look at my pillow case to see if it had clue on it! Thanks for all the glue handling tips, Monique.
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Comment from Courtney
Time June 3, 2011 at 12:54 am
Ah, looks like u got off lucky with the cords. I had WAY more hooked up and having to rest on or near me. Your study sounds pretty much like mine, though at 5am, I didn’t get to leave like the others. Since they found no sleep apena, they wanted to run a series of nap cycles, so I was there from like 10pm-4pm. Throughout that entire time, I NEVER got any REM sleep…the good stuff basically, which explains why I always wake up feeling just as tired as I did when I laid down to sleep. The glue was a pain in the butt, since I already have so many thin/balding areas, then I had to pull and pick thru that thick crap, ugh! Please let me know as soon as your results come back babes!
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
June 3rd, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Courtney – do you mean the cords from the picture? Those were probably only 15% of the wires. I was hooked up to a bigger machine that was on the bed with me. Did they have any suggestions for you, to help you get REM sleep?
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Comment from Kelby
Time June 3, 2011 at 7:51 am
Wow! I never thought about getting a sleep study done for my hubby (who has Fibro). Thanks Tami for the great book suggestion. I’ll have to check it out.
Kelby recently posted: Start of Summer!
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Comment from Laura
Time June 3, 2011 at 8:23 am
I had a sleep study several years ago and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. At the time I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It was determined in the study I did have moderate sleep apnea and was prescribed a cpap machine. I had to go back to the sleep center for a nightvto get the measurements adjusted. I then got the machine for home. I used it for several weeks but just did not tolerate it well. I stopes using it entirely. I have since been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and have considered using it again. Please keep us posted on your results.
Laura recently posted: Am I Handicapped No- not yet at least
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
June 3rd, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Laura – Did your sleep study doctor talk to you about other options, besides CPAP, to treat sleep apnea? I just recently realized there are many different options, like special mouth pieces and surgery.
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Karen – I’m so excited to get the results since I think the information they record is really neat! Sounds like a sleep study might be helpful for you, good luck talking to your doctor about it!
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