utah hunter
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After posting the thread on my health the other day( http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,204508.0.html ), I didn't know I would be adding a new diagnosis to the list so soon. Because of lack of sleep, and he severe movement disorder I talk about in the health thread, I went to sleep clinic to see if they could help.
The test:
I went in at 9:00 at night to the clinic at the University of Utah Hospital. You go in a room that has a camera that records you while you are "sleeping", or not sleeping as the case may be. The only light when the door is closed is the red light on the camera that has night vision technology, so light doesn't' affect your sleep. They hook you up with all kinds of wiring from head to toe. They are checking for restless leg, muscle spasms, heart rate, brain waves, and oxygen levels in the blood. You take your normal sleep meds, if you are on any. There is a list of things to do to prepare, like not drinking caffeine after noon, and so forth. The bed was VERY comfortable. They had gotten new ones in, and sprung for the best. The U of U hospital is top notch, and one of the best in the country. I actually slept about the same there as at home, which was very surprising to me. Most people with sleep problems have trouble not sleeping in their own bed, let alone with cords going everywhere, but it was just fine in my opinion. There is no TV in the room, so if you like to fall asleep watching TV, which is a big no-no anyway, you may have trouble falling asleep. you also shouldn't take your normal sleeping pills before you are all wired up. It takes about 20 minutes, and they have had problems with people falling asleep while they are trying to put wires on, which has to be done sitting up.
The results I got yesterday, December 9th:
A little background on me, I am 5'9 and weigh 165, so not overweight at all, and am 39 years old. I don't snore, and I sleep breathing through my nose only. I had none of the 3 main factors in sleep apnea. The only risk factor is family history of apnea. The Dr didn't think I would have problems with apnea, I was only going for the other conditions I listed, and to try to help get better sleep quality.
I was shocked to find out I stopped breathing an average of 40 times per hour over an 8 hour period. 320 times in a night. They could also see the severe muscle spasms on camera, but nothing in the test gave a way to treat them, except hopefully getting better sleep. They fitted me for a mask yesterday while I was there to go with the cpap machine I will be getting. There were 3 options for masks.
The first has to be used if you sleep breathing through your mouth. I covers your nose and mouth fully. That mask wouldn't have been that bad, but because of my muscle tremors it was bugging me after a few minutes. My lower jaw has constant tremors that you can't see, and I can only feel if I have something like a mask on my face. The mask part over my chin was vibrating with the tremors, really a weird feeling.
The second went over just the nose, and of course can only be used if you breath through your nose at night. if you snore, you need the full mask. I liked this one the best.
The third just kind of went in your nostrils. It felt really weird, and if you have drainage from allergies, it tends to gather around the nostril plugs, instead of draining properly down the back of your throat.
Next week I will have to sleep at the clinic again with the mask on all night. The cpap machine works by putting a little pressure with the oxygen, gently forcing your body to keep breathing. I like the feel of breathing with the mask on. If I tolerate it well and it helps the problem, I will be sent home with the machine. The cpap machine runs at a nice gentle hum, they are not as loud as they used to be.
The cost? I am not sure, I am on cobra and diagnostic tests like MRI's, the sleep clinic, and others are covered 100%. That has been very nice, even at 10% I would have spent thousands on my testing over the last 18 months.
The test:
I went in at 9:00 at night to the clinic at the University of Utah Hospital. You go in a room that has a camera that records you while you are "sleeping", or not sleeping as the case may be. The only light when the door is closed is the red light on the camera that has night vision technology, so light doesn't' affect your sleep. They hook you up with all kinds of wiring from head to toe. They are checking for restless leg, muscle spasms, heart rate, brain waves, and oxygen levels in the blood. You take your normal sleep meds, if you are on any. There is a list of things to do to prepare, like not drinking caffeine after noon, and so forth. The bed was VERY comfortable. They had gotten new ones in, and sprung for the best. The U of U hospital is top notch, and one of the best in the country. I actually slept about the same there as at home, which was very surprising to me. Most people with sleep problems have trouble not sleeping in their own bed, let alone with cords going everywhere, but it was just fine in my opinion. There is no TV in the room, so if you like to fall asleep watching TV, which is a big no-no anyway, you may have trouble falling asleep. you also shouldn't take your normal sleeping pills before you are all wired up. It takes about 20 minutes, and they have had problems with people falling asleep while they are trying to put wires on, which has to be done sitting up.
The results I got yesterday, December 9th:
A little background on me, I am 5'9 and weigh 165, so not overweight at all, and am 39 years old. I don't snore, and I sleep breathing through my nose only. I had none of the 3 main factors in sleep apnea. The only risk factor is family history of apnea. The Dr didn't think I would have problems with apnea, I was only going for the other conditions I listed, and to try to help get better sleep quality.
I was shocked to find out I stopped breathing an average of 40 times per hour over an 8 hour period. 320 times in a night. They could also see the severe muscle spasms on camera, but nothing in the test gave a way to treat them, except hopefully getting better sleep. They fitted me for a mask yesterday while I was there to go with the cpap machine I will be getting. There were 3 options for masks.
The first has to be used if you sleep breathing through your mouth. I covers your nose and mouth fully. That mask wouldn't have been that bad, but because of my muscle tremors it was bugging me after a few minutes. My lower jaw has constant tremors that you can't see, and I can only feel if I have something like a mask on my face. The mask part over my chin was vibrating with the tremors, really a weird feeling.
The second went over just the nose, and of course can only be used if you breath through your nose at night. if you snore, you need the full mask. I liked this one the best.
The third just kind of went in your nostrils. It felt really weird, and if you have drainage from allergies, it tends to gather around the nostril plugs, instead of draining properly down the back of your throat.
Next week I will have to sleep at the clinic again with the mask on all night. The cpap machine works by putting a little pressure with the oxygen, gently forcing your body to keep breathing. I like the feel of breathing with the mask on. If I tolerate it well and it helps the problem, I will be sent home with the machine. The cpap machine runs at a nice gentle hum, they are not as loud as they used to be.
The cost? I am not sure, I am on cobra and diagnostic tests like MRI's, the sleep clinic, and others are covered 100%. That has been very nice, even at 10% I would have spent thousands on my testing over the last 18 months.
who trys to stop you from using your cpap. You won't need as much of this 
once you get going on the cpap. Good Luck and happy sleeping.
