Sleep Study

I've been accepted into a sleep study program here that is part of a U of C program. Last week I went for my first visit with the doctor and I was there for 2 hours. This appointment was the most thorough doctor's appointment I have ever been to. The doctor asked me (literally) at least 100 questions about how I sleep, do I have nightmares (all the time),what I do for exercise, how I feel everyday, and everything else under the sun that could possible any anything to do with sleep....so everything.

The doctor has decided that I have a class 4 obstruction in my throat - a class 4 is the worst one - all it means is that I have a narrow throat and my tongue is too big for my mouth. See, I don't have a big mouth! That problem right there will lead to issues when I sleep. When you are sleeping, the tongue relaxes and falls down your throat just a bit, but when mine does, it is too large and cuts off my air supply leading me to wake up. Lets just say I haven't slept through the night in many years. It's no wonder I am so tired and crabby all the time. When you don't get enough sleep in large blocks, your body has a hard time recovering, and it leaves you sleep deprived all the time. I could sleep all day and all night and night and still wake up tired.

Last night I took a sleep monitor home, and lets just say it didn't go well. When I was told about the overnight study, I was told to take a sleeping pill before going to bed. So I did that and hooked myself up to the machine. My poor husband had to sleep on the couch because I had to sleep alone for this. All night I kept waking up, and because I was sedated, I was very confused each time I woke up. A few times I threw the machine off my head. When you do that it beeps and tells you that it has fallen off. I, thankfully, had the capability to put it back on, and I put it upside down once and even told me that it was on wrong. Crazy.

This morning I woke up more tired that usual. I didn't get any sleep last night and because I didn't, the sleeping pill is keeping me a bit groggy. If you see me or talk to me today, that is why I cannot speak coherently! I've dropped the sleep monitor off already, and they download the results of the test. If they have enough results, I go back today at 2:30 to go over what information it gathered. If the results aren't enough, I have to do it again.

Some aspects of the sleep study can be very expensive, but considering the time this has gone on for, the cost of over the counter medications I have tried, the herbs and other stuff that I have bought to try and keep me awake, I think the cost is worth every penny. Some of it may even be covered by my additional health coverage - thank goodness I have that.

This is just the beginning of this study, I hope I get to find out that there is something I can do to sleep. I think that will help all aspects of my life,emotionally and physically especially. The next step might be to sleep at the facility over night while they monitor me. It sounds weird, but I saw the "bedrooms" they have there, and they look so nice and comfy! A lot of things look comfy when I am this tired, but that room, all by myself with no kids and husband, might be nice for a night!