Cracking the Sleep Code

Have Sleep Problems? The Top 6 Sleep Sites That Will Get You Back to Dreaming

http://www.sleepdisordersguide.com/blog/
The latest news on therapies and treatments of all sleep disorders

http://sleepingwelltonight.blogspot.com/: Great information on insomnia, sleep apnea and how reducing stress can help with these and other sleep disorders

http://www.sleepapneafacts.info/sleepapneablog/
Extensive information on the latest treatments for sleep apnea and snoring

http://blog.cpap.co.uk/: Everything you need to know about sleep apnea, sleep lab visits and CPAP treatments

http://sleepdoctor.blogspot.com/: Dr. Michael Rack, a sleep specialist, shares his knowledge on the descriptions and latest treatments for every kind of sleep disorder

http://always-sleepy.blogspot.com/ : One man's funny and fascinating journey with narcolepsy

While You Weren't Sleeping: Week In Review

Over the last two weeks it has been 'obstructive sleep apnea' week at Cracking the Sleep Code. I hope that some of the tips provided were beneficial to you.

Here is a birds eye view on what happened last week at Cracking The Sleep Code...

Could you have sleep apnea?!  Watch Rosie O'Donells interview and get all the sleep apnea scoop

Have you been to the sleep lab yet?  Chances are you are considering it if you have found this post. Whether you have been or have not this video is for you.  Rosie O'Donell does a great job with this interview covering the whole sleep apnea scoop.  Michael Brues is a well known sleep specialist that explains what sleep apnea is, how it can effect you and the different treatment options.

Are You Tired of Being Tired? The Sleep Spa Might be the Answer.

What if on your lunch break, you could drive to a sleep room?  A room where there would be the ultimate sleep experience to re-energize you for the remainder of the day.  Counselors would be on hand to discuss your sleep problems and offer solutions... then you would go into the sleep section where you would be literally lulled to sleep for a nap.  A waterfall or stream trickling in the background, a massage chair, wall screen TV showing relaxing atmospheres and programmed lights that would dim as you melt into a sleep bliss.  The music that you would hear in the background is specifically designed to bring your 'awake' brain waves down to slow sleep waves.

In the United States approximately 40 million people suffer from a sleep disorder.  Matsushita Electric Works in Tokyo understands that sleep disorders are on the rise and created the sleep room to address this public need. In the U.S. some resorts have sleep spas as well but are still lacking in community awareness.

Maybe some day the sleep machine that scientists are creating will be available in the sleep spa's.  Now that would be the ultimate dream.

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Sick of Snoring and Being Tired? It's Time for the Sleep lab.

Finally, you get to your physician and get that long awaited prescription to the sleep lab.  Don't let the word lab scare you, you won't be treated like a rat.  The anticipation is probably the worst part of this test.  The important thing is that you're going to take action and seek some help. If you have a bed partner then they might even be more enthusiastic than you about this decision.  The dark circles under the eyes are usually present on both parties---who enjoys sleeping with loud snoring?

What to expect...

After your Doctor gives you the prescription for the lab, you will be scheduled.  There are sleep labs in hospitals and then there are free standing labs.  I have talked to people who have been to both and the free standing sleep labs have won hands down in the "making you feel at home" department.  This is very important when it comes to the sleep test.  Most people have anxiety about falling asleep when comes time for their test.  This is expected since you know you've got to sleep to make the test be worth while.  Some physicians will prescribe a mild sleep pill to help you relax.  The best thing to do is stay with your bedtime ritual----which the sleep technicians generally promote. Bring everything that you would need to follow your routine...your book, your food or drink etc.  Some labs have TV if your a TV watcher.

You'll be scheduled sometime between 8 and 11pm.  You'll fill out some paper work when you arrive and change into your PJ's.  Next is the fun part.  The application of the electrodes, which consists of some patches that they will glue onto your upper chest, legs and scalp---it's not painful.
The things that will be monitored are...eye movement, leg movement, chest movement, brain waves, heart rate, muscle tone and oxygen level.

The sleep technician will help you get into bed, so you can do your bedtime ritual or just turn off the light.  They'll most likely be waking you up between 6:00am and 7:00am, as the sleep technician shift usually ends about this time.  It's anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to get the results back in which you will discuss the diagnosis with your Doctor.  If you find out you have sleep apnea then at least there is a reason for why you were feeling so miserable and now you can receive help.  Goodbye sleepy days!

For a personal story of a sleep lab experience Read here...

Treatments will be discussed in the upcoming posts...

Do You Snore? Your health could be in danger

I wanted to share an article from sleepeducation.com that tells a story that is all too common.  In my field of work I have heard many similar stories such as this man's. My hope is that through community awareness about the dangers of sleep apnea and keeping stories like these circulating that it will expedite the action taken by the sleep apnea sufferer.

John had known all his life that he snored. Both his dad and his college roommate did too, so he figured it wasn’t a big deal.

It became a big deal to his wife, Marie, after they got married. His snoring was so loud that it was keeping her up at night. She constantly complained about it, but John thought she just had to get used to it.

Sleep study questions?

This question came from Susan in Arizona,

Are there any other ways to find out if I have sleep apnea besides a sleep study?  I had the worst experience and ended up leaving in the middle of the test.  The sleep tech was rude and and not very accommodating.  I'm supposed to go back for a second test because they said they didn't get enough data, but I can't even imagine going back again.  I just want to get help and treat my suspected sleep apnea.

Susan, I'm sorry that you had a bad experience. Please don't let one sleep technician get in the way of getting  the help you need.  There are at home sleep tests, but if your physician has already written a prescription for a sleep study at a center then it's important to follow through.  You can always ask to go to a different lab or request a different technician.  It's not very common but I have talked to a couple of patients who have had a bad experience and 9 times out of 10 they say the second sleep study was a much better experience for them.  You can also request a female if you feel uncomfortable with a male technician.  You'll be glad that you went ---this about your health and getting good sleep.

Sleep Disorders: Don't delay a sleep study!

I'm amazed at the lack of urgency of some people who have been told they need a sleep study.  They put  off scheduling the sleep study with every excuse in the book.   No one likes the thought of being expected to sleep while hooked up to monitors.  But numerous people have reported it wasn't as bad as they thought. 

There is a lot of apprehension with sleep studies because patients swear they'll never fall asleep in the sleep lab.   The electrode hook up coupled with having to sleep in a different bed can cause some anxiety.  Sleep lab technicians have reported that most patients are asleep in the first 10 minutes mainly because they are so sleep deprived.  If the patient awakens while in stage 1 sleep, they're usually convinced they had never fallen asleep.  This is common for stage 1 sleep because it's a light stage but still recorded as sleeping.

The sleep study can actually be a pleasant experience.  Look at it as a night away---there are no house hold chores or family responsibilities to be accountable for.  The room is similar to a hotel room and you are being attended to.  The sleep technicians job is to report what is seen on the computer and make notes while the computer is recording your sleep patterns.  They will be outside of your room so you'll have all the privacy you want.

It's important to remember that you are there because you are taking control of your disorder which is the first step to a happier and healthier life.