General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

For many years I've been a light sleeper, with frequent wake-ups during the night; no problem getting to sleep and mostly can get back to sleep, but occasionally awake at 4am and no going back. Have been taking Temazepam or Phenergan or Melatonin for the past year - very sparingly, just when I really need to 'catch up'. But I'd rather not, so I decided to seek out some help.

Sleep specialist. Sent me for a "sleep study"; two months wait but that was OK I thought.

So I got the video and kit on Friday. This is approximately how I ended up after an hour, plus an additional electrode on forehead, plus couple of electrodes down one leg. Note canula in nose and pulse-ox meter on finger and big thing on wrist. Oh, they gave me a number to call in case I had problems setting up (tangle of wires., skin prep, 13 electrodes etc etc.) But said I would probably have to leave a message and they'd call me back. Seriously? I'm standing there with wires hanging off all over the place and someone will call me back, sometime?


View attachment 279632

Yeah, right, as a light sleeper you are really going to get a good nights sleep in that ludicrous lot, eh, especially with canula up nostrils blocking good air flow (and it does partially block, in spite of them saying it wouldn't). They say they need a minimum of 4 hrs, better 6 hrs sleep to be able to get good results ("able to be scored" whatever that means). I was pretty pissed off - in no way was I going to be able to sleep properly in that lot. Sure, if you sleep heavily and snore (risk of sleep apnoea) I expect it wouldn't be an issue, but a light sleeper?

So we'll see if it got enough data; I reckon I slept for 2-3 hrs at best and I've been pretty shattered all day. If it doesn't, I can have it redone, but I'm not sure that I would. I think I was just sent off for the "standard response" and while I'm sure if it would will generate interesting data, I the good Dr specialist just didn't listen to the patient in front of them. The specialist asked and I gave answers indicating (it turns out) that I didn't seem to have sleep apnoea.

I think I'll phone record and video myself one night coming up and I reckon that'll yield some useful data, too.

Not happy, Jan.

I’ve done one of those too. And realised I couldn’t get my nightie on. And yes. As if this is a typical way to sleep. But it seems to work somehow

My niece is a researcher in sleep deprivation studies in shift workers esp emergency rescue.

 

[VPS]

For many years I've been a light sleeper, with frequent wake-ups during the night; no problem getting to sleep and mostly can get back to sleep, but occasionally awake at 4am and no going back. Have been taking Temazepam or Phenergan or Melatonin for the past year - very sparingly, just when I really need to 'catch up'. But I'd rather not, so I decided to seek out some help.

Sleep specialist. Sent me for a "sleep study"; two months wait but that was OK I thought.

So I got the video and kit on Friday. This is approximately how I ended up after an hour, plus an additional electrode on forehead, plus couple of electrodes down one leg. Note canula in nose and pulse-ox meter on finger and big thing on wrist. Oh, they gave me a number to call in case I had problems setting up (tangle of wires., skin prep, 13 electrodes etc etc.) But said I would probably have to leave a message and they'd call me back. Seriously? I'm standing there with wires hanging off all over the place and someone will call me back, sometime?


View attachment 279632

Yeah, right, as a light sleeper you are really going to get a good nights sleep in that ludicrous lot, eh, especially with canula up nostrils blocking good air flow (and it does partially block, in spite of them saying it wouldn't). They say they need a minimum of 4 hrs, better 6 hrs sleep to be able to get good results ("able to be scored" whatever that means). I was pretty pissed off - in no way was I going to be able to sleep properly in that lot. Sure, if you sleep heavily and snore (risk of sleep apnoea) I expect it wouldn't be an issue, but a light sleeper?

So we'll see if it got enough data; I reckon I slept for 2-3 hrs at best and I've been pretty shattered all day. If it doesn't, I can have it redone, but I'm not sure that I would. I think I was just sent off for the "standard response" and while I'm sure if it would will generate interesting data, I the good Dr specialist just didn't listen to the patient in front of them. The specialist asked and I gave answers indicating (it turns out) that I didn't seem to have sleep apnoea.

I think I'll phone record and video myself one night coming up and I reckon that'll yield some useful data, too.

Not happy, Jan.

That was me a couple of weeks ago. Agree it was difficult to get comfortable but did show up some issues Including low blood oxygen at night. They now want me in hospital for a night but up to a year wait. I bought a smart watch and shows some interesting stats but haven’t discuss with sleep specialist yet

 

[drron]

And in my student group at RPAH was Colin Sullivan who came up with the machine that led to Resmed. australia was at the forefront of Sleep medicine.

 

[SuePa]

For many years I've been a light sleeper, with frequent wake-ups during the night; no problem getting to sleep and mostly can get back to sleep, but occasionally awake at 4am and no going back. Have been taking Temazepam or Phenergan or Melatonin for the past year - very sparingly, just when I really need to 'catch up'. But I'd rather not, so I decided to seek out some help.

Sleep specialist. Sent me for a "sleep study"; two months wait but that was OK I thought.

So I got the video and kit on Friday. This is approximately how I ended up after an hour, plus an additional electrode on forehead, plus couple of electrodes down one leg. Note canula in nose and pulse-ox meter on finger and big thing on wrist. Oh, they gave me a number to call in case I had problems setting up (tangle of wires., skin prep, 13 electrodes etc etc.) But said I would probably have to leave a message and they'd call me back. Seriously? I'm standing there with wires hanging off all over the place and someone will call me back, sometime?


View attachment 279632

Yeah, right, as a light sleeper you are really going to get a good nights sleep in that ludicrous lot, eh, especially with canula up nostrils blocking good air flow (and it does partially block, in spite of them saying it wouldn't). They say they need a minimum of 4 hrs, better 6 hrs sleep to be able to get good results ("able to be scored" whatever that means). I was pretty pissed off - in no way was I going to be able to sleep properly in that lot. Sure, if you sleep heavily and snore (risk of sleep apnoea) I expect it wouldn't be an issue, but a light sleeper?

So we'll see if it got enough data; I reckon I slept for 2-3 hrs at best and I've been pretty shattered all day. If it doesn't, I can have it redone, but I'm not sure that I would. I think I was just sent off for the "standard response" and while I'm sure if it would will generate interesting data, I the good Dr specialist just didn't listen to the patient in front of them. The specialist asked and I gave answers indicating (it turns out) that I didn't seem to have sleep apnoea.

I think I'll phone record and video myself one night coming up and I reckon that'll yield some useful data, too.

Not happy, Jan.

There is no way I would be able to sleep with all that gear on. I'm not a back sleeper.

 

[prozac]

Ms prozac did a 24hr sleep study a few years ago. After her year at uni all came down with glandular fever her grades dropped and she had trouble staying awake or waking up in the morning. She had been falling asleep cutting up cadavers at uni. Result of the study, she was diagnosed with IH (Idiopathic Hypersomnolence).

 

[VPS]

There is no way I would be able to sleep with all that gear on. I'm not a back sleeper.

I was still able to sleep on my side

 

[RooFlyer]

I bought a smart watch and shows some interesting stats but haven’t discuss with sleep specialist yet

I have an Apple Watch 6, which purports to measure time asleep Vs lying in bed but I don't think its at all reliable in that (its the first gen of Apple watches to have that function). Also measures O2 (assume its calibrated and not bad at that) and respiration rate (ditto) and heart rate of course. I have a feeling that in this 'sleep study' they really want to look for sleep apnoea (as it can be dangerous) and that's groovy but I'm amazed they haven't got some more sophisticated gear for it.

The things that kept me awake were the fingertip pulse oximeter (think of someone gently pressing a finger all night, with a lump that catches on the sheets whenever you move) and the electrodes on my cheeks, which pressed and tugged when I was lying on my side, which I usually do. I could have slept on my back, but you are supposed to do what you normally do.

 

[prozac]

I have an Apple Watch 6, which purports to measure time asleep Vs lying in bed but I don't think its at all reliable in that (its the first gen of Apple watches to have that function). Also measures O2 (assume its calibrated and not bad at that) and respiration rate (ditto) and heart rate of course. I have a feeling that in this 'sleep study' they really want to look for sleep apnoea (as it can be dangerous) and that's groovy but I'm amazed they haven't got some more sophisticated gear for it.

The things that kept me awake were the fingertip pulse oximeter (think of someone gently pressing a finger all night, with a lump that catches on the sheets whenever you move) and the electrodes on my cheeks, which pressed and tugged when I was lying on my side, which I usually do. I could have slept on my back, but you are supposed to do what you normally do.

According to Msprozac they also measure things like how quickly you resume sleep after being deliberately woken.
A reasonable phone app is Cardiogram. It is an Apple product but also works for some other smart-watches like Fitbit.

 

[kookaburra75]

For many years I've been a light sleeper, with frequent wake-ups during the night; no problem getting to sleep and mostly can get back to sleep, but occasionally awake at 4am and no going back. Have been taking Temazepam or Phenergan or Melatonin for the past year - very sparingly, just when I really need to 'catch up'. But I'd rather not, so I decided to seek out some help.

Sleep specialist. Sent me for a "sleep study"; two months wait but that was OK I thought.

So I got the video and kit on Friday. This is approximately how I ended up after an hour, plus an additional electrode on forehead, plus couple of electrodes down one leg. Note canula in nose and pulse-ox meter on finger and big thing on wrist. Oh, they gave me a number to call in case I had problems setting up (tangle of wires., skin prep, 13 electrodes etc etc.) But said I would probably have to leave a message and they'd call me back. Seriously? I'm standing there with wires hanging off all over the place and someone will call me back, sometime?


View attachment 279632

Yeah, right, as a light sleeper you are really going to get a good nights sleep in that ludicrous lot, eh, especially with canula up nostrils blocking good air flow (and it does partially block, in spite of them saying it wouldn't). They say they need a minimum of 4 hrs, better 6 hrs sleep to be able to get good results ("able to be scored" whatever that means). I was pretty pissed off - in no way was I going to be able to sleep properly in that lot. Sure, if you sleep heavily and snore (risk of sleep apnoea) I expect it wouldn't be an issue, but a light sleeper?

So we'll see if it got enough data; I reckon I slept for 2-3 hrs at best and I've been pretty shattered all day. If it doesn't, I can have it redone, but I'm not sure that I would. I think I was just sent off for the "standard response" and while I'm sure if it would will generate interesting data, I the good Dr specialist just didn't listen to the patient in front of them. The specialist asked and I gave answers indicating (it turns out) that I didn't seem to have sleep apnoea.

I think I'll phone record and video myself one night coming up and I reckon that'll yield some useful data, too.

Not happy, Jan.

I've snored all of my life, and trained myself not to sleep on my back as I know that will set me off, snoring. But, I finally got off my bum late last year and went in for the overnight sleep study - so your set up @RooFlyer seems pretty tame.

You can't see the four sensors (2 to each calf) and the ones around my waist.

And yes, I have mild sleep apnea, which I now use a ResMed machine to manage. The massive upside (besides not snoring and risking getting smothered by MrsK during the night) is feeling so much better in the mornings - I now know what a good night's sleep is really like.

 

[RooFlyer]

so your set up @RooFlyer seems pretty tame.

Ya reckon? Mind you, this was DIY - else I'd have to drive 60 mins from the place in Hobart to home and wear it all until I went to bed!
Did they put the sensors over your beard? I had to shave little port holes through it for the sensor

 

[tgh]

sigh.. I don't sleep like I did as a kid.. but you two have put me right off doing anything about it...

 

[Major]

sigh.. I don't sleep like I did as a kid.. but you two have put me right off doing anything about it...

Agreed. I usually have about 4 hours sleep a night. Sometimes a bit more but more often than not I'm fully awake and having a coffee by 3 am.

It's seems to be enough for me but I do have an afternoon nap for about an hour.

There is no way I would put up with all that paraphernalia.

 

[kookaburra75]

Agreed. I usually have about 4 hours sleep a night. Sometimes a bit more but more often than not I'm fully awake and having a coffee by 3 am.

It's seems to be enough for me but I do have an afternoon nap for about an hour.

There is no way I would put up with all that paraphernalia.

sigh.. I don't sleep like I did as a kid.. but you two have put me right off doing anything about it...

To quote Molly, do yourself a favour and get checked out. The gear I had wired/stuck to me was just overnight for the checks.

It does make a huge difference, once you work out what the problem is - whether it is impacted sinus, sleep apnea or otherwise. The machine I have is small and very quiet, but the difference it has made is huge.

Ya reckon? Mind you, this was DIY - else I'd have to drive 60 mins from the place in Hobart to home and wear it all until I went to bed!
Did they put the sensors over your beard? I had to shave little port holes through it for the sensor

View attachment 279692

No, they didn't touch my beard, just used a goop to connect the sensors. Thankfully the cable to my right was long enough so I could sleep on my right (preferred side) or on my back.

 

[tgh]

To be fair , I do get enough sleep , mostly 9 or 10 hours... but it tends to be disturbed and takes time to return to sleep at times.
I also mostly understand my personal drivers to the disturbance.. over exertion aches and chemical imbalances from the likes of alcohol or rich food.
If I run myself right to the wall one Nurofen and a big G&t will switch me off for most of the night……..

 

[love_the_life]

I have no trouble going to sleep - but then wake several times usually during the night (note to self: do not over imbibe or drink too many cups of tea). Sometimes can take a while to go back to sleep. I can really only sleep on my left side for some reason - think it's related to the left ear being the more deaf and I like the 'hearing side' up. I would not sleep at all with those sensors - so it would be a waste their time and mine.

 

[RooFlyer]

I would not sleep at all with those sensors - so it would be a waste their time and mine.

I'll find out in a few days if I got the required 4 hours - I don't think so - in which case I'll be agreeing with you.

 

[love_the_life]

I'll find out in a few days if I got the required 4 hours - I don't think so - in which case I'll be agreeing with you.

Good luck - funny but sometimes we do sleep more than we think. At least I am a bit 'bleh' after a bad night but lack of sleep can send my son into a wobbly - mercifully he is with enough it to know that it is not real and if he can manage some sleep he will be on the mend, though takes a while to regain 'normality'.

 

[prozac]

I have no trouble going to sleep - but then wake several times usually during the night (note to self: do not over imbibe or drink too many cups of tea). Sometimes can take a while to go back to sleep. I can really only sleep on my left side for some reason - think it's related to the left ear being the more deaf and I like the 'hearing side' up. I would not sleep at all with those sensors - so it would be a waste their time and mine.

Waking through the night is normal, even if it is a few times, it is part of the sleep cycle which will see you in Deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep and awake at different times.
I don't want to keep harping on about Fitbit and I don't even know the accuracy of the data it senses but it allows you to record data every night and compare it to other nights. It also compares your age data to the norm so you can see the benchmark for someone your sex and age.
This was mine last night. For instance it says my time awake was 10% with the norm being 15-31%. My deep sleep was well above the average 7-13%. Other nights it can be below.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't want to keep harping on about Fitbit and I don't even know the accuracy of the data it senses but it allows you to record data every night and compare it to other nights. It also compares your age data to the norm so you can see the benchmark for someone your sex and age.

That's interesting! Apple watch (1st gen with sleep measurements) doesn't have nearly that level of data - just hours in bed and hours asleep, and I don't think its very accurate. Also measures respiration and heart rate of course, but they aren't integrated into the sleep function.

 

[cove]

I sleep with a Resmed unit without the humidifier and that works for me as I have sleep apnea. The humidifier was too much of a complication.