Got a "Sleep Study" done last night

[MidnightSensi2]

Only good thing is I work for myself, I'd have been fired by now lol. I just plain got lucky last year and struck gold, it held me over during this time where I haven't been able to work as much, but, I can't go another year like this. My body is so beat up, I'm hoping its 'darkest before the light' sort of thing.

Yet, I'm still not depressed. Not sleeping might be depressing, but, doesn't mean your depressed.

My CBT therapist was female, and would ask about suicide, at first I'd just be serious and say 'no' .. but, she wouldn't stop asking, so I'd have responses like: "I like boobs too much to die" or "Too much vagina left, why would I do that to my penis? It didn't do anything wrong." She didn't get the hint so I finally said the next time she asks "I'll bring in a kitten and blow its head off in your office. A clinical trial. Can we stop with the suicide **** and get back to me sleeping?" She stopped asking. I probably got diagnosed with something else. *sigh*

 

[shadyJ]

Almost forgot, besides the iPhone app for Simply Noise, they have an online one (in a pinch I've used this!):
SimplyNoise -- The Best Free White Noise Generator on the Internet.

Give it a test.



... These things help me get to sleep, but..staying asleep.. or getting restful sleep..*sigh* But, without getting to sleep at all, I'd be a complete mess rather than a mess..so, its a great place to start (it works for falling asleep, for me, and, has no side effects hehe).

I made a sound which kinda serves the same purpose. I call it White Noise Sculpture. I think its a little better than a straight up white noise, it's a gradually changing noise sound which, through its evolving ends up resembling many real world sounds like rain, distant traffic, wind blowing through trees, waves lapping at a shore, etc. You can download it or also stream it. Straight white noise doesn't work for me, it has to sound like something like rainfall. For some reason the sound of normal rainfall really helps me fall asleep. Other music which helps me are minimalist ambient pieces like Steve Roach's Immersion series, which are basically just 70+ minutes long calm, atmospheric sounds.

I'll list just a few of the pieces of music which have helped me, for me they are like knockout drops. They are mostly just sustained atmospheric sounds and very minimalist. Even Brian Eno's ambient work would be considered hectic next to these:
Immersion 1
Immersion 2
Immersion 3
Immersion 4
A Deeper Silence
Darkest Before Dawn
Somnium - this is a 7 hour long piece.

 

[Midwesthonky]

So, first time was just wire up. Then they said you needed a CPAP, but knew the pressure needed from the first test? Then the second one was 5 years later and they had the CPAP attached to determine if an adjustment was needed?

I'm so 'procedured' out (been like 9 months of non stop doctors), its pathetic.

Can also look into mindfulness meditation and progressive muscle relaxation. I've found actual meditation to be very difficult, but, try to practice at it. Hard when your struggling with sleep though.

Do they make travel ones? Yeah, what happens if you need a CPAP but travel a lot?

Ok, on my first sleep test, it was so obvious that they woke me up part way through the night and fit me with a CPAP and adjusted the pressure while I slept to "dial it in." It was adjusted once during followup visits with the initial doc.

You asked about CPAP equipment. My first unit was about the size of a shoe box and was huge. There have been really good advances in the equipment since. Especially in the masks that are used. My original setup had these two plugs that sealed in your nostrils and pressurized you through your nose. Only, I would sleep with my mouth open. So add a chinstrap to keep your mouth closed...convoluted.

Today's equipment is much nicer. Masks cover your mouth and nose in one shot and are much more comfortable. The actual unit is much smaller as well, maybe 8" x8" x 7". For travel, I pretty much stick it in my suitcase. I used to carry it with me, but with the chaos on a trip with my kids, I forgot it in the overhead. That sucked! I got it back, but two nights without it really hurt. So now I stick it in my suitcase. So travel with it isn't bad as all. It goes with me everywhere as long as I have electricity.

Am I perfect now and cured? Nope. I still have episodes where I can go several days with minimal sleep. But that is usually stress related. I had a boss that I still can't talk about without using severe foul language. Combine that with a job that I'm burned out and and totally uninspired and yeah, there is stress. So I am trying to work on changing things on my terms. Have a new boss since rectal orifice left and that helped too. Now I need a job change and more exercise and my sleep will improve as well. But I consistently sleep better with the CPAP than I do without and that makes a difference in getting through each day.

 

[sawzalot]

I have read through this thread and feel really bad for anyone that can't sleep soundly. I can relate to every one that has this problem, my disorder started around 1994 I remember like yesterday, it was my first signs of tinnutis which was this hissing tea pot noise that actually had me searching the entire house for a leak of some sort, never realized in the first days that it was in my head.Well lo and behold the tinnutis gradually increased over time which of course led to trouble sleeping from late 90's through today I average about 4.5 hours of sleep per night and then I will finally succumb to the deprivation and sleep for ten hours like once every ten days, the more I worry about everyday issues the louder the tinnutis and then a total lack of sleep, really sucks ballz, I have a Great Girl by my side that has accepted this disorder and helps me through it but it has not been easy. I just reached out to Jefferson Hospital to try a new type of tinnutis relief -Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment | Jefferson University Hospitals | Serving Philadelphia, PA, NJ & the Delaware Valley

I hope they help me cope and possibly give some relief with this and maybe I can get to sleep normally again.

20 freaking years of teapots , cicadas , and ringing has taken a toll on my well being as it would for any individual, I wish it could stop for five @#$%ing minutes just to give my brain a rest.

 

[majorloser]

I have severe sleep apnea, both obstructive and central. Late 2012 when I had the sleep tests the results came back that I was waking an average 57 time per hour. I started using an APAP (auto PAP) in January 2013. What a HUGE change in my life. It the first time I've slept through the night in over 30 years. Since last year I've lost over 150 pounds. I credit some of that to actually sleeping and feeling better about myself. Sleep apnea can cause many other health problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, liver problems and depression. And that's not even taking into account the the severe drop in blood oxygen levels duiring sleep.

Last year I was at 12 to 16 in/H2O with an average pressure of 15 in/H2O. Now Im set at 8 to 12 in/H2O with an average pressure of 10 in/H20. I've been lucky enough to be able to wear nasal pillows since the beginning, even at the higher pressures where they aren't as effective for most people. The pillows and mask aren't as restrictive as the full-face and nasal mask.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

So, went to doctor.
The reason for the emergency was I don't reach the stages of sleep that provide restfulness. Emergency, because, apparently I get almost nothing *sigh*. This, they believe, is due to the drugs my previous doctor has me on, particularly the benzodiazepines. Because of the nature of their withdrawal symptoms, I can only continue to slowly taper down.

I suspected the drugs to be a problem about 3 months ago, and, against advice of my previous doctor, began to taper on my own. I was told this was a mistake (by previous doctor, this one agreed with tapering, but, would have rather I'd done it under supervision). It's been hard, especially Klonopin (withdrawals so bad I spent my birthday puking *sigh*). Now I'm down to 25mg of Valium and 70mg of Vyvanse (ADD med, pure dex). Not great (don't try this at home, kids!), but at nearly half of what I was at. Getting on them I was just too trusting.

What he asked me to stay up /later/ with the goal of making it to 6AM. Instead of 10-6am being the goal, he wants me to stay up until midnight and get up at 6. Not 8 hours obviously, but, way he looks at it, if I actually slept from 12 to 6, I'd be getting more than double what I do now. heh.

Then, next week we meet, and, he's going to help me taper off these drugs and see how staying up later is.

So, unfortunately, no quick fix. I was sure hoping for one.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

I made a sound which kinda serves the same purpose. I call it White Noise Sculpture. I think its a little better than a straight up white noise, it's a gradually changing noise sound which, through its evolving ends up resembling many real world sounds like rain, distant traffic, wind blowing through trees, waves lapping at a shore, etc. You can download it or also stream it. Straight white noise doesn't work for me, it has to sound like something like rainfall. For some reason the sound of normal rainfall really helps me fall asleep. Other music which helps me are minimalist ambient pieces like Steve Roach's Immersion series, which are basically just 70+ minutes long calm, atmospheric sounds.

I'll list just a few of the pieces of music which have helped me, for me they are like knockout drops. They are mostly just sustained atmospheric sounds and very minimalist. Even Brian Eno's ambient work would be considered hectic next to these:
Immersion 1
Immersion 2
Immersion 3
Immersion 4
A Deeper Silence
Darkest Before Dawn
Somnium - this is a 7 hour long piece.

Thanks for these, lots of good stuff here!

I like textured, layered stuff as well. I often fall asleep to a playlist of Burial tracks that are super minimalist (especially tracks like "In McDonalds" and "Dog Shelter" off his second album called Untrue). If you have spotify or something, great place to sift through some of his stuff. If you like that type of music in general, the stuff not suitable for falling to sleep to, you might enjoy at other times.

Today's equipment is much nicer. Masks cover your mouth and nose in one shot and are much more comfortable. The actual unit is much smaller as well, maybe 8" x8" x 7". For travel, I pretty much stick it in my suitcase. I used to carry it with me, but with the chaos on a trip with my kids, I forgot it in the overhead. That sucked! I got it back, but two nights without it really hurt. So now I stick it in my suitcase. So travel with it isn't bad as all. It goes with me everywhere as long as I have electricity.

Am I perfect now and cured? Nope. I still have episodes where I can go several days with minimal sleep. But that is usually stress related. I had a boss that I still can't talk about without using severe foul language. Combine that with a job that I'm burned out and and totally uninspired and yeah, there is stress. So I am trying to work on changing things on my terms. Have a new boss since rectal orifice left and that helped too. Now I need a job change and more exercise and my sleep will improve as well. But I consistently sleep better with the CPAP than I do without and that makes a difference in getting through each day.

Could you have one for home and one for travel? Like, as a backup? Suitcase gets lost, etc?

I feel the same about my previous doctors as you do about your boss. I wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire.

It's not healthy though, so, gotta try and get over it man. Easier said than done, heh, I'm not there yet. I blacklisted them from my email and phone, so they probably think I committed suicide lol, **** 'em.

I have read through this thread and feel really bad for anyone that can't sleep soundly. I can relate to every one that has this problem, my disorder started around 1994 I remember like yesterday, it was my first signs of tinnutis which was this hissing tea pot noise that actually had me searching the entire house for a leak of some sort, never realized in the first days that it was in my head.Well lo and behold the tinnutis gradually increased over time which of course led to trouble sleeping from late 90's through today I average about 4.5 hours of sleep per night and then I will finally succumb to the deprivation and sleep for ten hours like once every ten days, the more I worry about everyday issues the louder the tinnutis and then a total lack of sleep, really sucks ballz, I have a Great Girl by my side that has accepted this disorder and helps me through it but it has not been easy. I just reached out to Jefferson Hospital to try a new type of tinnutis relief -Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment | Jefferson University Hospitals | Serving Philadelphia, PA, NJ & the Delaware Valley

I hope they help me cope and possibly give some relief with this and maybe I can get to sleep normally again.

20 freaking years of teapots , cicadas , and ringing has taken a toll on my well being as it would for any individual, I wish it could stop for five @#$%ing minutes just to give my brain a rest.

Yikes. Can you mask the ringing? Like, using sound to cancel it? Dumb question, but, was almost thinking like how noise canceling works (reverse the phase of the sound you want to cancel out)?

I have severe sleep apnea, both obstructive and central. Late 2012 when I had the sleep tests the results came back that I was waking an average 57 time per hour. I started using an APAP (auto PAP) in January 2013. What a HUGE change in my life. It the first time I've slept through the night in over 30 years. Since last year I've lost over 150 pounds. I credit some of that to actually sleeping and feeling better about myself. Sleep apnea can cause many other health problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, liver problems and depression. And that's not even taking into account the the severe drop in blood oxygen levels duiring sleep.

Last year I was at 12 to 16 in/H2O with an average pressure of 15 in/H2O. Now Im set at 8 to 12 in/H2O with an average pressure of 10 in/H20. I've been lucky enough to be able to wear nasal pillows since the beginning, even at the higher pressures where they aren't as effective for most people. The pillows and mask aren't as restrictive as the full-face and nasal mask.

Whoa! Nice man. Yeah, I bet with the spiral getting reversed, your weight loss allowed you to lower the pressure.

I almost was hoping a mask would be given to me today and I'd sleep tonight. *sigh* Not even sure what my things called.. 'rough sleeper' lol.

 

[shadyJ]

Thanks for these, lots of good stuff here!

I like textured, layered stuff as well. I often fall asleep to a playlist of Burial tracks that are super minimalist (especially tracks like "In McDonalds" and "Dog Shelter" off his second album called Untrue). If you have spotify or something, great place to sift through some of his stuff. If you like that type of music in general, the stuff not suitable for falling to sleep to, you might enjoy at other times.

I'm a long time fan of Burial, his first couple albums are genius. Ah that was back from the days when dubstep was dubstep and not just a very shrill electro which it has devolved into. It's a little too busy for sleep for myself but it is relaxing stuff especially for debstep. If you like that style of dubstep I highly recommend you check out all of the 'Solitude' mixes from this page. They are all Burial and Burial styled dubstep, ambient dubstep you might call it. There is hours and hours of that music in there and you can DL it all in high quality MP3s, a real treasure trove if you are into that kind of music. I also made a tune recently that, while not dubstep, would fit in nicely in those mixes, but it isn't the thing I typically do.

By the way, my rep got dinged for the post you replied to. Ah, it's that refreshing passive aggression which keeps me coming back here for more!

 

[Midwesthonky]

Midnight - I gotta thank you. This thread caused me to look at my equipment and question how long it had been since I replaced the mask, filter, etc. Was fall of 2012. So I was overdue. Got the new mask and filter yesterday. Doc wants to do another sleep study as my sleep has degraded over the last 4 years. My last sleep study was done in mid to late 2009 so 4.5 to 5 years ago. I hope they can make an adjustment. The doc was a tad upset when I stated that I adjust my life around not sleeping. Like when I have to drive to Indiana for work, I rarely do it in one shot as I usually stop to wake up. It's only 3.5 hours in good weather and I have to stop at least once usually.

So we'll see what life brings.

I'm not a doctor but I try to play one with my wife... But getting off the drugs is probably the best thing. Then they can evaluate your sleep based on what is really going on. Long road, but keep looking at the bright side. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You will get there.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Hey guys, I have the following masks in my spare bedroom if any of you use the model and size and you either don't have insurance or you are not yet eligible for a new mask.

They are dirt cheap for Audioholic members, I'm talking 20 bucks vs 120....

ResMed Mirage FX- Nasal
Wide: 8
Swift FX Bella: 1

Swift FX Nano: 1

Respironics EasyLife:
Small: 4
Med: 3
Med/wide: 4
Large:2

Respironics Comfortgel Blue:
S: 8
M: 23
L: 13

ResMed Mirage Quattro- Full Face
XS: 10

S: 3

L: 1

ResMed Ultra Mirage- Full Face
S: 5
L: 3

There are also 3 small, 6 medium and 2 large that are in sealed packages that came out a boxes

ResMed Mirage Activa- Nasal
M: 2
Standard: 3

Resmed Mirage Liberty- Full Face
S: 4
L: 3

F&P ZEST: 12

F&P OPUS: 11

 

[Adam]

That glass of wine to help you relax before going to bed actually keeps you up.

You're using too small of a glass.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Midnight - I gotta thank you. This thread caused me to look at my equipment and question how long it had been since I replaced the mask, filter, etc. Was fall of 2012. So I was overdue. Got the new mask and filter yesterday. Doc wants to do another sleep study as my sleep has degraded over the last 4 years. My last sleep study was done in mid to late 2009 so 4.5 to 5 years ago. I hope they can make an adjustment. The doc was a tad upset when I stated that I adjust my life around not sleeping. Like when I have to drive to Indiana for work, I rarely do it in one shot as I usually stop to wake up. It's only 3.5 hours in good weather and I have to stop at least once usually.

So we'll see what life brings.

I'm not a doctor but I try to play one with my wife... But getting off the drugs is probably the best thing. Then they can evaluate your sleep based on what is really going on. Long road, but keep looking at the bright side. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You will get there.

I'm happy to hear that this thread helped someone else as well!

How do the masks work? Is it a little electric centrifugal compressor with a bypass valve (so when you exhale)?

Yeah, avoided hard drugs all my life - had to go to a doctor to get hooked. Nice. :/ Can't blame them though, I shouldn't have just blindly followed along. Helps in the short run, long run gets you into a mess. Goes back to the issue of insomnia being a potential mix of psychology, biology, and pharmacology - all which need to be unified (if this thread is any evidence!)

 

[MidnightSensi2]

So, my tentative steps are:
1. Follow this sleep doctors instructions and see him weekly to get my body back on schedule
2. Find someone to help me titrate off medication (maybe the sleep doctor will?)
3. Get myself productive again
4. Figure out some way to help other people diagnose sleeping problems in the future.

..once I get myself back, feel like some other people might benefit from knowing my mistakes (and any I make forthcoming heh).

 

[majorloser]

The CPAP machines apply constant pressure and there is a vent on the mask that is constantly blowing. The machine regulates the air flow to maintain the pressure. Some machines can lower the pressure when exhaling to make it easier. An APAP machine will automatically raise the pressure as needed based on obstructive episodes. It's important that the set range for these types is close to the titration results to prevent long periods of adjusting to needed setting.

 

[Nemo128]

I can't sleep for shiz, haven't been able to for years. But now over 30, it's just gotten worse and made me cranky all day. Plus, nodding off at the wheel constantly unless I'm driving over 100 is bad for many things (wallet, lifespan, fuel economy). I was nodding off as I read this thread.