Sleep Study Saga…

Remember that whole high blood pressure thing? Yea, well my cardiologist is still grasping at anything to figure out what I have going on (which I appreciate!) so last night was our next attempt at figuring it out. I participated in a sleep study to see if I had sleep apnea, which apparently can lead to high blood pressure.

Uh. But I sleep fine.

Here is how the scheduling phone call went down.

Scheduler: “Hi Erin, We would like to schedule your sleep study but have a couple of questions.”
Erin: “Sure.”
Scheduler: “Do you snore?”
Erin: “Nope”
Scheduler:”How many times a week does it take you more than 30 minutes to fall asleep?”
Erin: “The last time it took me 30 minutes to fall asleep was when I was around 3 weeks old.”
Scheduler: “Um. Ok. How many time a night do you wake up?”
Erin: “I don’t. “
Scheduler: “Right. How many times a week do you find yourself waking up before your scheduled alarm time?”
Erin: *Insert hysterical laughter*
Scheduler: “When did your sleeping issues start?”
Erin: “Hmm…I guess I don’t really have any.”
Scheduler: “Erin, why are you getting a sleep study done?”

Well folks, I will be wondering this for the next week or so until my results come in. I can say that after my sleep study experience there is a good chance that I managed to catch sleep apnea.

I arrived at 10pm last night to the sleep center. I should have know I was in for no good when I saw the building.

Um…hello?! Why does the Sleep Center look like the Bates Hotel?!

After being show to my “room” (a dorm room) I was poked, prodded, and had wires connected to several parts of my body. It wasn’t painful and the tech was friendly without being TOO friendly (if you catch my drift). I didn’t get felt up like I did when I was at the cardiologist.

The result of the all that hooking up is below. Prepare yourself.

Wow. Just WOW.

The final sensor tally:
-14 of those sensor things on my head attached by some type of putty/glue.
-2 chin sensors that were taped down
-2 nose sensors that went up my nose and hit my nose piercing
-2 sensors on my collar bones.
-2 sensors on each shin with the wires running up my pant leg and shirt
-2 body straps
-1 pulse monitor on my index finger

I took the above photo and sent it to my parents and The Scientist. They all have had a sleep study at some point so I figured they would get it a kick out of it. My mom’s response was the best. “OMG”. Heh.

I tried to sleep normally but all kinds of thoughts were racing through my head. Were they watching me? What if I drooled all over this pillow and they had photos of that? I should have read that release to take pictures more clearly. How come they don’t have lights that clap on and off?

I only had to get up once during the evening to tinkle. One of my meds for my blood pressure is a diuretic (makes you pee more) so this wasn’t exactly my fault, but I still felt bad because it was quite the process to get the travel box unhooked and mobile so I could walk down the hall.

Finally at 5:45a they came in to wake me up and get unhooked. I felt like I had only slept for about 2 hours but I really felt out of it when I woke up so I knew it must have been longer. After getting all the sensors off I just wanted to get the heck out of there. I could FEEL how gross my hair was because of the putty and I just wanted to shower at home with my own towels.

I walked in the house, hugged the pup and went to wash my face. I looked in the mirror to realize that I had crazy Something About Mary hair and some weird putty stuff all over my face. My bangs are practically glued in place in this photo. Plus, don’t I have some crazy looking eyes?!

Despite the rough night and the gooey hair, I felt a million times better after my shower. Overall the night wasn’t painful, the people were nice, and I’m happy to do anything that might help get my blood pressure under control. I mean, I wouldn’t sign up for a sleep study as something fun to do on a Friday night, but at least I survived.

And today you wouldn’t even know that I looked a hot mess as of 6am this morning.

 Next step is to get the results and we will see where we go from there. I was nervous when I first started to see the Cardiologist but now its like second nature. I always feel better when arrive and there are TONS of old people. I like that many of her patients live to see their golden years. 

I’ll keep ya posted on the results!

Have you ever had a sleep study?