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SLEEP STUDIES? PLEASE HELP!!
When you have an overnight sleep study done for the first time,
1) are all the tests standard at all places? ie, are they pretty much the same? What they measure?
2) What exactly do they ALL measure for a limb movement disorder happening at night?
3) If they think you have plms, do they just do that test? Or
4) would they check ALL limb movements during the night even those outside of REM/or DELTA sleep?
If you know the answers, please let me know ASAP!! THANK YOU in advance!!!
1) are all the tests standard at all places? ie, are they pretty much the same? What they measure?
2) What exactly do they ALL measure for a limb movement disorder happening at night?
3) If they think you have plms, do they just do that test? Or
4) would they check ALL limb movements during the night even those outside of REM/or DELTA sleep?
If you know the answers, please let me know ASAP!! THANK YOU in advance!!!
Most of the tests are standard. I do remember one of my several sleep studies when the tech hooking me up said that the doctor ordered certain portions, so I guess it can be tailored to the patient. But the first time I would think they'd want as much as possible because a person can have more than one sleep disorder be diagnosed by a study. They will record you over the full course of your night through all the stages. Let us know how it goes. To get a better understanding, ask your doctor for a copy of the report after it is completed (few days to few weeks).
Hellol Sheryl
I can asnwer a few of your questiont regrarding sleep studies. I have been through four myself. I'm can't confirm that all tests are the same. Mine were at the two sleep studies that did my polysomnogram.
For the basic sleep study to measure apnea the clinic will do the following:
1) 2 channels for the electroencephalogram, or EEG. The EEG is crucial for determining a) IF the patient is sleeping or not, and b) what stage of sleep the patient is in EEG may be recorded from multiple areas over the head, but for most PSGs two areas are sufficient: the back (occipital channel) and top (central channel).
2) 1 channel to measure air flow - this is done using a thermistor or pressure probe that fits inside the nostrils
3) 1 channel for chin movements - this is a recording of the chin 'electromyogram' or EMG, of muscle movements about the chin area; see Electromyography
4) 1 channel for leg movements - this is a recording of the electromyogram or EMG for the legs (usually one channel for both legs, though some labs will separate them into 2 separate channels); see Electromyography
5) 2 channels for eye movements, or 'electro-oculogram' - eye movements are crucial for determining the stage of sleep known as Rapid Eye Movement or REM sleep. REM sleep is the stage in which most dreaming takes place.
6) 1 channel for EKG or electrocardiogram - records heart rate and rhythm
7) 1 channel for oxygen saturation - this is done with a pulse oximeter that fits over a finger tip or the ear lobe
8) 1 channel for chest wall movement - using a belt that wraps around the chest
9) 1 channel for abdominal wall movement - using another belt that wraps around the upper abdomen
Not all channels have a wire that goes frokm where they place the probe into a CPAP machine that sends to results to a main computer. They also have something that measures your snoring.
There's also an ultrviolet light camera in the room to see your body movement and if you're sleep on your back. this is where the techs will catch any unusual body movement.
They do not test all mucsles for movment - just the legs. And, they measure how many times per hour you either stop breathing (apnea) or have a parital breath (hypopnea). The add the total of both and then divide by the numbers of hours you slept into you AHI score (Appnea-hypopnea) score. They also measure how long it takes you to get to sleep and how much time you spent in every level of sleep.
They count all the legs movements and average that out by the hour.
I don't know what wires they use for an MLST. But they do ckech for how soon you fall asleep and how soon after sleep do you go tinto REM sleep. They also know how many times per hour your brain wakes up - even those that are very slight. If an apnea or hypopnea is occuring at the same time you momentarily wake up, they know it's related to apnea. They also look to see if leg movement is causeing you to wake up.
If you have a movement disorder, it should be spotted in the sleep studay.
Best of luck!
Curt
I can asnwer a few of your questiont regrarding sleep studies. I have been through four myself. I'm can't confirm that all tests are the same. Mine were at the two sleep studies that did my polysomnogram.
For the basic sleep study to measure apnea the clinic will do the following:
1) 2 channels for the electroencephalogram, or EEG. The EEG is crucial for determining a) IF the patient is sleeping or not, and b) what stage of sleep the patient is in EEG may be recorded from multiple areas over the head, but for most PSGs two areas are sufficient: the back (occipital channel) and top (central channel).
2) 1 channel to measure air flow - this is done using a thermistor or pressure probe that fits inside the nostrils
3) 1 channel for chin movements - this is a recording of the chin 'electromyogram' or EMG, of muscle movements about the chin area; see Electromyography
4) 1 channel for leg movements - this is a recording of the electromyogram or EMG for the legs (usually one channel for both legs, though some labs will separate them into 2 separate channels); see Electromyography
5) 2 channels for eye movements, or 'electro-oculogram' - eye movements are crucial for determining the stage of sleep known as Rapid Eye Movement or REM sleep. REM sleep is the stage in which most dreaming takes place.
6) 1 channel for EKG or electrocardiogram - records heart rate and rhythm
7) 1 channel for oxygen saturation - this is done with a pulse oximeter that fits over a finger tip or the ear lobe
8) 1 channel for chest wall movement - using a belt that wraps around the chest
9) 1 channel for abdominal wall movement - using another belt that wraps around the upper abdomen
Not all channels have a wire that goes frokm where they place the probe into a CPAP machine that sends to results to a main computer. They also have something that measures your snoring.
There's also an ultrviolet light camera in the room to see your body movement and if you're sleep on your back. this is where the techs will catch any unusual body movement.
They do not test all mucsles for movment - just the legs. And, they measure how many times per hour you either stop breathing (apnea) or have a parital breath (hypopnea). The add the total of both and then divide by the numbers of hours you slept into you AHI score (Appnea-hypopnea) score. They also measure how long it takes you to get to sleep and how much time you spent in every level of sleep.
They count all the legs movements and average that out by the hour.
I don't know what wires they use for an MLST. But they do ckech for how soon you fall asleep and how soon after sleep do you go tinto REM sleep. They also know how many times per hour your brain wakes up - even those that are very slight. If an apnea or hypopnea is occuring at the same time you momentarily wake up, they know it's related to apnea. They also look to see if leg movement is causeing you to wake up.
If you have a movement disorder, it should be spotted in the sleep studay.
Best of luck!
Curt
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