Muenkel 0 #1 August 3, 2007 I have been just diagnosed as having Post Traumatic Sleep Disorder due to multiple head trauma. I'm being referred to the sleep clinic at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in NH. I have no idea what a sleep clinic entails. I forgot to ask my Dr. and being that it is Friday evening, I won't be able to get in touch with him until Monday. In addition to the sleep disorder, I was diagnosed on 6/28 with Post Traumatic Seizure Disorder with complex partial seizures which is a form of epilepsy. I also have complex migraines, Post Concussion Syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In particular, I'm wondering if any of you have had experience with a sleep clinic and if you could share your experiences with me. Thanks, Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiver30960 0 #2 August 3, 2007 I've never worked in one or gone to one but I'm an RN and my fiance used to do a lot of sales work with folks who had been to sleep clinics for diagnosis of sleep apnea. What do you want to know? I can forward some questions to her if you have anything in particular you want to know. Basically, as I understand it from working with other patients, they're going to watch you sleep. Sundry monitoring devices may be used, some of which may even be able to be used at home rather than in a clinical setting. Again, I've never been. But forward me any particulars and I'll see if the fiance can lend a hand... Elvisio "not been there nor done that" Rodriguez Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miami 0 #3 August 3, 2007 I spent 4 years working in one...here is what our patients had to do... If they just ordered a basic sleep study on you expect to show at roughly 8pm, get a bunch of EEG leads pasted on your scalp, next to your eyes, possibly on your jawline, a flow sensor under your nose...then all of the wires gathered in a ponytail and plugged into a little box that will eventually plug into the wall. You should have a private room, but will be setup with video and sound so they can monitor your sleep position and any noises you make while you sleep. After getting all the wires hooked up you usually have some time to relax and get used to all the wires...maybe read a book, watch some tv, whatever. When you are ready to get in bed you'll probably get some leads pasted on your legs and a couple of belts around your chest and stomach. Then you sleep through the night...if any leads come off they may come in to replace them. Then they wake you up in the morning and unhook everything...for PTSD that will probably be all they do. If the test for narcolepsy or OSA there would be other test to run. Does that help, or do you have any other questions?Miami Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #4 August 5, 2007 Yes that does answer a lot of questions. Thanks.Shropshire also gave me a lot of info via pm. His wife has experience with sleep clinics. I guess I have one last question...How the hell do you sleep with all that shit attached to you? You know those people who say they can sleep through anything? Well, I'm not one of them. _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miami 0 #5 August 5, 2007 Quote I guess I have one last question...How the hell do you sleep with all that shit attached to you? You know those people who say they can sleep through anything? Well, I'm not one of them. Thats a usual complaint...but it was very unusual that someone could not fall asleep at all. The time you have to relax after getting all the leads hooked up give you a little while to get used to the wires...then when you lay down it's just a matter of not whipping an arm around and pulling any of the leads off. We had to have a sleep study performed ourselves as part of our training...it wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world but it really wasn't bad at all.Miami Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #6 August 5, 2007 it is my wife's claim that she never saw you actually work, in fact she made mention of the fact that it wasn't unusual for her to call me at home and find that you were there playing video games during working hours. you also failed to mention the erection sensors you hook up to the penis, or is that your little secret? "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miami 0 #7 August 5, 2007 You have no idea how many times I thanked my lucky stars our lab did not perform nocturnal penile tumescence studies. I'm sorry, but I will never attach sensors to some dude's wang. And yes, it was nice to have 2 people working the night shift, cause once the patients go to sleep it's a one person job to watch them, so we took turns leaving. Miami Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
