Have a question about sleep science? Ask me...
Hey all. I'm relatively new to this forum but certainly not to sleep science. I work for a sleep medicine and research firm as a polysomnologist (sleep tech) so I'll be happy to answer any question you have, simple or crazy, about sleep and dreams. I love this field and I feel the best way to become a life long student is to be a teacher first and foremost!
;)
OK, I've got some questions!
I have a sleep disorder -- that much is clear. I had a polysomnogram about 3 weeks ago. My PCP prescribed Provigil a week before the sleep study because I was literally falling asleep on the job, unable to make it through an 8-hour shift (I am a medical office nurse), and had been written up for excessive absenteeism (now protected by FMLA, at least in the short term.)
I did not take the Provigil on the day of the study, and barely made it to the hospital. I filled out the paperwork; the tech had to wake me to hook me up because I was so exhausted.
The polysomnogram showed less than 1% of sleep time in stages III and IV, REM latency 115 minutes with *23* "spontaneous arousals" per hour. So apparently I am waking up about every 3 minutes -- no wonder I am exhausted! Also "moderate snoring" with hypo/apneic events not meeting criteria for sleep apnea.
I do have very vivid, colorful dreams, sometimes fall asleep dreaming, and have lucid dreams 3-4 times a week.
Saw my PCP today; she ordered a consult with the neurologist who read the sleep study. It looks like I will also be having a MSLT and possibly a home CPAP trial soon. The neurologist noted several of my symptoms were consistent with narcolepsy, and my PCP is also leaning toward that diagnosis. BTW there are sleep disorders on both sides of my family. I am thriving on the Provigil and have not missed any work since I started it.
Any thoughts? I know only an MD can make a final diagnosis, but even my PCP told me I was a "fascinating case" and she'd only encountered a handful of patients like me in her 20+ years of practice. And no, I wasn't offended by that. Seems we health care types all get wrapped up in fascinating cases at some point