Part II  My Sleep Apnea Chronicles

The Sleep Study

By DAVID THEUS

I arrived at the Shands Sleep Disorder Center in Jacksonville just about 7:30 pm - parked, entered the building, and proceeded to the fourth floor to the reception station where I was pleasantly greeted and directed to a waiting room prior to my check in. Within a moment or so I 

The amount of wiring was staggering.

was introduced to my sleep technician named Nikki and she proceeded to conduct the check in process.

There was the usual paper work signing and basic question and answer session - Nikki then took pictures of me standing to the front and to the side, so the physician could evaluate my neck structure, she then escorted me to my sleep suite. As soon as I entered the room, the first thing I noticed was the amount of wiring neatly displayed across the bed, soon to be attached to my body.

Nikki quickly informed me that I could watch TV, have snacks - if I brought any, and if I needed a non-caffeinated beverage such as water or juice, that was available too. She then loaded a video

More wiring

for me to watch that was designed to be helpful in answering any other questions I might have about Sleep Apnea and the upcoming processes for the night to come.

Just before 10:00 pm Nikki arrived to apply the necessary wiring to conduct the testing. There were wires on my legs, chest, and all over my head, face, and, I think, neck. There was even a "snore" microphone attached just under my jaw, on my neck. Nikki informed me that lights out was at 11:00pm and that they would monitor me during my sleep to see if I met their protocol for the use of the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) mask.

Wired up and ready to go (to sleep).

At 2:00 am Nikki rang the intercom to tell me that she would be coming to fit me with a mask. It turns out, that there are two types of masks, one that covers just your nose, and the other that covers both nose and mouth. The nose mask was short lived, when I sleep I breath through my mouth which made the nose mask uncomfortable. Needless to say, after ten to fifteen minutes  later I requested the larger mask covering my nose and mouth.

Within five to ten minutes of fitting the new mask, I was out! All I can remember is not being able to hear myself snore. The next thing I knew, I was moving my leg to get more comfortable when Nikki was announcing that it was almost 7:00 am and the sleep study was over. Wow, I slept like a rock! I didn’t get up to use the restroom, I didn’t toss and turn. I slept. My hat is off to my technician, she and the rest of the staff made me feel as close to home as possible. I really didn’t even feel like I was in a hospital, but more like a 

Fitted with the mask.

hotel.

The next step is the study and the interpretation by the physician and a meeting to determine which treatment we will move forward with. Follow my journey when I get to interview my doctor about my results and ask questions in my next column. If you have any questions you would like me to ask the doctor, please write your questions to: comments@northfloridanewsdaily.com