Finally going to take my 4 year old in re: her sleep issues - what do I ask for??

[Heavenly]

Okay, my youngest, Eliana, will be 4 in a couple of weeks. She has never slept through the night and her sleep issues are extreme. Some nights we will only see her 2 or 3 times but more often than not she is up over 10 times. She often wakes up 2am and is up for the day, absolutely not tired anymore. She stopped napping when she was just over 2 so a lot of days she is only getting 4-6 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. I kept thinking she would grow out of it but that is just not happening and I can't take it anymore. So Wednesday morning I am taking her to the doctor (a walk-in clinic, we don't have a family doctor) and I want to know what kind of tests to ask for. I am afraid they are just going to tell us to lock her in her room and let her scream or something. There is no way in hell I am doing that. I am hoping they will refer her for a sleep study. Thanks for any tips.

[khaoskat]

It took me 1 1/2 years of fighting with my Ped to get a sleep study for DS1, we already suspected he had sleep apnea as my husband is suspected of having it and FIL is on a CPAP, and he showed many of the signs/symptoms.

I had to threatening to file a complaint with the State Medical Board for failure to treat/diagnose, and fired them. That got an almost immediate return call from the Ped, and she had the referral faxed in the next day.

We had to have an x-ray of the neck as well, to check for enlarged tonsils and/or adnoids.

I would stand your ground firm with your Ped about it. Don't take no for an answer.

[KimPM]

Have you considered food sensitivities? You could get a food sensitivity (IgG) test (not an allergy IgE test). I don't think most typical allergists will test for IgG sensitivities. There's lots of information about this food-sleep connection and testing on the allergies forum.

When I am having a food reaction, and when it occurs during the night, then it's like I have just drank 3 cups of coffee and can't sleep. My adrenals have me awake and just racing. This is an IgG reaction to an offending food.

[Heavenly]

Originally Posted by KimPM

Have you considered food sensitivities? You could get a food sensitivity (IgG) test (not an allergy IgE test). I don't think most typical allergists will test for IgG sensitivities. There's lots of information about this food-sleep connection and testing on the allergies forum.

When I am having a food reaction, and when it occurs during the night, then it's like I have just drank 3 cups of coffee and can't sleep. My adrenals have me awake and just racing. This is an IgG reaction to an offending food.

Actually she was tested for food sensitivities when she was 9 months old and has been off tons of stuff since then. I wish it had helped.

[KimPM]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

Actually she was tested for food sensitivities when she was 9 months old and has been off tons of stuff since then. I wish it had helped.

A sensitivity can develop at any time. And perhaps the test didn't pickup what she's really sensitive to. Some tests are great while others are worthless.

[kbins]

My DS was 2 when I read an article about sleep apnea (in a mainstream parenting magazine I usually get annoyed with but happened to flip through at the OB's office). A lightbulb went off for me, and I got our ENT, who was pushing us for adenoid removal due to ear infections (we had already done tubes) to refer us for a sleep study. DS was a terrible sleeper since babyhood, short naps, multiple overnight wakings, and he did snore quite a bit. He was becoming more and more cranky during the day due to sleep deprivation. We were desperate, as well.

The sleep study confirmed apnea - the poor kid was rousing all night long so he could breathe. (It was fascinating to watch the study and have the tech explain it all, I was the parent who spent the night with him)

A tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy cured his sleep apnea and within probably 3 weeks he slept all the way through the night.

I will say, he's the one kid of my four who needs the least sleep anyway. He's the last to fall asleep, first to wake up on his own (we pray he'll sleep til 6am and some nights he won't fall asleep til 9pm or later).

Insurance paid for the study. It cannot hurt to try it.

[Starflower]

I think you probably already went to the doctor by now, I'm curious as to how things went, since we seem to be in somewhat the same boat over here.

I just took DD to our ND this week because her sleep troubles and anxiety have gotten out of control. (I am exhausted from dealing with her issues!)

We got a referral to a psychologist for the anxiety and the ND faxed a referral to the pediatric sleep clinic at the children's hospital in a nearby city. I have to call them today to set up an initial appointment. I suspect apnea as well. DD has huge tonsils and has several symptoms of apnea. Plus DH has apnea and uses a C-PAP so I know what apnea sounds like.

I hope you get some answers soon.

[Heavenly]

Actually I didn't end up going. I am still deciding. I keep hoping that she'll grow out of it, and she has had a few good nights in the past week. I will probably do it after birthday week is over (my son's is Monday and hers is on Friday).