Sleep Study Tomorrow Night - Can I Get Some Info?

[AndVeeGeeMakes3]

Hey there,

VeeGee's scheduled for a sleep study tomorrow night at Vandy's sleep clinic, which is in a hotel (??!!) near the hospital. I'm not really worried about her or the study or anything, but I'm really so creeped out about the idea of me sleeping "in front of" other people. They said that it was a setup just like a hotel and that I should bring whatever she normally does and put her to bed like I normally do. Well, she's usually in bed no later than 7:30. So, what the heck am I going to do until I can fall asleep?! Anyone have any ideas, or is it not like I'm going to be in the next bed? I'm concerned that reading with the light on -- even an itty bitty light -- is going to cause her to not sleep, thereby skewing the results (which I'm, frankly, expecting to be normal).

I'd really love a kind of play-by-play, if anyone has the time.

[khaoskat]

We had this done a little over a year ago with DS1. Ours was done in the hospital. But, we were able to put DS1 to bed and sit in the waiting room area and read/watch TV/computer for a while till we were ready to go to sleep. Then we snuck in and went to sleep...or rather DH did.

The camera's are only trained on the bed where your child is sleeping, so it is not like you are being watched.

[blessedwithboys]

a hotel? weird!

both my dc did a sleep study about 2 yrs ago. it was a special pediatric clinic in a suite in a strip mall. i had ds1's dad come along and he slept in the room with ds1 and then ds2 and i were in another room.

we were told to come at 10pm, which is way later than i usually try to get ds1 to bed and we had to leave at about 5 or 6 in the am. a friend did one with her ds a few wks ago at a different place and they were able to be there from 8pm to 8am, much more realistic, imo.

i didnt worry about sleeping and being vulnerable, but only bc my ex was in the next room. i wouldnt have gone alone with one or both of the kids. it was just us and one male tech, no other patients.

[MotherWhimsey]

I take a book and my computer. They should be able to tell you what the field of camera is so you don't have to sit there in view the whole time. If it's the whole room, well, they do it all the time so they're pretty used to it. I just use a little flashlight to read by or play on my computer till I get sleepy and then go to sleep. I always worry more about being gassy and farting all night long in my sleep. :

[AndVeeGeeMakes3]

Originally Posted by MotherWhimsey

I always worry more about being gassy and farting all night long in my sleep. :

I know, right?!!!!

Ugh!!! The crummy thing is that I know I'm not going to sleep, and then I have to drive back to Memphis that afternoon and have a date night (my 13th anniversary!!!), with an 8pm dinner reservation.

[sbgrace]

I imagine the hotel is so that it is more home like and so hopefully more accurate. In my experience sleep study sleep is not ever going to be like home though. No one is going to be entirely comfortable hooked up to stuff. You'll forget about the cameras when you're asleep. Does melatonin put you to sleep? If so you could always take that when you're ready for bed. They do tons of sleep studies. They aren't going to remember any particular patient and they don't sit and stare at the cameras anyway.

[AndVeeGeeMakes3]

Thanks, y'all!

Yeah, I'm still thinking I'm not going to sleep. I'm already an insomniac. And, add to that this really irrational deep-seated intolerance for "public" sleeping (as in I hate to see people sleep - besides my immediate family - as well as am phobic of falling asleep in front of anyone), so I'm guessing I'll get some reading done. I know, I know, a very silly neurosis.