Sleep

Fixing my sleep, Part 4: Results of the overnight sleep study

/ Anne Scott / Leave a comment

alexander-possingham-209285-unsplashMy next appointment at MedSleep would reveal the results of my overnight sleep study. In the weeks leading up to the appointment, I was worried that they’d tell me they didn’t find anything specific. I kept imagining the conversation:

MedSleep: “Your sleep wasn’t great, but we didn’t see anything in terms of a physical cause. Have you tried melatonin / warm baths / progressive relaxation?”

Me: “YES! SOOOO MANY TIMES! Arghghgh!’ (flees the building)

Fortunately, what happened was very different… Continue reading →

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Fixing my sleep, Part 3: The overnight sleep study

/ Anne Scott / 1 Comment

I have slept with 25 different electrodes and sensors attached to my body. I have slept while being videotaped by a stranger. I have slept with multiple sensors inside my nose.

An overnight sleep study, also called polysomnography , from the Latin many-sleep-record, does just what its name implies: it records a bunch of sleep stuff: Continue reading →

Fixing my sleep, Part 2: First visit to the sleep clinic

/ Anne Scott / Leave a comment

It was a simple suggestion from my family doctor. We were looking into why I routinely get up 3 or 4 times a night to pee (my kidney function was fine).

“Why not see our sleep specialist here in town?” he said.

I was staggered. I didn’t know we had a sleep specialist — I would have pursued this years ago. Continue reading →

Fixing my sleep, Part 1: The problem

/ Anne Scott / 5 Comments

Sleep…it consolidates our memories, cleans up free radicals, fights cancer, and helps us look and feel younger and more energetic. And when sleep goes wrong, it impacts every aspect of our lives: mood, memory, appetite, heart health, and more.

I’ve had insomnia in differing degrees of hideousness ever since I hit perimenopause about 12 years ago. In fact, I’m writing these words at 3:30 AM. Sigh. Continue reading →