…And, yes, I’ve heard a few “Darth Vader” jokes…
So I did a Sleep Study or Polysomnogram (PSG) this week–you know, they hook you up to 30 plus leads for an EEG (electroencephalogram – brain wave activity), EMG (electromyogram – records muscle activity such as face twitches, teeth grinding, and leg movements), EOG (electro-oculogram – records eye movements), EKG (electrocardiogram – heart activities), nasal airflow sensor, chest/abdomen Belts (records breathing depth and apnea events) and an Oximeter (blood oxygen saturation). And after wiring you up, they point out the video camera that they will video you with while you sleep and it’s microphone to hear you snore.
After you look like a Science Fair project gone bad, they tell you to “just relax and get some sleep”…
Do I have sleep apnea? Oh yeah! (They could have just asked my wife!) So now I get the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device to wear at night the rest of my life. Looks funny, but it seems to work–I do wake up feeling more rested.
Oh–and my wife doesn’t miss the snoring…