2 replies to this topic

[jadierenee]

This is my first time posting here. I went in for my first psg and mslt last night. They hooked me up to all the wires and had me try on different masks in case I showed signs of apnea in the middle of the night. I woke up A LOT during the night. I kept getting tangled up and wasn't allowed to sleep on my stomach. Anyway, I think I fell asleep around 11 pm and they woke me up around 530 am. The tech came in and said that I did not qualify for the mslt, and that they were sending me home. He said he couldn't tell me any results, but that the 2 things that would disqualify me from the mslt are not getting at least 6 hours of sleep or that I showed signs of apnea. Since they never put me on the cpap, does this mean I slept less than 6 hours?

I'm sorry. I'm just very tired of being tired! For at least 12 years I have not been able to work first shift because I cannot get up, I have hallucinations before falling asleep, and I couldn't even get up with my newborn son! That made me feel like such a terrible mother! At least my husband is very understanding and got up with our baby until he started sleeping through the night

Does anyone have any idea what this could mean for me? Both of my parents had narcolepsy without cataplexy, and I'm sure I've got SOMETHING wrong with me. I can't afford another test, as my insurance is only covering the first 100 dollars. I will be following up with my doc in about a week, but if anyone has any ideas as to what this all means I would appreciate it.

Thank you!

[Ben L]

I have sleep apnea and cataplectic narcolepsy. My tests were done separately. When I tested positive for sleep apnea, they put the mask on me. So hopefully that means you don't have sleep apnea. Just because you were disqualified for the MSLT that doesn't mean that you wouldn't have tested positive for narcolepsy. "Not qualifying" could mean that they would not have gotten accurate results because you didn't get enough sleep the night before. It's not a diagnosis or an elimination of a diagnosis.

You have two of the four signs of narcolepsy- excessive sleepiness and hallucinations during the onset of sleep or waking up. Narcolepsy is idiosyncratic and it is not out of the question that you have narcolepsy without cataplexy, or the cataplexy may develop with age. You could also have idiopathic hypersomnia or maybe insomnia. There are other conditions that cause excessive sleepiness and fatigue. I can't tell you what you have nor can anyone else here. Your doctor is the one who has the information and the expertise to determine that, but I understand your frustration.

Let me walk you through my process of being diagnosed. It sounds like you are on the same path. I went to my first overnight sleep study. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and given a CPAP. My sleep problems did not go away and finally after five years of frustration I went for another overnight sleep test and they determined there was no problem with my CPAP. This is were you are at- the overnight sleep study determined you have no sleep apnea issue also (because you don't have it whereas for me, they determined my CPAP was functioning properly). That led to the MSLT weeks later, after being referred to a specialist- pulmonary, lung, and sleep. The specialist made the narcolepsy diagnosis.

I'm not sure if you were already sent to the specialist or not. But the process of your diagnosis sounds similar to mine. I hope this eases your frustration a little. Again, we can't possibly know what you have. But it sounds like you are on the right path for diagnosis to me.

[lilmomm]

When I did my PSG the doctor told me that they would not put the mask on unless they had enough time to do the titration study so you could still have sleep apnea just not so severe that they had to put the mask on that night. It could also mean that your PSG was normal but you didn't get 6 hours of sleep that night. No way to know until you speak with your doctor.