We all would like a good night sleep, yet there are those who suffer from a variety of sleep disorders. Fortunately there are professionals who help us understand our sleep needs and what keeps us up at night. At 1800CPAP we talked a few Sleep Technologist about what they do, and if you are preparing to get tested, take a look at our "Confessions of a Sleep Technologist.

1. 10 CONFESSIONS OF A
SLEEP TECHNOLOGIST
“Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you
sleep alone.” – Anthony Burgess

2. 1. We Get it, You Don’t Want to Be Here
We fully
understand
you are
sleep
deprived and
in many
cases you
don’t want to
be at the
sleep lab.
Please don’t
take it out on
us, we are
here to help.

3. 2. Morning Breath Stinks

While some of us will hold our breath through our nose, many of us put a little Vicks Vapor Rub
under our nose to combat your hypopnea halitosis.

4. 3. “Early to Bed, Early to Rise
We want to
get you
home and
back in your
own bed.
Many of us
work 12 hour
shifts, arrivin
g 3 hours
before you
sleep to
prepare
paper work.

5. 4. We See & Hear Everything

When filling out paper work, you were informed that your room would come equipped with a
monitoring camera and microphone. Keep that in mind as you say good night to your loved one.

6. 5. We Might Use Placebo
We understand that pressure of 4cm/h2O is blowing your face off (insert eye roll here); let
me just go back to the lab and fix that for you (change to bi-level 4 over4). “How’s that Mr.
Smith? Oh, much better, well good then. We’ll just start you off there”. Guess what we do to
Mr. Smith as soon as he falls asleep? Back to 4cm/H2O.

7. 6. Don’t That Guy (Who No Shows)

If you are a repeat offender of the cancellation/no show variety, don’t be surprised when you end
up in room 6 that’s right next to the general public restroom, has a mattress as firm as
plywood, unstable AC/heat, and a pulse oximeter that requires a technician to come in every hour
to shut off the alarm.

8. 7. What Was That? Somniloquy
We are all
entertained
by what you
say in your
sleep. Who
wouldn’t be?

9. 8. All Those Wires Aren’t Necessary, But...

In most cases some of the electrodes are
redundant so that if one comes off in the
middle of the night we can just use the other
channel for the test results which saves us
time and frustration of running in and out of
your room all night.

10. 9. Many of Us Don’t Follow Our
Recommendations
That’s
right, similar
to the
percent of
respiratory
therapists
that smoke.

11. 10. Please Wear Something

Ok It’s not that bad… but it’s close. We would
appreciate it if wore more than your undies.