As with any medical condition, it can often be difficult coping with a sleep disorder. That's why it's important to commit to getting it diagnosed and treated.
When Sleep is the Problem
In some instances, it might be easy to recognize that the symptoms you experience relate to an inability to sleep well. This may involve feeling excessive daytime sleepiness, finding your sleep disrupted through insomnia, or any number of other problems.
Sometimes the problem may not be as obvious. One may just feel a vague sense of fatigue, have symptoms of depression, experience morning headaches, or have difficulties concentrating. These and other less specific symptoms may lead to the diagnosis of a sleep disorder in some cases. Therefore, if you suspect a sleep problem may be present, further assessment is important.
Seeking Medical Attention
Most people should first be seen by their primary care providers so that basic information can be gathered and initial tests can be done. As some symptoms of sleep disorders are non-specific, it's important to rule out other potential causes of the symptoms.
Your primary care provider will refer you to a sleep specialist if one is in your area. This will allow additional evaluation to help diagnose your sleep disorder.
Getting Diagnosed
Depending on the nature of the suspected problem, various sleep studies may be ordered. The most common is an overnight polysomnogram (PSG) done at a sleep center. It may also be necessary to undergo multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT). Additional potential tests include overnight oximetry, actigraphy, sleep diaries, and other options.
Finding the Right Treatment
The appropriate treatment will be tailored to the diagnosis. These may include medications or alternative treatments. Certainly, one size doesn’t fit all and it will be necessary to find an effective treatment that you can tolerate. This may require that you be persistent and willing to keep trying, despite the setbacks.
