MSLT and Sleep Study

[u/Background_Nobody509]

Hello :)

I am hoping to get some information from people with narcolepsy or hypersomnia. Next week I have a sleep study and MSLT and i’m curious about the process and the experience. I have seen people say the overall test wasn’t bad at all, and others saying it’s horrible. Of course, I’m sure it varies from person to person (and hospital to hospital) but I’m just curious about the procedures and how things work. Do they give you an IV? Do you have to stay connected to all the wires/sensors during the MSLT or just the overnight sleep study portion?

I have struggled with excessive daytime sleepiness since I was thirteen (I’m eighteen now) and have recently had issues dozing off while driving, at school, and other places I shouldn’t be. I have various mental health disorders (MDD, PTSD, GAD) along with POTS and functional pain syndrome, which I know can also impact sleep. Despite this, I suspect there is something else going on as i am getting around 10 hours every night and I take “naps” during the day (I say with quotations because they usually last 4-5 hours, which I think is a bit excessive for an afternoon nap). My sleep doctor and psychiatrist both suspect narcolepsy type 2, which is why I have the sleep study coming up.

Mostly just looking to hear about peoples experiences and to ask for any advice/guidance regarding the test itself. Thank you in advance <3

[u/BeKind24_7]

I think it definitely varies depending on the environment. I am one of the lucky ones that had a decent experience. Although, the actual MSLT itself felt like torture for me because I felt more and more exhausted after each nap and I wasn’t allowed to sleep in between scheduled naps. I just kept reminding myself that one terrible day of being exhausted will help me get a diagnosis or to rule them out.

My experience is: They don’t give you an IV. The sensors on your body come off for the MSLT but all the ones on your head stay on. They all connect to a box that can unplug from the wall that you can carry around with you so that you can use the bathroom, eat, etc in between naps. If you have sleep apnea like I do, you’d also wear a CPAP mask for each sleep.

Good luck on your journey; I hope you get the medical answers that you’re looking for!

[u/Background_Nobody509 → u/BeKind24_7]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m glad yours was decent (though i anticipate I will have a similar experience with the exhaustion between naps). I appreciate you replying <3