Last Tuesday I went in for a sleep study - to see if I had sleep apnea. I've snored all my life and Julie was saying she's seen me stop breathing at night. Time to get it checked out.

The night came and I was nervous, scratch that - I was scared. I was actually beginning to become frightened. It wasn't like I was going to get injected with some strange radioactive drug, or that I was going to get hurt in anyway, but I was not looking forward to going. You can call it childish, I call it self-preservation instincts run amok. Something about the whole thing spooked me.

Anyway, I get there at 10:00 at night. Dark as pitch, mostly empty parking lot, and there I was, clutching my pillow in front of me like it was the last possession I would ever have. I imagine I was some sight. A 29 year old man looking like a lost 4 year old with only his pillow to protect him. I got enough courage built up to walk normally to the building, hoping that there was someone there to let me into the locked building. The attendant was there and let me into the building. Now the fun part begins!

That night I had 5 electrodes stuck to my scalp, two more by my eyes, two more under my ears, two on my chin, and two more on each leg. (Thats 15 total for those keeping score at home) I also had some ekg monitors on my collarbone, and a strap around my chest and my also around my abdomen. This process takes a little over an hour. Now, I go to the room that has a camera focused on me, and an active PA system. I'm supposed to sleep normally??

Things weren't so bad after I got settled. The muti-colored electrode ponytail I was sporting didn't rip out of my head while I was sleeping and I left with a minimal amount of stuff still stuck to my head. (Enough for me to work at home that day, though!)

Now we wait to see what the results are and what the next step is. Breathing mask? Surgery? Who knows?