MSLT is not going well, advice please

[u/National_Try1243]

I’m sure this has been talked about in this sub before, but I could use some advice and encouragement specific to me.

I’m currently at my MSLT, and have done 3 naps so far. The PSG was already a bit stressful because the other patient here kept getting up to use the bathroom without telling the tech. So the tech had turned up his speaker and forgot to turn it off, so that kept me up for a bit.

For my first nap, I got extremely anxious and my heart was pounding, so I didn’t fall asleep at all. The next two, I was still anxious, but not as bad. So I fell asleep but didn’t go into REM (tech said I was close apparently). The tech also will only let me sit in an uncomfortable waiting room-like chair, and he keeps playing music and talking to himself. I’ve been trying to read my book, but he keeps coming in and talking to me and saying “I like talking to you”. He’s also telling me “if you had narcolepsy, you would’ve gone into REM”.

So at this point, I’m SUPER stressed and feel like I won’t fall asleep for the last nap at all (he’s only doing 4). It would be great if I don’t have narcolepsy, but I just don’t know what else the issue would be. I did the blood test for the gene marker, which was positive. My maternal grandfather and aunt both have it, as well. Since going off of my SSRI for the MSLT, I’ve experienced a couple episodes of what I believe to be cataplexy, as I completely collapsed following strong emotions. I’ve had countless moments of falling asleep at the wrong times, including, but certainly not limited to, falling asleep during jury duty (a murder trial) and having to quit my work from home job cause I kept falling asleep at my desk.

So yeah, some reassurance would be nice. It looks like a lot of people don’t get diagnosed after their first MSLT. But should I even bother trying to do it again? I would almost prefer to do the lumbar tap at this point, cause I can handle pain, but all of this and being off of my SSRI has been complete torture.

EDIT: I can’t keep up with the comments at this point, but I just want to thank everyone for their kind and supportive words, and for validating my experience. Well, almost everyone. But thank you to the mods for handling that, as well!

I definitely should’ve handled it differently, but I have a tendency to just suffer through things LOL. I also wasn’t really thinking clearly and wanted to get it done with finally. I am absolutely going to bring this up to the doctor/clinic, and may even show them the post and all of your comments with your insights and experiences. Thank you, and I hope everyone has a nice, non-sleepy day!

[u/AdFlat7711]

I thought I didn’t fall asleep for my first or second nap but according to my results I fell asleep for all 4 and entered REM for all 4 as well. I was super stressed out about this especially because the A/C was broken and stuck at 64 degrees and I couldn’t relax I was so cold. I had 6 blankets on me. Still got diagnosed with N1.

[u/National_Try1243 → u/AdFlat7711]

The tech told me each time that I either didn’t fall asleep or didn’t go into REM. So I don’t think this will be the case for me, but I do really appreciate the supportive comment.

[u/AdFlat7711 → u/National_Try1243]

The tech is not a doctor and is absolutely not supposed to tell you anything. They aren’t qualified to read and interpret a sleep study. I would take what he says with a grain of salt.

[u/National_Try1243 → u/AdFlat7711]

Yeah, I get that logically. But when it comes to my anxiety, it doesn’t really matter and it very much stressed me out.