How to Talk to Your Doctor About Your Sleep Problems

There are many different and common sleep problems out there, such as daytime fatigue, snoring, restless sleep, recurrent awakenings, restless leg syndrome, and more. Some of these problems can be explained by disorders like insomnia, REM sleep behavior disorder, narcolepsy, bruxism, TMJ disorders, and sleep apnea. To complicate the matter even more, one or more issues could be causing or contributing to your sleep problems. This is one of the big reasons why it’s important to speak with a professional about your sleep problem. You’ll want to ask a doctor about the possible causes of your particular case, so it might be best to write down some of the aforementioned possible causes so you can remember them.

If you decide to speak with your physician about your sleep problem, then it might be difficult for him or her to determine precisely what could be causing or complicating your sleep issues. This is why a sleep study can be very beneficial. During one of these overnight studies, trained technicians and a sleep doctor will monitor your sleep. They’ll observe your sleep habits, your breathing, and any other behaviors that could indicate a sleep problem or disorder. For an issue like sleep apnea, a sleep study can help doctors determine whether you may or may not have it.

If your doctor believes you have a sleep problem or disorder, then this is definitely a question you should ask. Your physician can simply order tests for and possibly diagnose sleep problems like sleep apnea, but that’s about all he or she can do for you. A certified sleep doctor, however, can provide other tests to determine the precise cause of your sleep problem or disorder, and then actually treat the issue instead of simply treating the symptoms. For instance, a patient with sleep apnea might be struggling with a jaw joint disorder that requires treatment only a certified sleep doctor can provide.

One of the go-to options for treating sleep apnea is CPAP therapy with a continuous positive airway pressure machine, but this doesn’t work for all patients, and there’s a better, more comfortable option for many of these patients. Oral appliance therapy is this alternative. It’s approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and it can help with other sleep-related disorders as well, such as bruxism and TMJ disorders. Many patients experience a reduction of symptoms of 50%, and within just 3 months, many of these patients are 90% symptom-free! We are proud to provide this solution here at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders.

Yes, we do! One of the best things about going to see a sleep doctor is that they already know most of the questions patients typically ask about sleep and sleep problems, so you don’t need to worry too much about which questions to ask. You can come see one of our sleep doctors at any of our locations in Bloomington IL, Peoria/Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX and Wausau WI. We ask that you please see our Appointments page for our locations and contact information, and you can book a consultation with us from that page too. Come see one of our sleep doctors so we can answer all of your questions and help you get to the bottom of your sleep problems.