'I got my life back': New sleep disorder clinic opens in Moncton
A new clinic specializing in sleep disorders opened Monday at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton.
"We're really excited, this is a must to be able to diagnose and treat our patients that have a sleep disorder," said Matthieu Gaudet, respirologist and medical director of the clinic.
Patients stay at the clinic for the night, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Gaudet said he analyzes their sleep patterns through a series of tests, including polysomnography testing, which connects them to different diagnostic tools that monitor their sleep.
"You're plugged in everywhere," said patient Denise Thériault. "It's a bit uncomfortable, but it's worth the exam."
Once the data is collected, Gaudet can then make an official diagnosis and recommend treatment.
Changing lives
Gaudet said sleep disorders are extremely common. There are over 80 disorders, many of which are difficult to diagnose, and up to 40 per cent of people will suffer from a sleep disorder in their lifetime, he said.
Thériault was among them. For six years, the retiree couldn't sleep through the night, instead falling asleep during the day.
"It was actually paralyzing my day-to-day life," she said.
Her family doctor referred her to Gaudet, and after a round of assessments, Thériault was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome. She said the treatment she received has changed her life. For the past 15 months, she's slept a full eight hours every night.
This allowed her to be physically active and to travel again, she said.
"I got my life back," she said. "For me, I would say it's a miracle."
Reduced wait times
Gaudet said it's taken over a decade for the clinic to open.
He expects the new sleep laboratory, which includes four rooms to diagnose and treat patients, will reduce hospital wait times and improve the overall health of the population.
While most family physicians can diagnose common sleep problems, having a sleep clinic that monitors sleep patterns is crucial for diagnosing and treating the most complex sleep disorders, he said.
"It's extremely gratifying to be able pinpoint the sleep disorder and start therapy," he said.
The clinic opening was the result of a "catch-up plan" of the Vitalité Health Network, "which essentially was putting in place a gamut of services that were not available previously," said Gilles Lanteigne, President and CEO of the network.
The clinic cost $1.1 million, and Lanteigne is optimistic that it will keep growing in the future.
"We're very very optimistic that we will be able to increase resources that are allocated to the clients," he said. "We have a very high clinical success, a lot of people are living better lives now."
