Getting Ready for a Study
Diagnosing a sleeping problem requires eliminating all the possible variables that could be causing disruptions in sleep. Here are tips to help you prepare for your sleep study.
The Night Before
- Try to get a good night’s sleep the night before.
- Remove acrylic fingernails or nail polish on fingernails and toenails.
- Be sure to complete your patient questionnaire.
The Day of Your Study
- Do not take any naps and avoid caffeine after noon.
- Shower and shave as normal and avoid sprays, gels, creams and lotions on the body, face and hair.
- Bring any medications you are currently taking. Medications are not given or supplied by the center.
- Pack a small overnight bag with personal items including toiletries, reading glasses, a book, snack and a change of clothes, especially if you need to shower and go directly to work in the morning.
- Bring either comfortable pajamas, a nightgown, or sleeping shorts and a t-shirt. Avoid anything that will make you hot and sweaty.
- Bring your complete patient questionnaire to your appointment.
At the Sleep Solutions Center
- When you arrive, you’ll be shown to a private bedroom. Each room is equipped to monitor and record breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels and brain wave activity during sleep.
- A camera observes sleep throughout the night and provides useful diagnostic information. An intercom — on at all times — supports conversation with the technologist in the adjacent monitoring room.
- The following morning, monitors are removed and normal daily routines can resume. A medical staff member may discuss preliminary study findings; however, complete results will be available in several days. The results of the sleep study will be analyzed and an appointment may be scheduled to review the results and treatment options, if necessary.
