Sleep Studies

blurb: Sleep disorders are complex and require careful evaluation by a physician who is a board-certified in Sleep Medicine. The physician will recommend the appropriate sleep testing necessary to establish a diagnosis and treatment plan for your individual situation. If you have been scheduled for a sleep study, here is what you need to know:

Preparation

How to prepare for your sleep study:

Try to follow your regular routine as much as possible.
Avoid napping
Eliminate use of caffeine after lunch
Shower or avoid using hair sprays or gels that can interfere with the sleep recording

What to bring to the sleep lab:

Please bring any items that you need for your nightly routine, such as:

Comfortable pajamas or clothes to sleep in
A toothbrush and toothpaste
Makeup remover
Reading material
Clean clothes for the morning
Medications – unless your physician instructed otherwise, you will continue to take your medications as prescribed.

What to expect at the lab

When you arrive, a sleep technologist will ask about your sleep habits. You will have some time to make yourself comfortable. There will not be any other patients in your room. You will have a bathroom available to use, and you will have a television that you can watch.

When you are ready to go to bed, the sleep technologist will attach sensors to your body. The sensors, which are glued or taped to you, monitor your body while you sleep. Make sure to tell the technologist if you are allergic or sensitive to any adhesives. The wires are long enough to let you move around and turn over in bed. These sensors are painless.

When it is time for you to go to sleep, the lights will go off and a low-light video camera will allow the technologist to see you from a nearby room. If a sensor comes loose or you need to go to the bathroom during the night, the technologist will help you with the wires.

Morning wake up

Wake up times vary, as the technologist will wake you up once the goals of the study have been met. In most cases, patients are up between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. Please inform the technologist when you arrive if you need to be out by a certain time.

Common Concerns

What happens if I have trouble sleeping?

Many patients do not sleep as well as they would at home. This may be because of the sensors or the unfamiliar environment. This typically does not affect the results. Nearly everyone falls asleep during an in-lab study. In most cases, you do not need a full eight hours of sleep for the doctor to make a diagnosis.

Will I get a sleeping pill if I can’t fall asleep?

Although most patients sleep better than they anticipate, your sleep physician may give you a sleeping pill to bring to your overnight study. Please discuss this concern with your sleep physician at the time of the initial consultation, as medications will need to be dispensed in the clinic.

Will I need to use CPAP?

Based on the results of your overnight sleep study, your physician may recommend treatment with CPAP. If CPAP is prescribed, NorthStar Sleep Center offers complete CPAP services, including equipment, supplies, and education.

I am a night shift worker and sleep during the daytime. Can I have an in-lab sleep study?

Yes. Our sleep procedure schedulers will work with you to schedule an in-lab sleep study that accommodates your sleep schedule. Please make sure to discuss this issue with your sleep physician at the time of the initial consultation.

Study Results

A sleep technologist will first score your sleep study by marking your sleep stages and identifying any events of abnormal breathing or leg movement. The sleep physician will then review the results to determine what kind of sleep problem you may have. The results of your study and the recommendations for treatment will be reviewed with you at the time of your follow up appointment.