|
||
|
Your Night in a Sleep Center
Overnight sleep studies have become standard medical tests for at least 25 years. With rare exceptions,
they are covered by medical insurance, subject to the usual deductibles or copayments. You are asked to arrive in the Sleep Center at 8:30 PM and will generally leave about 6:30 AM. No special
preparation is required, although we ask you to minimize caffeine intake on that day and refrain from napping if possible.
Bring Insurance Cards, identification, basic toilet items, and something comfortable to sleep in. On
arrival at the Center (entering from the Stewart Avenue entrance) you will be greeted by a Sleep Technologist and will
be given some basic questionnaires to complete regarding your medical history and sleep habits.
You will be shown in to one of four private bedrooms where you will spend the night. Each
room has a television with basic cable channels and access to a bathroom. It will take about 30-45 minutes to have electrodes
attached to monitor breathing, EEG (brain waves), oxygen, EKG (heart rhythm), and muscle activity. Electrodes are securely
attached, and ordinary movement will not dislodge them, but they do not go into the skin and should not be uncomfortable. After monitoring equipment is attached you will be allowed to relax in the bedroom until you feel
ready to sleep. You may watch television or bring something to read or relax you. The technologist will be observing
all of the monitoring signals from another room (the "Control Room") and will be quickly reached by an intercom
in your bedroom if needed. You can easily be disconnected from all monitoring equipment if you wish to get up to move
around or go the bathroom. Call the technologist if you need to be disconnected. In the morning you will leave the Center no later than 7 AM. Let the technologist know at what
time you wish to be awakened. You will probably wish to shower to remove some of the paste used to attach electrodes to the
scalp. If you wish to bring a change of clothing, shower facilities are available at the Center, and many patients go
to work from the Center in the morning. Our Sleep Technologists will not be able to discuss
the findings of the study with you, as the recording requires time to analyze. Generally the final report will be available
in one week and sent to your physician |
||
|
Steven H. Feinsilver, MD 2009
|