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SLEEP DISORDERS CENTER
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Expect During Your Stay at a Sleep Disorders
Center
A visit to a sleep disorders facility for a sleep study
is likely to be a new experience for you. A sleep study is a recording that
includes measurements used to identify different sleep stages and classify
various sleep problems.
Sleep is not a simple process. Many parts of the brain
control it and influence its different stages. These levels or stages of
sleep include drowsiness, light sleep, deep sleep, and dream sleep. It is
possible to identify which stage of sleep a person is in by measuring
different activities in the brain and body.
During sleep testing, the activities that go on in your
body during slee p (brain waves, muscle movements, eye movements, breathing
through your mouth and nose, snoring, heart rate, and leg movements) are
monitored by small metal discs called electrodes applied to your head and
skin with an adhesive. Flexible elastic belts around your chest and abdomen
measure your breathing. The level of oxygen in your blood and your heart
rate are monitored by a clip on your index finger or earlobe. Your sleep
may also be videotaped for later review of any abnormalities observed during
the study. The sleep technician will let you know if this is done.
None of these devices are painful and all are designed
to be as comfortable as possible. If you have questions or concerns about
the application of the electrodes (if, for example, you use a hearing aid or
wear a hairpiece), contact your doctor or speak with the technician before
you arrive at the center.
Why do I need a sleep study?
In order to fully understand your sleep and any
problems with it, we need to look at various brain activities and body
systems and their relationships throughout the night. After the study, a
sleep specialist will review and interpret the record to help you and your
healthcare professional understand your specific sleep patterns. Treatment
recommendations will be made if evidence of a sleep disorder is found.
The sleep study and its analysis and interpretation are
part of a complex process. Many hours of work are required by specially
trained professionals, including sleep technologists who process or score
the large amount of data recorded during the study. The information is then
interpreted by a sleep specialist with special knowledge of sleep and its
disorders. A typical sleep study involves more than 800 pages of data of
various kinds (for example, brain waves, muscle movements, and eye
movements). Because this is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process,
sleep studies are usually not evaluated immediately, and it may take some
time to receive the results of your study. A representative from the sleep
center should be able to give you an idea when the results will be
available.
How will I be able to sleep in a strange environment
with all those wires on me?
This is the question asked more frequently by patients
prior to their sleep studies. Many people expect the sleep center to be
cold, bright, technical and impersonal-looking. However, the surroundings
are homey and comfortable looking, like a hotel room.
 The technical equipment and technicians will be in a
room separate from your sleeping room, and the electrode wires will be
gathered together in a kind of ponytail behind your head so that you will be
able to roll over and change positions almost as easily as you would at
home.
On the day of your sleep study, avoid caffeine (coffee,
tea, cola, chocolate) after 2 p.m. and try not to nap. Before coming to the
sleep center, wash and dry your hair, and do not apply hair sprays, oil or
gels.
The electrodes may feel strange on your skin at first,
but most people do not find them uncomfortable or an obstacle to falling
asleep. The sleep specialist recognizes that your sleep in the center may
not be exactly like your sleep at home. This usually does not interfere
with obtaining the necessary information from your study.
Before coming to the center, you should pack an
overnight bag, as you would for an overnight stay at a hotel or friend’s
house. You may wish to include your own pillow and extra clothing. If you
have special needs, advise the sleep center personnel so they can
accommodate you.
What will happen when I arrive at the sleep center?
When you arrive at the center – usually
 between 8:30
and 10:30 p.m. – the technician will greet you and show you to your room.
You will be shown the equipment that will be used and given a chance to ask
questions. You should inform the technician of any changes in your sleep or
specific difficulties you have not already discussed with your healthcare
professional.
You will have time to change into nightclothes and get
ready for bed as you do at home. There may be a waiting period before the
technician applies the electrodes, and you can read, watch TV or relax
during this time. If you have a commitment in the morning (for example, if
you have to be at work at a certain time), be sure to inform the sleep
technician prior to your study, so a wake-up time can be arranged. Your
wake-up time should also be confirmed when you arrive at the sleep center.
While you are sleeping, various important body
functions and measurements are recorded. The technician
will monitor your
sleep throughout the night from a nearby room. If a breathing problem is
observed during your study, the technician may awaken you to ask you to try
a device that treats breathing problems during sleep. If this is a
possibility for you, you will be notified before you go to bed, and the use
and purpose of the device will be explained.
This device, called a continuous positive airway
pressure (CPAP) device, includes a small mask that fits around your nose or
your nose and mouth. You can find out whether you will be having a CPAP
trial during your study by asking your healthcare professional or sleep
center staff. If you will be trying CPAP during your sleep study, the
technician will adjust the mask in advance to make sure it fits comfortably,
and will usually give you a chance to practice with the device before you go
to bed.
What happens if I am scheduled for a nap study?
Sometimes an additional test, called a multiple sleep
latency test (MSLT), is needed as part of the overall sleep evaluation.
This test requires that you stay at the center for most of the following day
for a series of short naps beginning the morning after your overnight
study. The naps are scheduled at set intervals throughout the day. Your
sleep patterns will be monitored with most of the same recording equipment
used the night before.
The amount and type of sleep you get during naps can
help the sleep specialist understand complaints of sleepiness better and
make decisions about specific sleep disorders and treatments.
Be sure to find out whether you will be staying at the
center the next day so you can plan ahead. Call the center in advance to
find out specific breakfast and lunch arrangements and the approximate time
you will be able to leave.
Should I take my medication as usual?
It is important for your sleep professional to know if
you are taking any prescribed or over-the-counter medication, since certain
medications can affect sleep and the interpretation of a sleep study.
Sometimes certain medications need to be discontinued gradually prior to a
sleep study so that the results can be interpreted correctly. Do not
discontinue any prescription medication without first talking with your
healthcare professional. Be sure to avoid coffee or alcohol on the
day/evening of the study, unless directed otherwise by your physician.
What happens after my sleep study?
You will probably have a follow-up visit with your
healthcare professional to discuss the results and recommendations for
treatment. Be sure to inquire before your study about scheduling a
follow-up visit. Some healthcare professionals prefer that you wait until
the sleep study results are available before the follow-up appointment is
scheduled. Sleep study results are not generally discussed over the
telephone because of this complex nature.
To fully understand the results of your sleep study,
their implications, and any treatment recommendations that are made, you
should meet face-to-face with your healthcare professional.
Additional procedures are occasionally needed to
establish a diagnosis or evaluate a treatment. Your healthcare professional
will inform you if this is the case.
Summary
We hope that your experience at Salina Regional’s Sleep
Disorders Center will be a good one. Understanding the sleep process and
the evaluation of sleep disorders will help you take an active and positive
role in your own care.
For more information about Salina Regional Sleep
Disorders Center, call 785-452-7650.
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