question: What is the testing area like?
answer: Very similar to a hotel room. Calm, quiet and great for sleeping.
question: Who is allowed to come/stay the night of my sleep study?
answer: Patients are to come alone, unless they are a child. No one is permitted to sleep or stay over in your testing room.
question: Does a Sleep Study hurt?
answer: NO...it is painless! We do hook you up to monitor your breathing, heart rate, brain waves, leg movements and eye movements, but it does not hurt!
question: How do I get the results to my Sleep Study?
answer: If you were referred for a study by a United Sleep Medicine physician, you will come back for a follow-up office visit to go over your results. If you did not see one of our physicians then the physician that referred you over for the study will go over the results with you.
question: My doctor ordered an MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test). How is this different from a standard Sleep Study?
answer: An MSLT is usually performed the day after a standard Sleep Study to measure your true excessive daytime sleepiness or physical tiredness. The test consists of 4 or 5 20 minute nap periods during the day. The test usually takes about 7 hours.
question: Do I take my home medications at the study?
answer: Bring all night medications with you to study. If staying for a day study bring those medications with you as well.
question: What are my treatment options for Sleep Apnea?
answer: There are several treatment options, the most commonly used is CPAP. Other's include BiPAP, and Oral Appliance Therapy.
question: What is a MWT (Maintenance of Wakefulness Test)?
answer: This is similar to the MSLT; however you will be asked to sit in bed and try to stay awake rather than lie down and sleep. The test last about 7 hours and consists of 5 testing periods during the day.
question: Do you provide food?
answer: No. You should eat dinner before you come. You can bring your own snacks.
question: Can I smoke?
answer: Smoking is prohibited once you are hooked up to equipment.
question: Do I have to sleep on my back all night?
answer: No. You may be asked to sleep on your back at some point during the study, but you don’t have to stay on yo9ur back.
question: How is United Sleep Medicine different from a Hospital?
answer: We offer a more personal relaxing atmosphere than a hospital. Also, coming to a USM sleep lab will save you money on your co-pay and deductible. Going to a hospital you are subject to much higher co-pays and you will have to meet your deductible.
question: Can the sleep technologists tell me if I have sleep apnea or not?
answer: NO
question: Do I have to shave my head?
answer: NO
question: What is Central Sleep Apnea?
answer: It is when breathing is disrupted regularly during sleep because of the way the brain functions. It is not that you cannot breathe (which is true in obstructive sleep apnea); rather, you do not try to breathe at all. The brain does not tell your muscles to breathe. In infants, central sleep apnea produces pauses in breathing that can last 20 seconds.
question: My child may be having parasomnias...what is this?
answer: Sleepwalking, Night Terrors, Nightmares, Bed wetting. While all of these things can be a normal part of childhood, excessive sleepwalking, night terrors etc...can be more than just having a bad night.
question: How much sleep do we really need?
answer:
- 0-6 months... 16-20 hours of sleep per day
- 6 months to 1 year...11 hours at night and at least 3 hours of naptime during the day
- 1-3 years...10 to 13 hours of sleep
- Preschoolers...10 to 12 hours of sleep
- School ages (6-9)...10 hours of sleep
- Ages 10-12..8 to 9 hours of sleep
- Teens...8 to 9.5 hours of sleep
- Adults...7-8 hours of sleep
question: What should I wear for my sleep study?
answer: Two piece sleepwear or shirt, sweat pants, Tee-shirt. No silk please.
question: Can I bring my pillow, snacks or blanket from home?
answer: Yes
question: Can I shower and dress for work the next morning?
answer: Most of our facilities do have showers.
question: What time can I leave in the morning?
answer: You will be awaken at 6:00 a.m. unless you need to get up earlier. You should be ready to leave by 6:30-6:45.
question: Should I avoid caffeine prior to my study?
answer: No caffeine after 4:00 p.m. day of the study.
