Carolina Pulmonary & Sleep Clinic

(A) How to prepare for the sleep study?

(Polysomnography)

1. On the day of your study:

Try to follow your regular routine as much as possible
Avoid napping
Eliminate use of caffeine
Eat your regular evening meal before you arrive at the Sleep Laboratory.
The arrival time is usually 8.30 - 9PM
Make sure that your hair is free of oil, hair spray, and other hair products.

2. What to bring:

Your regularly scheduled medications and plan to take them as you normally would unless your physician instructs otherwise.
Comfortable sleep attire / Pajama (avoid silk).
Toothpaste / toothbrush
Makeup remover
Reading material
Clean clothes for the morning
If you are already using CPAP/BiPAP, bring your mask and headgear to the study

3. Who needs to be accompanied:

If you are under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian is required to stay with you in the Sleep Lab for the entire duration of testing.
Notify us if you have a disability that requires special assistance. You may be required to have a caregiver present during testing.

4. In an emergency or cancellations:

If you cannot keep the appointment, to avoid a cancellation fee, call the office (919) 439 8580 at least 48 hours in advance to cancel or reschedule.
If you have an emergency and need to notify us after hours (After 5pm), please call the sleep technician, by dialing the number provided at the time of scheduling the study.

(B) How the sleep study is performed ?

When you are ready to go to bed, The Registered Polysomnographer (sleep technician) will place electrodes on your chin, scalp, outer edge of your eyelids, and legs. Monitors that record your heart rate and breathing will be attached to your chest. A video camera records your movements during sleep. The sleep technician will directly observe you while you sleep and note any changes in your sleep, breathing, and heart rate. The number of times you stop breathing will be recorded. Signals from electrodes are recorded while you are awake (with your eyes closed) and during sleep. The time it takes you to fall asleep is measured, as well as the time it takes you to enter REM (deep) sleep. The sensors, which are glued or taped to you, monitor your body while you sleep. These sensors are painless. Make sure to tell the technologist if you are allergic or sensitive to any adhesives. The sensors measure your:

Brain waves
Chin muscle activity
Heart rate
Breathing
Oxygen levels
Leg movements

The wires are long enough to let you move around and turn over in bed. At the start of the test, you will be asked to move your eyes, clench your teeth and move your legs. This will make sure that the sensors are working.

You are free to read until your normal bedtime. When it is time for you to try 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 have to help you with the wires.

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. Occasionally, you may be prescribed medication to help you sleep during the in-lab sleep study.

In the morning the technologist will test and then remove the sensors. The in-lab study is complete once you are awake and the sensors have been removed.

(C) Why sleep studies are performed ?

The test is done to diagnose possible sleep disorders, including:

Excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring
Obstructive sleep apnea and other breathing difficulties during sleep
Insomnia
Narcolepsy
Periodic limb movements disorder (frequent movements of the legs during sleep)
REM behavior disorder (a condition where you "acted out" the dreams)
Determine why a treatment for a sleep disorder is not working

Phone Number

Sleep Lab