When you have reached your bedtime, or you feel drowsy enough to fall asleep, it will be important to let your technician know. They will help you in to bed and connect the wire box to a computer that will allow the tech to monitor you from another room. There will likely be a small infrared camera and two-way speaker in the bedroom. If you need to get up during the night, this is how you will call for assistance.
Just prior to going to sleep, the technician will need to test the equipment. As part of this testing, you will open and close your eyes, move them around, snore, take breaths in and out and even move your arms and legs. If something goes wrong with a wire, or if one comes loose during the night, your technician will come in to fix it.
Will I Sleep?The biggest concern most people have is whether they will be able to sleep. Surprisingly, most individuals are able to sleep, even with all the wires, the strange environment and any number of things that could be disruptive. It is exceptionally rare to have someone not be able to sleep at all.
If you are concerned that you may not be able to fall asleep, some healthcare providers prescribe a sleeping medication to be used the night of the study. There are some that will not change the results of your sleep study. Make certain that all medications are approved by your doctor before using them the night of the study.
The Morning AfterMost people get up at a regular time, and if you let your sleep technician know this before going to bed, they will be happy to wake you (there may be no clocks in the bedroom). The wires and other measurement devices will be removed with surprising speed, perhaps in as little as 5 minutes. There may be a questionnaire about your night's sleep to complete.
Some centers have showers, and you may be able to get ready for your day before leaving. (Remember that the sleep technicians have been awake all night, and they are eager to get home to sleep too.) You will likely not be given any information about your study until a sleep doctor has had a chance to review the results, which could be a few weeks.
