The following recommendations are standard practice before a polysomnogram:

• Do not take a nap the day of your study.
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• Refrain from caffeinated food and beverages (coffee, tea, chocolate etc.) on the day of your appointment.
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• Avoid stimulants, alcohol, or sedatives after noon on the day of your study.
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• Check with your referring physician to see if you should maintain your regular medications. (Some medications may have to be withdrawn for up to two weeks.)
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• On the day of your appointment, shower and wash your hair.
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• Avoid using any hair products, hair spray, mousse, gels.
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• Refrain from using skin lotions and powders.
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• Eat a normal meal before your arrival. If you typically eat a small snack before bed, you may bring it with you.
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• Bring comfortable and loose fitting bedclothes.
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• Bring any items that will help you feel at home, such as your own pillow, personal hygiene items, slippers, or a robe.

Comprehensive Sleep Solutions will require that patients complete a sleep questionnaire about their sleeping habits, medications taken, and past medical history. This questionnaire will be mailed to the patient’s home prior to their sleep appointment. The patient will want to bring this completed questionnaire with them to their sleep study. Download our sleep questionnaire from the forms page

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Check In

After the patient arrives at the sleep center, a polysomnographic technologist will ask you to change into your night clothes. Small sensors or electrodes will then be placed and attached to your head and body. All sensors are attached using either tape or a water soluble paste. Flexible wiring connects the sensors to a central unit. A monitoring area is located close to your room. Once all the sensors, electrodes, and belts are attached, the technician will take some initial readings while you are awake.

During Testing

The attached sensors monitor and record various physical activities, such as electrical brain activity, heart activity, eye movements, muscle activity, breathing, and blood oxygen levels. Varying types of parameters may be monitored depending on your symptoms. Depending on the symptoms you have described to your referring physician, some or all of the following will be monitored:

• Brain activity – Multiple sensors attached to your scalp record your brain activity. This reading shows the technician which sleep stage you are in.

• Airflow – A sensor placed on your upper lip monitors the airflow (both temperature and pressure) from your nose and mouth. For patients that suffer from sleep apnea, these sensors show a flat reading when there is no airflow.



• Eyes – Two sensors placed near the eyes record eye movements. Rapid eye movements (REMs) are associated with dreaming.

• Breathing – Elastic belts around your chest and abdomen will measure your respiratory effort.

• Chin muscle – Muscle tone and relaxation are measured with electrodes attached to your chin. It is important that this reading is low during REM sleep, a period in which your muscles should be relaxed. This reading also helps technicians determine which stage of sleep you are in. Measurement of the chin also allows for monitoring teeth grinding.

• Heart Rate – Your heart rate and activity are monitored with two sensors placed on your chest or back.



• Oxygen level – An oximeter, a device that measures oxygen levels, is taped to either your finger or earlobe. In patients with sleep apnea, this measurement can determine how serious the apnea episodes are.

• Leg movements – Sensors placed on your legs, usually just below the knee can detect leg movements

• Snoring – A sensor is placed on the side of the neck to monitor snoring vibration.

• Body position and movement – A technician specially trained in sleep diagnostics remains vigilant in body position and movement observations.

You will be videotaped while you sleep. In any case, one or more technician(s) will observe you the entire night while you are asleep. Technicians note if you snore and how loudly, if you kick violently, or if you have periodic movements. They also chart your sleep stages and other measurements.

After the Test

When you wake up in the morning, the technician will help you remove the equipment. You may be asked to complete another questionnaire about your night’s sleep. After your polysomnogram, you are able to resume your normal activities as soon as possible. Some patients need to spend more than one night in the sleep lab. If this is the case, you may be rescheduled to return to the center on another night. The technician and sleep specialist review how long you spent in each stage of sleep, when and how long you dreamed, the amount and level of snoring, body movements, and a host of other activities. Because of the enormous amount of data collected from your sleep study, you will be asked to make a future appointment in about a week, with your referring physician to discuss your results and treatment options.