A Night in a Sleep Lab Part One

Your doctor has decided to refer you to a sleep lab for testing. What is a sleep lab like? What happens there? What do you have to do to get ready for it? Let's take a look at a typical night in a sleep lab.

Being Referred

A sleep study, also called a polysomnogram, is a safe and painless test performed while you sleep, by a certified technician at a located sleep lab usually located in a hospital. The test records your physical state while you are sleeping by identifying your stages of sleep, body position, blood oxygen levels, respiratory events, muscle tone, heart rate, amount of snoring and general sleep behavior. The data from the test helps the specialist to evaluate the quality and quantity of your sleep stages and recommend a treatment.

Most tests take at least one night. Sometimes two or more night is needed to get the required results for a proper diagnosed. Research has shown that 80% taking the sleep lab tests and receiving appropriate treatment see a positive improvement in their sleep. In some cases the study can be done in the comfort of your home. Check with the sleep specialist that you are referred to see if this is possible.

Sleeping in a sleep lab will be almost the same as sleeping at home. The only differences are that you will be observed and monitored. Do not worry. You are not given any medication nor is anything inserted into your body. The electrodes used to monitor various events are attached painlessly to your skin. It is very similar to have an electrocardiogram test.

The Interview

Usually you have to have a meeting with the physician or sleep specialist before actually attending the sleep lab. You may also be sent forms asking for your medical and sleep history prior to your appointment with the doctor. These form could include some questions for your bed partner to answer about whether you snore, stop breathing or kick you legs while asleep. This information will aid the doctor is giving any special instructions needed to the sleep lab.

The sleep specialist will go over your medical and sleep history and also advise what to expect. In some health system, it might be months before you get an appointment and then you might have to wait a while longer to actually attend the sleep lab. You may also have the initial interview the same night as the sleep lab. I waited three months for the initial interview. When the sleep specialist went to schedule the lab session, he was able to get me in right away that night due to a last minute cancellation.

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