If you think you have a sleep disorder, meet with your primary care physician and discuss your symptoms. If you need an evaluation at the Sleep Center, have your physician contact the sleep lab coordinator to request an appointment for you. Your physician must make the request-- there are no self-referrals. At that point we will contact you to find a convenient date for an evaluation. Once your appointment is scheduled, we will mail a complete information packet to you.
Most patients need to stay one night for a diagnosis and another, at a later date, for treatment. Patients suspected of narcolepsy routinely spend one night followed by a series of nap trials the following day. Shift workers can be monitored during the day.
How to prepare, what to expect:
- Bring your toiletries and, if you prefer, your own pillow.
Shower or bathe and be sure to NOT wear lotions, hair sprays, makeup, or fingernail polish.
Do NOT take a nap before the evaluation.
DO sleep well if you can the night before.
Do NOT consume alcohol after 3 p.m. on the day of the test.
Wear pajamas or loose-fitting clothing (shorts and T-shirt) so that the technologist can apply sensors easily.
DO take any medication(s) you are on, unless otherwise instructed by your physician. If you take medication(s) at night, be sure to bring them with you.
When you arrive:
Park near the Emergency entrance of NSMC Salem Hospital
Enter through Emergency Department and register with the front desk there. You will be directed to Davenport 8, Sleep Lab, just prior to your appointment time. You will be shown to your bedroom and asked to change into your sleep wear. A lab assistant will then apply monitoring sensors, which takes 45 minutes to 60 minutes. The sensors are plugged into a box at the head of the bed that is cabled to the control room where the data signals are displayed and collected.
Once in bed you will be asked to respond to a set of directions called biocalibrations, This process is done to ensure that the sensors are placed correctly and responding appropriately. After biocalibration, you may be asked to prepare for sleep. You can change your position and request to get out of bed as often as you require. During the night, the technologist in the control room will monitor you via closed circuit television.
The technologist will enter the room only if you request it or if it becomes necessary to reapply a sensor. You can request a specific wake-up time. If not, we will wake you between 5:15 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. The sensors will be removed and you will be free to leave.
