The St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sleep Disorders Centers have helped thousands of people deal with their sleep problems and live healthier, fuller lives. Talk to your doctor today if you have two or more of the following signs:
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Consistently tired/fatigued during the day
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Loud snoring
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Snoring interrupted by pauses in breathing
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Gasping or snorting during sleep
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Frequent urination at night
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High blood pressure
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Frequent wakening at night
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Waking up with palpitations
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Attention Deficit Disorder
These may be signs and symptoms of a serious sleep disorder. Talk to your physician for advice and a referral. Your doctor can help you if you clearly describe your sleep concern. Before speaking with your doctor, think of sleep symptoms that bother you and how often they occur. A sleep diary can help you collect this information. Don't wait for your regular checkup or another medical problem to see your doctor. If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder, make an appointment to assess the situation. Be sure to speak with your bed partner about your sleep habits as well. You may experience many symptoms that your partner is more aware of than you.
A sleep study usually lasts one night. Depending on the results of the study, additional tests may be required.
We ask that you arrive at our sleep center at your scheduled time. This will allow us to prepare the equipment and will allow you to get acclimated to the Sleep Disorders Center’s environment before the test begins. If you are not driving yourself, please arrange for your transportation to arrive and depart at the proper times.
When you arrive, you will be taken to your private bedroom. You will be asked to change into your nightclothes. The sleep technicians will apply electrodes to your face, head, chest, and legs. The electrodes along with multiple sensors will be applied, and it takes about 30 minutes to complete this procedure.
Many patients worry needlessly about these electrodes. The electrodes simply record the electrical activity present in your body; they do not generate any electrical current of their own. Most importantly, the application of the electrodes does not hurt. You may feel a little strange with electrodes and wires attached to your face and head, but the procedure is entirely painless. You may then relax until bedtime.
At bedtime, the technician will prepare to start the recording of your study. There will be a technician in the monitoring room all night. If you need anything during the night, all you need to do is push the call button and speak, and the technician will hear you through the intercom.
All patients are expected to stay in bed for seven hours. This means that the technicians will generally be waking you up seven hours from lights out. At this time they will remove your electrodes. If you are to be tested during the day, some - though not all - of your electrodes will be removed in the morning. Patients who remain for daytime testing are served breakfast.
A very large amount of information will be collected while you are a sleep study patient. As a consequence, it generally takes a few days to fully score, analyze, and interpret the findings. You will have already set up a follow up appointment with your Sleep Disorders Physician and during this visit your final results and treatment recommendations will be discussed with you.
While you are undergoing a sleep study, you will not be able to have visitors. A phone is available if you need to contact someone.
Sleep disorders are recognized as health problems, although insurance company reimbursements for sleep studies do vary. It is recommended that each patient consult with his or her insurance carrier prior to having a sleep study. St. Elizabeth Healthcare will make every effort to assist patients in verifying their insurance coverage.
Your physician may wish to call and arrange for your evaluation, or you may make an appointment yourself. We can also arrange for a personal tour of one of our Sleep Disorders Centers.