My
doctor ordered a sleep study. What will happen?
If you are having an "in-lab" overnight sleep study:
You will be scheduled to show up about 2 hours before the study.
This will give the technician time to attach the monitoring equipment.
Sensors (electrodes) will be placed on your face, fingers, legs, abdomen, chest and head.
Applying these sensors does not provide any pain or discomfort to the patient.
An informational sheet
(click here)
will be given to you at the time you make your appointment.
Any questions you have can be answered at that time by our staff as well as by your sleep technician on the night of your study.
Note: if the patient is under 18 years of age, and adult family member is required to stay for the duration of the testing.
If you are having a home sleep study:
An appointment will be made to pick up your machine. Instructions for using the machine
(click here)
will be given to you at the time of pick up. The machine will be returned the following morning.
A follow-up appointment for your results will be made approximately 7-10 days after your home sleep study.
I have
been scheduled for a MSLT (nap study). Do I need to bring
something to eat?
Our office has a kitchen area that has a refrigerator as well
as a microwave oven. Feel free to bring a lunch and/or snack
with you. Your frozen entree can be heated for you in our
microwave oven and any items that need refrigeration can be
placed in our refrigerator until ready to eat.
Can
I eat?
Yes, but we will not provide food. If necessary a clean refrigerator
is available for food storage
My
family member needs a sleep study but suffers from a medical issue which requires my assistance. Can
I stay?
Absolutely! In certain situations, family members can stay with the patient throughout the night.
While we do not provide hotel accommodations, one accompanying family member is
welcome to sleep in a comfortable reclining lounge chair. Bedding and a pillow
are provided.
What
should I bring with me?
Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing such as t shirts,
pajamas, or sweat pants.
Each bedroom is equipped with a satellite TV and DVD player,
you may bring DVD's from home for viewing before bedtime.
All patients may bring their favorite pillow
if they desire.
We do not provide medications. We do not administer medications.
Please make appropriate arrangements. If you need a referral
for the study, you must bring it with you. Unless all “paperwork”
is done before the study, it will not be performed. Our staff
will help obtain referrals if needed.
When
can I leave after my study?
You will be scheduled for an 8 hour sleep study. Plan to be
awakened 8 hours after your scheduled bedtime. If you wish
you may shower before leaving. If you are scheduled for a
daytime study (MSLT, or nap study) the next day, do not plan
to leave until late the next afternoon – check with
our staff regarding the expected study termination time.
Is
sleep testing dangerous? Is there any pain or discomfort involved?
No. sleep testing is safe. No significant pain or discomfort
is usually experienced.
My
husband snores. I think he might stop breathing during sleep.
What should I do?
When a person’s spouse or bed partner complains about
loud snoring, the snorer’s doctor should be informed.
Loud snoring may be just a nuisance (as it can disrupt the
life and sleep of a bed partner). In some individuals, though,
it is one of the signs of obstructive
sleep apnea. Individuals who are obese, sleepy
during the daytime, or who are witnessed to stop breathing
during sleep may need a sleep evaluation.
I can't get my teenaged son out of bed in the morning. He
is sleepy during school, but can't go to sleep at night. What
should I do?
There are many sleep problems and challenges affecting adolescents
and young adults. We have a special interest in caring for
such individuals. Our sleep specialists have experience treating
patients with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (a
circadian rhythm disorder) and would be happy to
see such individuals in consultation.Your son may have Delayed
Sleep Phase Syndrome. He should be seen by a sleep
specialist. Our sleep specialists have experience in treating
such a problem.
For more
information regarding Delayed Sleep
Phase Syndrome, CLICK
HERE.
What if I can't go to sleep during the sleep study?
We will almost certainly get enough information even during
a short period of sleep to diagnose most sleep problems. Some
people actually sleep better in a sleep laboratory than at
home! Don’t worry!
Why
do I have to see a physician before a sleep study?
We strongly feel that consultation with a sleep specialist
is the most important aspect of a sleep evaluation. Information
gathered during the consultation is important, often leads
to diagnoses not forthcoming during sleep tests, and helps
our sleep physicians to ensure that testing is properly performed.
Will I need a nap test as well as an overnight sleep
study?
Nap testing (multiple sleep latency testing) may be ordered
if our sleep specialist physicians suspect that you may have
narcolepsy. It may also be indicated to prove that an individual
is not pathologically sleepy. However, most individuals who
visit our center do not undergo this test.
What insurances are accepted?
We accept most major insurances. If we do not accept your
insurance we will be glad to assist you in finding physicians
who do.
Why can't I just take sleeping pills?
Our sleep specialists can often treat sleep disorders without
the use of medicines. If medicines are needed to promote and
maintain healthy sleep we are very willing to provide them.
In many instances, however, non-drug therapy is best in the
long term. We are glad to assist with both drug therapy and
non-drug therapy.
My doctor told me I have an abnormal chest x-ray/CT scan
of the chest. Should I be concerned? Does that mean I have cancer?
Chest x-rays and CT scans are useful in determining causes for lung symptoms.
Shadows and abnormal findings on chest x-rays and CT scans can cause anxiety for
patients. While not all abnormal chest x-rays/CT scans indicate cancer, it is
important to follow up with any chest x-rays and/or CT scans in a timely manner
so an appropriate diagnosis and treatment can be initiated. Due to the stressful
nature that any abnormal finding brings to individuals, patients can be seen at The
Center for Respiratory and Sleep Disorders within a week's time of your initial finding.
I need to have a bronchoscopy, what is that?
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to look at your airway through an
instrument called a bronchoscope. During a bronchoscopy , your doctor will examine your
throat, larynx , trachea , and lower airways. Bronchoscopies are useful in diagnosing
problems with the airway, the lungs, or with the lymph nodes in the chest, or to treat
problems such as an object or growth in the airway. Your pulmonologist will determine
which type of bronchoscopy is needed for your symptoms.
Specialized Bronchoscopies
Bronchial Thermoplasty
This procedure is used for relief of individuals who suffer from severe asthma.
It is effective in providing long term relief in the number of asthma attacks,
requiring less need for oral steroid medications. A pulmonologist can determine
whether or not you might be a candidate for this procedure.
Procedure: With the aid of a bronchoscope, a small device delivers heat
to the smooth muscle airways in your lungs. This reduces the volume of excess
smooth-muscle tissue in the airways making the airways constrict less. Asthma attacks
are reduced and breathing is improved.
Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS)
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a specialized form of bronchoscopy which uses ultrasound
along with bronchoscope to visualize airway wall and structures adjacent to it. This technique
is used to diagnose lung diseases. It is also performed when biopsying of lymph nodes in the
chest is needed for staging of tumors. These samples are examined as they are obtain leading to
a faster evaluation of the tissue.
Super Dimensional Bronchoscopy
Super Dimensional Navigation System-Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (Super D) which
provides a minimally invasive approach to accessing difficult-to-reach areas of the lung, which
can aid in the diagnosis of lung disease and thereby lead to earlier, personalized treatment.
What
you should expect (and insist upon) from your home care company:
Your doctor
may write a prescription for you to have durable medical equipment,
devices, and / or supplemental oxygen. You have the right
to choose your provider unless it is mandated by your insurance
company. If you already have a relationship with a provider
(home care company), please notify our staff so that the prescriptions
may be sent to them.
Once you
have picked a home care company, your sleep physician will
arrange for a prescription to be sent there. Sometimes the
prescription will not be sent until complete scoring of your
sleep study is complete - this may take at least a couple
of days. The reason for this possible delay is to ensure that
the prescription is correct; sometimes complete scoring (and
rescoring by the physician) of records is necessary.
Prompt
Service
In most cases, your CPAP unit should be delivered no later
than 5 working days after receipt of prescription and appropriate
insurance authorization. Special requests may take longer.
Phone calls should be answered the same or next working day
Delivery
Your home care company should offer free delivery of equipment
to the site where you will use it.
Demonstration
of Use
Technicians should demonstrate how to use the equipment.
Accurate
Equipment Dispensing
Your home care company should dispense the mask and other
equipment prescribed by your doctor. Sometimes substitution
with other equipment is appropriate; technicians from the
home care company may find equipment which suits you even
better than that prescribed by your doctor. However, such
changes should only be made after consultation with your physician.
Follow
Up
Technicians from your home care company should be available
to answer questions and service equipment if necessary.
Documentation
of Compliance
Documentation that you use the unit prescribed by your doctor
is important. It helps to show that you are a compliant patient.
It helps your physician from a diagnostic standpoint; in some
difficult cases we find this information very helpful. Some
insurance companies will not pay for the use of CPAP devices
if you can not prove that you actually use it.
Some home
care companies help you and your physician by providing information
about your compliance with equipment.
Please
ask if you have questions regarding these issues. We will
be glad to help.
