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ARRIVAL and DEPARTURE: The VCUHS Sleep Disorders Center performs overnight sleep studies on Sunday through Thursday nights. Since we are not on the main MCV Hospital campus, there are several special considerations when making an appointment for a sleep study.
The night technicians are on duty here from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM, so before 7:00 PM you will not be able to get into the building. There are several places within a few miles of the Center to eat dinner, and since we have no cafeteria or vending machines you should eat dinner prior to coming in for your study. We usually ask that you arrive between 7:00 and 8:30 PM to be checked in and assigned a bedroom.
As we often have patients on a waiting list for sleep studies, we ask that you notify us ahead of time at (804) 323-2255 if you will be here later than 8:30 so your room does not go to someone on the waiting list. We also ask that anyone relying on someone else for transportation arrange for their ride to be here by 7:00 AM to pick them up after the study.
ACCOMODATIONS: Each bedroom is private, has a television, bathroom with shower, and an individual thermostat so you can control the room temperature. There is an oversized recliner in each room that is often used by a parent or a spouse for sleeping-in during studies. When we test children, we do require a parent or guardian spend the night with them here as well. If someone needs special care, we also ask that a caregiver remain for the duration of the sleep study since there are no nurses or doctors at the center at night.
WHAT TO BRING: Please bring any medications you are on with you, and take them on your regular schedule unless you were told previously that you should discontinue any of them. As always, if in doubt please call our office to discuss your medications.
You need to bring pajamas (preferably two-piece) since we do not allow sleeping in the nude. You should bring any personal hygiene items you will need such as:
- shaving items,
- shampoo,
- toothbrush and toothpaste,
- combs, etc.
We also only carry small "hotel size" towels so you may want to bring your own.
Many of our patients find it enhances their sleep to bring their own pillow to use along with ours.
You can bring snacks and drinks with you if they are caffeine and alcohol free, and bring a book or something else to occupy you since you will not be going to bed immediately.
We ask that you not drink any caffeine after 4 P.M. on the day of the study as this can affect your sleep architecture.
WHAT WE DO: After you arrive at the center on the night of your sleep study, you will be checked into a bedroom and asked to change into your pajamas. Make sure you do not have any braids, weaves, hairpieces, oil, or hairspray on or the sensors will not adhere to your scalp properly.
We generally advise patients to shampoo and dry their hair before coming in. For men, if you don’t mind shaving, it will keep the technicians from having to use glue in your beard or stubble.
The technicians will be placing small dime-sized sensors on you to record your sleep, heart rate, and muscle tension. You also will have two elastic bands placed on your abdomen and chest to monitor respiratory movement, a sensor on your finger to monitor oxygen saturation, and a small sensor placed under your nose to monitor airflow. Even with the sensors on, most patients find that they have no problem getting to sleep. You can still walk around with the sensors on, and once your "hookup" is complete, you can go back to your room to relax for awhile before bed.
Bedtime is generally around 10PM as this allows you to get used to the surroundings before trying to sleep. Once the study starts, you are monitored from the Lab by the technicians. They are there all night so if you need to get up to go to the restroom, or if you need anything you can just call out and they can hear you over the intercom in your room. If you have to get up in the morning at a specific time, please let the technicians know when you arrive at the center. |