Overnight Sleep Study Questions

Hi @tim1028, I did my overnight sleep study at the Rochester Mayo Clinic 4 or 5 years ago and don't remember too much about the preparation other than being told I shouldn't have any caffeine or alcohol in the afternoon prior to the study. Here's some information from Mayo Clinic - https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/polysomnography/about/pac-20394877.

From a practical standpoint, I would make sure I had a comfortable set of loose fitting pajamas as they hook you up to a lot of different electrodes for the study recordings. I didn't bring my own pillow but that might be a question to ask if you have a preference.

I had an overnight sleep study 4 months ago. Try to keep the normal night time routine you have at home as much as possible. Take your own pillow if you have one you like. I was afraid I wouldn't sleep at all the night of the study, so my sleep doctor suggested I increase my dosage of Trazodone the night of the study. That, and being exhausted after getting hooked up to all the wires, made me sleep much better than I ever do at home, so the doctor didn't understand how severe my insomnia usually was. I wasn't offered much help at all, except to keep doing what I was doing, which isn't working well. I'm still struggling to sleep more than 3-4 hrs a night. I didn't have apnea or restless legs.

That's why I took something to help me sleep. I have just the nasal mask. The connector is at top of head and it swivels so I turn over and it goes with me. You could have the wrong size piece. I started with the small nasal piece and after a couple weeks called and said I need the small wide because the other mashes my nose together. The wide just sits under my nostrils and is very comfortable.

No one warned me about the paste in my hair. They used some sort of paste to hold the sensors on my head. So, don't wash your hair before the sleep study because you will absolutely need to wash your hair right after. Honestly, it was the worst night's sleep ever. I was cold and so uncomfortable, and woke up more times than I usually do. Definitely pee right before the tech hooks up the wires because it is a pain to do it when you really have to go. And be patient- My tech took a while to respond to my alert. Good luck!

I had a sleep study done in March 2023. The hook up of wires, straps to meaure heart function, etc. was uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as the hard mattress. Im a side sleeper so I slept on my back because it was more comfortable ---all things considered. However, I didn't sleep much either, just enough to get the required data.
My awakenings were reported to be the result of apnea. I just thought it was for the bathroom. The O2 sensor picked up low oxygen levels (76%) which corresponded to my awakening. Im currently using a cpap machine which improved my nighttime O2 levels. Its not fun wearing a cpap mask, but I have been dealing with it. I know apnea can lead to heart attack and stroke as well as memory problems. Who knows how long Ive had apnea? I am hoping to see improvements as my body responds to this therapy. Cleaning the mask and hose has not been a problem. I use unscented soap and water. I hang the items in the shower to let them dry. I have a second hose and mask to rotate while the other dries. My neurologist says 50 percent of the patients stop using cpap for various reasons. I hope to continue, but I can't predict how I will feel in 6 months. You might want to speak with your doctor about the results of your study . There are blogs out there on YouTube that are made by cpap users who give helpful information in problems adjusting to cpap use. I wish all who are on this journey, the best of health.

Thanks everyone for your helpful and supportive comments. I had my overnight sleep study and found it difficult. The wires, the unfamiliar room, the uncomfortable bed and the anticipatory anxiety made for a strange night of sleep/wake. I tossed and turned and had the sleep tech come in several times to reattach stuff. It did not feel like a normal night, so I hope the data they got is helpful to sort out any sleep issues I have based on the study. When the sleep tech woke me up in the morning, he said, "You moved around a lot last night."

I got the Sleep Study results on my electronic record, but have not yet had a follow-up visit with the Sleep Doc. I have mild sleep apnea, periodic limb movements and numerous awakenings. It will be interesting to see if I end up with a CPAP. This explains the excessive daytime sleepiness I experience. Any advice or experiences from those of you in a similar situation are welcome

@tim28 how did it go?
I’m scheduled for a sleep study on June 13. The doctor thinks that I may have narcolepsy.
I’m bringing my own pillow, and maybe a blanket I’m familiar with so I can feel more comfortable.
What is your advice?

SusanEllen, Yes, bring your own pillow and blankets. I should have done that. Make sure you adjust the room temperature to what you're used to. I would also try to arrange your sleep time with the sleep tech so that it matches your normal sleep time as closely as possible. I'm a night owl, so they let me go to sleep later, about 11 pm, which helped. I also brought a book and some music on CD to relax to, which helped me relax until they wired me up for the study. I was actually able to sleep, but not as well, of course, as in my usual sleep environment. I was allowed to take a sleep drug (zolpidem 5 mg) which helped me get to sleep.

It looks like a CPAP may be in my future because while my sleep apnea is mild I have symptoms excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

@tim1028 thanks! I will take my stuff. I’m really a late night person. I’m up past midnight.
I’m sure they will not let me have any medicine to sleep. They are looking to see how quickly I fall asleep and enter REM sleep. If I have narcolepsy it has to be within 8 minutes.

I hope they come up with a solution for you. Being tired all day isn’t easy.