| If your doctor suspects that you have a sleep disorder, | | | | discontinue on the night before the test. For example, if |
| you might be asked to go to have a sleep study done. | | | | you are on any sedatives you will usually be asked not |
| When you have one of these tests, the technicians will | | | | to take them as usual on that night. |
| take measurements of your brainwaves during your | | | | You will also be advised of certain foods you should |
| sleep and chart your sleep behavior. There are certain | | | | avoid on the night and day before the sleep study. |
| actions you need to take to get ready for a sleep | | | | Nothing with caffeine will be allowed. That means you |
| study. | | | | should not have coffee, caffeinated soda, tea, |
| The first thing your doctor will have you do to prepare | | | | chocolate, or energy drinks. Some doctors extend this |
| for a sleep study is to keep a diary of your sleep | | | | period and say you should not have these foods for |
| habits. You will usually be given a form to fill out for | | | | up to three days before the test. |
| every day for the two weeks leading up to the sleep | | | | Since your body will be hooked up to many wire leads |
| study. The form will ask about how long you slept | | | | for medical monitoring equipment, you will need to |
| each night, when you went to sleep, if there were any | | | | prepare your body for the sleep study. You will |
| unusual stressors, and any incidents that you were | | | | definitely want to be clean, but you have to avoid any |
| aware of during your sleep. | | | | sticky or oily grooming products. |
| For the two or three days prior to the sleep study, it is | | | | Pack a bag with your normal sleepwear and anything |
| important to keep to your usual sleep habits. Your | | | | that you regularly have in bed when you sleep, such |
| doctor will learn the most if you are neither more | | | | as a special pillow. You are ready for your sleep study. |
| rested nor more tired during the sleep study than you | | | | All you have to do is to relax and let the sleep center |
| are normally. | | | | technicians do their jobs. Soon you will have an |
| When you see the doctor to set up your sleep study, | | | | accurate picture of what happens to you when you |
| she will determine which medications, if any, you should | | | | sleep. |