Being told you need to undergo an overnight sleep study can be frightening. There are a lot of unknowns which can make you nervous about what's going to happen. There is no need to be. A sleep study isn't as bad an experience as you might be expecting. The site mentioned below is a good way of finding out just what is going to happen, including pictures to help you get a feel for is going to take place while you're there. Obviously, the details will vary from location to location, but the basics are the same. Some sleep centers will allow you to take sleep medications before your study if you are particularly nervous or uneasy about it, but ALWAYS check with your doctor and your sleep center beforehand. Some centers specifically state that you should not take sleep mediations before a study. If after visiting the Wired for Sleep site you still have questions, be sure to ask your doctor or sleep center....if you don't feel comfortable doing that, you can ask anything you have concerns about at the alt.support.sleep-disorder newsgroup - but please remember that we are not medical professionals and we cannot offer medical advice. It is a good idea to try and make your sleep study visit as comfortable as possible, take your own pillow...a relaxing book to read (don't take something exciting or you may never get to sleep!). Find out if you're able to play a relaxation cd/tape.. Wear comfortable pyjamas (or sweat pants if you prefer) but bare in mind that you may need to have an electrode attached to your legs/feet - which will need to be fed up through your pant leg - usually the technician who is wiring you up will simply pass the wire up your pant leg for you to grab from the top...so it's not difficult.
Sleep Diary
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NOTE:
This website is not run by medical professionals and you should always speak with your doctor reguarding all advice and information contained on this site.