Sleep Medicine

• Avoid napping the day of your study
• Ask your doctor if you should discontinue any medications prior to your study
• Bring comfortable clothes to wear and your own pillow if you want it
• Do not drink alcohol on the day of the study

• Any medications you may need during your stay including over-the-counter medication. 
• Something comfortable to sleep in for your top and bottom. 
• Any Toiletry items that you may need
• Your pillow, a small blanket, or any other sleep aids you use. 
• A hat to leave with because you will have paste in your hair in the morning.  (The paste will come out at home easily in the shower.)
• If you are currently using a CPAP mask at home, it would be helpful to bring it so we can test the mask to make sure it is working for you. There is no need to bring your CPAP machine because we will not be able to use it in the sleep lab. 
• Anything you use to help you relax before bed including a book, an iPad, knitting, etc.

Most insurance companies cover sleep studies. However, check with your insurer to verify your coverage. 

You will arrive at South Shore Hospital on the evening of your scheduled sleep study. Enter the hospital through our emergency room entrance and tell the
receptionist at the concierge desk on the left-hand side that you are participating in a sleep study. The concierge receptionist will call the lab to let them know you are here, and will give you directions to the sleep lab. 

The latest bedtime is 11 p.m. Wake-up times are between 5 and 5:30 a.m. Patients leave by 6 a.m. 

Yes. Patients can hit their call button and a sleep technologist will assist them in unplugging the wires so patients to get out of bed.  

Although it may take a little longer than it may at home, most people do fall asleep. 

Sleep medication cannot be provided by technologists on the night of your study. Your physician can prescribe you a sleep aid prior to your appointment. 

The data from your study will first be processed and tabulated or “scored” by a sleep technologist. It will then be interpreted by a physician who specializes in sleep medicine. 

Your referring physician will receive a copy of your report within 2 weeks of your sleep study.  Follow up with your referring physician regarding your results.