Prepare for a sleep study
Find out how to get ready for your sleep study at Community Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Center at Ryan Ranch or your home.
Sleep center study preparation
The day of your study at the Sleep Disorders Center:
- Take your usual medications, unless your doctor tells you otherwise
- Shower or bathe, but don’t put oil on your skin or use leave-in hair conditioner
- Don’t wear braids or other hairstyles that could make it hard to place sensors on your scalp
- Don’t drink anything with caffeine or alcohol after noon
- Don’t take a nap after noon
- Eat dinner before you arrive
- Tell us if you need to leave the Sleep Disorders Center at a specific time the next day
If your child age 11 or younger will get a sleep study, plan to stay with them overnight on a cot in the testing room. You may choose to stay overnight with your child age 12 to 17.
What to bring
When you come to the Sleep Disorders Center, bring the following:
- Insurance card
- Pajamas
- Positive airway pressure (CPAP or BiPAP) headgear, mask, and nasal pillows if you already use them
- Nasal spray if you use it regularly
- Oral sleep apnea appliance if you use one
- Sleep medication, if given permission on the sleep study order
- Pillow if you prefer your own
- Reading material
If you bring a cell phone, we’ll ask you to turn it off to prevent it from waking you up during the study.
Home sleep apnea test preparation
You’ll come to the Sleep Disorders Center for a one-hour appointment to pick up your testing equipment and learn how to use it. Bring your completed sleep questionnaire and sleep diary log, or arrive 30 minutes early to fill them out before your appointment.
The morning after your home sleep study, return the recorder and all sensors to the center between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Allow five to 10 minutes for equipment check-in.
