Northern Nights Sleep Disorder Centre

A night in the sleep lab

In the lab, we record your breathing, muscle activity and brain wave activity over several hours of sleep. This allows us to determine if you have sleep apnea, or one of the other sleep disorders.

What to bring:

the code for the keypad access doors you received when you confirmed your sleep lab appointment
your usual pillow (we have pillows, but your own may help you sleep better)
modest pyjamas/ a t-shirt and sweat pants/ or similar
a housecoat (there will be people of both sexes in the set up area)
your usual night and morning medication
your toothbrush and toothpaste
shampoo/soap/ razor for the morning
consider bringing a book / snack

What not to bring:

do NOT wear perfume or aftershave because many other patients have allergies/ sensitivities
do not bring a pet
your partner is welcome to come to the lab and to stay until you are set up for your study, but they can't sleep with you in the lab - they need their own accommodation. Our office can provide a list of nearby hotels/ motels.

Step by step in the lab:

Getting set up

please arrive on time
park at the front of the building near the lit sign
enter the building via the keypad access door on Arthur Street
come up to the 7th floor and follow the signs to the lab - it is also a keypad access door
the techs will be expecting you, and will show you to your bedroom
get changed for the night and come back out to the prep area - other people of both sexes will be in the common area, so bring modest pjyamas or a housecoat
the techs hook you up for the study - it takes about 20 minutes. It involves gluing sensors to your head and face, as well as some sensors on your body so we can detect brain activity, breathing, and movement. Don't worry, this is not as uncomfortable as it sounds.
the techs take you back to your bedroom
the techs will check the recording setup and record what happens to you when you sleep

during the study:

the techs are in the lab at the control desk all night. If there is any problem the techs will fix it during the night
you can sleep in any position and you can move as much as you like
if you need to get up to the bathroom, you just speak up and the techs will help you get up right away. It is simple to unhook you, and there are 3 washrooms in the lab
many people are a bit anxious in the lab. If you are having trouble falling asleep the techs may offer you a sedative The medication will not affect what we are looking for in the study and is very safe.
a doctor is on call for problems
you can't smoke inside the lab
the rooms do not have television

after the study:

the techs wake you and remove the sensor gear. That only takes a few minutes. You will have time to have a shower - there are 3 showers in the lab, and of course you can shower at home if you prefer. The glue that held the sensors in place washes away easily.
if your doctor arranged for a sleep study without a consultation with one of our phsyicians you are now free to go home or to work. You will usually be ready to leave by ~ 7 a.m. or a bit earlier
if you are to see one of our physicians for preliminary results and to plan the next steps the techs will direct you back to the main office. You will usually be done by 7:30 a.m.
the lab staff and one of our physicians review the study in detail and send a final report to the doctor who referred you