Drive east towards the lake from the intersection of Arthur Street and the Expressway.
Just after passing a KFC on your left, and crossing some train tracks, you will be able to see a tan brown seven story office building several blocks ahead, on your left.
There is a large parking lot across Marks Street, and a small parking lot immediately beside the building.
Coming down Arthur going east towards the lake you will be turning LEFT onto Marks and then immediately right into the larger lot, or left again into the smaller lot.
The daytime entrance is on the Marks Street side of the building where there is a small metered parking lot, with a larger parking lot across the street. This is the view from the large parking lot.
The keypad access door you use at night to enter the building is on Arthur Street.
The building is locked at night and you can only get in via this door.
The door has an electronic keypad and the code is changed daily.
Punch in the code you received when you confirmed your sleep lab appointment, wait a moment until you hear a click, and enter the building.
If you have any trouble getting in, call the lab at 628-0000. There is a pay phone at the gas station on Norah Street right beside the building.
For wheelchair access at night, you need to have someone come in through this door, and let you in via the main doors or call the lab and have a staff member come down to let you in.
NNSDC is on the 7th floor
For daytime appointments turn LEFT and go to THE OFFICE
For nighttime studies in the sleep lab turn RIGHT and follow the signs to the the front door of the SLEEP LAB
Come into the office, take off your boots or shoes, and come up to the desk, pictured here.
Give Deb your Health Card, and any questionnaires we asked you to complete.
Deb will be expecting you, and the office is almost always on time.
Please don't sit down until you have checked in at the desk.
For sleep studies at night, follow the signs to the sleep lab door.
The same code that opened the door on Arthur Street will open this door at night.
We give you to code whey you confirm your appointment.
The techs are waiting for you inside, so head in, sit down and take off your shoes, and the techs will make you feel at home.
When you have changed for bed, and the techs are ready to set you up for you study, they will ask you to come out to this area to attach the sensors.
It is a common area where up to ~3 patients of either sex and any age may be seated during setup, so we ask you wear something modest for bed, and/ or bring a housecoat to wear during hookup.
It takes about 20 minutes to set you up for a study.
This is a man who has been set up for a study.
The monitoring gear is not as uncomforatble as it looks.
The lab has six individual bedrooms. Each has a comfortable bed, and a closet for your clothes. We have several pillows for each bed, but suggest you bring your own for your comfort.
The recording sensors are put on in the hookup area, and connected to the sensor system in the room. It is easy to disconnect you to get up to the washroom, and there are 3 washrooms in the lab. There is one wheelchair accessible washroom in the lab.
There is an infrared camera that is activated after you go to bed so the techs can monitor you in the dark, and an intercom system.
We get a better recording when the room air starts out cool, but if you are cold the techs can bring you extra blankets.
Your partner cannot sleep with you in the lab.
The six rooms are very similar. They all have a double bed and sound insulated walls and ceilings built so that your snoring (or your neighbour's) doesn't disturb anyone. They are climate controlled. Every room is close to a washroom. They are like small hotel rooms.
Two technologists work at this desk throughout the night monitoring you and the other patients via the sensor hookups, the infrared camera system, and the intercom.
There is a doctor on call.
The sleep lab is a secure, comfortable and professionally run facility.
Many people worry they won't sleep in the lab. Unless there is a contraindication patients staying at the lab can be given a gentle, non addictive sedative that will not interfere with your breathing or cause a problem with the test results...
... and of course there are always the standard non pharmacologic options.
NORTHERN NIGHTS