Sleep Study

Can someone tell me about the sleep study?  How long does it take? What is the prep? Where in the Orlando area is it done? Is the price of this test usually included in the self-pay price?? Ali

Sleep study is extra, should be covered with your insurance.  Florida hospital winter park and on orange does the study that I know of.  You come in around 8-9 pm, they make you go to sleep at 11pm.  They put goo in your hair, because they have to attach electrodes to your scalp and on your body to monitor you.  Its ok, then you have your own room.  I bought a book to read till I was told to go to sleep.  There is a main bathroom and in t he morning you can leave or get cleaned up there.  Its harmless really, and they read your breathing and monitor you through the night .  By the morning you should know if  you have sleep apnea or not. Hope this helps. b lessings, Tami

Ali- Check with your PCP about this.  Florida Hospital has a good program and decent facilities but there are a lot of sleep clinics around.  Sometimes one starts with a referral to a pulmonary specialist and sometimes one just gets referred for the sleep study.  I think different insurances have different standards.  The sleep study should be covered by your insurance.  That is why I suggest you talk to your PCP -- in case you need a referral. Red

Hi Ali,

Excellent advice from Tami and Red. I always suggest to pts that they ask their PCP for a referral so it can get picked up by insurance.

A lot of folks (hopefully not you) go into a sleep study kicking and screaming, but it is one of those critical pre-op tests. If a patient has sleep apnea, anesthesia is a *lot* safer if the patient has been on a c-pap machine for at least 30 days. Yes, Florida Hospital has some good clinics (we also have one here in Celebration) but I had mine done at an independent clinic, referred to me by my pulmonologist.

HTH,

Kristen

Kristen- I thought you might like to put this link in your "tool kit".   I post it periodically just because.   The American Society of Anesthesiologists have prepared a video press release on sleep apnea and surgery.  It is both interesting and relevant to anyone who may have sleep apnea and is thinking about having surgery. You can find the video clip at the link below. Red http://www.asahq.org/patientEducation/video/ASA%20VNR.rm If the link above does not work click here and then about half way down the page click on video press release.

http://www.asahq.org/patientEducation/apnea.htm

I had my sleep study done at Florida Hospital Orlando because Winter Park and Altamonte were booked a month out. My suggestion would be to do it on a weekend - Friday or Saturday night because I was tired afterwards. For the study you only have to be asleep for 6 hours so it isn't like you get a full night rest. The first one I did on a Sunday night and I was sleepy at work the next day.

My friend Sherry had hers done at an independent center in Altamonte. But I thought her result was strange. She weighs about 260. She told me that the study showed that she did indeed stop breathing a few times every hour. But the doctor at the independent center said that since she didn't have any other problems like diabetis or high blood pressure that she would not get a C-Pap maching. Well, I didn't have any other problems either, but I did stop breathing in my sleep so I got a C-Pap maching and now I wake up super rested! So, for that reason, I am glad I went to Florida Hospital for my study. I'm not a doctor or anything, but I thought it was really strange that she did not get the machine.  One thing that helps is to bring a twisty so you can put your hair up on top of your head. Also, dawn dish soap really helps cut through the goop in your hair the next morning. Take your shower at the facility and get that stuff out right away - you don't want it getting all hard. It's no biggie and like others have said it should be covered by your insurance.

Hello, I had my sleep study in Altamonte Springs off Douglas ave.   I went in about 8pm. They took me right to my room, I got into my Pj's, they hooked me up with all sorts of wires.  I watched TV till like 10pm, then lights out.  You go to sleep, they wake you up about 6am, take all the fun wires off, you grab a blueberry muffin & juice as you walk out the door & I was home by 7am. My insurance paid for this, I only paid my co pay, which was around $15.