Question:
PLease tell me how much time does a sleep study take?

I mentioned some symptoms at my consult that indicated to the Dr. that I need this test (darn) I was all ready to be sent to scheduling for my surgery! Please tell me how long this test will take so I can try and guess how it will affect my surgery date    — Michele W. (posted on September 7, 2001)

September 6, 2001
Hi, my pcp also suggested I have a sleep study done because of symptoms that I told him about and also because he felt a diagnosis of sleep apnea will up my chances of insurance approval. In my case, I called in mid-June and my appointment is September 26. Hopefully, for you, this long wait isn't the norm. My surgery is scheduled in December, so its not going to interfer with that, but I sure would have liked to have had it all over with by now. Good Luck! Donna
   — Donna L.

September 6, 2001
When you call to schedule tell them you need to get in as quickly as possible. Tell them you already have your surgery scheduled and you need to beable to use your CPAP in the hospital. It only takes 1-2 nights, but it will probably take at least a week to get in and a week for your doctor to get your results. Thats how long it took for me. Here they observe you for one night and the next night they observe you with the CPAP on, but they may do it all in one night depending on how bad you have it. Good Luck!
   — K T.

September 7, 2001
I had my sleep study o August 24. It took 2 weeks to get the test done, but I checked in at 9 pm and she woke me up to leave at 5:30 am. They done a split study on me so I spend half the night just sleeping and half with the CPAP (was not bad just made nose tender) so you may ask for the split to hurry it up a bit.
   — Lynda T.

September 20, 2001
My Question to your Question is: Yes, a formal sleep study may help you to get approved but, is your BMI high enough now? Formal sleep studies are about $5,000. I freaked out too! Remember your co-pay and any deductibles usually apply. If you are having WLS the sleep apnea should go away, shouldn't it. I sure am hoping mine does. I would not wish a CPAP on anyone who can get along without one. Mine causes me anxiety. Sometimes I have a hard time going to bed, just knowing that I have to put that thing on! Sleep study should not take long to get in for, just call around to the "LABS" that are acceptable to your insurance company. Split test only takes one night. Usually if you have 5 or more "episodes" of not breathing in one hour they will wake you up and put on the CPAP and then see how things go. GOOD LUCK!
   — Julie M.

January 4, 2003
Remember whatever tests your doctor has you do before surgery are only for your benefit, to insure you are healthy before hand. Not to scare you but read under the Memorials page of a womans story that her doctor did not request this test to be done, then she passed on after surgery due to breathing problems from sleep apnea. I have had my test done and I go the 16th of this month for my results. I have not even seen a surgeon yet infact I am calling one today to setup an appointment :-) My own PCP requested this test for other reasons. My aunt had the surgery but also found out she had sleep apnea during pre op testing & had to do the breathing treatments before her surgeon would schedule the surgery. Best of luck :-)
   — Melinda V.

April 8, 2005
You should have your surgeon's office call to schedule the study as they might have a better chance stressing the urgency to get on a machine - if neccessary, before the surgery. Ask your doctor to request a Split Study if you meet criteria during the first part of the study. This means that the technicians will monitor you in the first 2-3 hours of the night and measure your level of apnea to see if it constitutes using the CPAP machine. If it does, they will appy the machine for the remainder of the night. Once the study is completed, it must be scored and reviewed by the doctor. How quickly this can be done strongly depends on the center where you had the study. I work for a sleep center and most studies are 800 pages to score before being reviewed. Once it is scored and reviewd, it is submitted to the insurance for approval to get a machine. Most insurance companies will approve the pre-certification if it is medically neccessary. Whether they will pay is another story as some patients have higher deductibles than others. Good luck with everything!
   — Tiffany W.