What to Expect

If you are scheduled for an appointment at the UNC Sleep Disorders Center, here is a summary of how you should prepare and what you should expect at your appointment.

If you need to cancel your sleep study, please contact us within 24 hours of your appointment to avoid any unnecessary charges or cancellations.

Prior to your Overnight Sleep Study

• Take a shower or bath and wash your hair. Do not use skin or hair care products after showering. Deodorant is okay. Please remove any hair weaves or braids prior to the arriving to the Sleep Disorders Lab.
• Keep to your normal daytime schedule. Do not take a nap.
• No caffeine products after 12 Noon (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks or chocolate).
• Bring comfortable sleepwear.
• If you require any special assistance and have special needs, please be sure to bring someone to assist you.
• Please notify the staff prior to arrival with any special equipment you may require for your stay.
• Please bring all medication and any food you might need during the night.
• If you use false teeth, it is important that you bring them with you.
• A parent or legal guardian must accompany patients under the age of 18 and must stay for the entire procedure. (We can only accommodate one adult with child)
• For your comfort, feel free to bring your own pillow.
• The sleep study is an outpatient procedure. You are responsible for all your meals, medications and other personal needs.

Please be aware that we track your sleep in a number of ways, including:

• electrodes on the scalp, legs and arms
• EKG wires
• respiratory belts on the abdomen and chest
• CO2 and other monitors

Do not be alarmed at the amount of equipment: this helps to give us the best analysis of your sleep patterns.

Where to Go

Parking is available in the parking garage on Manning Drive across from the hospital. Parking is $10.00 for overnight. Please view the full list of parking options at UNC Medical Center for more information. We are unable to validate parking. Enter the main lobby of N.C. Women’s Hospital. Check in at the Registration/Admitting desk. We are located on the 1st floor of the Anderson Pavilion Building.

Each private sleep room has a television and a bathroom with a shower. There is not a phone in the room, but there is one available if needed. Sensors and monitors will be attached to your head and body. These are used to diagnose sleep disorders. If you need to wake up at a certain time in the morning following your study, please let your technologist know.

Please note: In the morning, the wires and monitors are removed allowing you to shower and dress. However, if you are scheduled for a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT or nap study) the wires on the face and head are not removed.