Your physician would refer you to Sleep Source for a polysomnogram.  This is a diagnostic procedure during which your sleep is monitored.  Polysomnograms are necessary to diagnose certain sleep disorders and can help determine the best treatment to improve sleep quality.  You can take a quiz on our home page to see if you need to discuss sleep apnea with your physician. 

Your polysomnogram will be scheduled for 8pm or 9pm on the evening of your study.  Please be prompt. 

Sleep Source in Paducah, KY is located at: 
3125 Parisa Dr.
Phone:  270-575-0080 
Sleep Source is located just off of Jackson Street in Paducah.  From I-24, take exit 7 and turn on Lone Oak Road (State Highway 45) toward Paducah.  At Hannah Plaza, get the rightmost lane and turn right onto Jackson Street.  This is where Walgreen’s is on the left and CVS Pharmacy is on the right.  Go through the next traffic light and past Banterra Bank on the right.  Make the very next right (If you go under the railroad track on Jackson Street, you have gone too far).  This is Parisa Drive.  Take Parisa Drive around the left to the office building parking lot and you should see the sign for Sleep Source.
 
Sleep Source in Fulton, KY is located at:
105 Nolan
Phone:  866-575-0080 
Sleep Source is located in Fulton within the same building as Diagnostic Imaging.    Coming off the Parkway, turn left off exit 1 and we are across from McDonalds on the left hand side. 

 

What do I need to bring to the polysomnogram?

You should bring all the usual things that you will need for an overnight stay.

  1. Bring pajamas or comfortable clothes for sleeping such as shorts and a T-shirt.
  2. Bring your own toiletries.
  3. Bring your usual medications (including insulin).  Polysomnograms are outpatient tests and Sleep Source does not provide medications.  If you usually take a sleeping pill bring this with you as we do not want to record a night without sleep.
  4. You may bring your own pillow if you wish.
  5. You may bring a light snack and a decaffeinated beverage if you wish.

 

General Information

Polysomnograms are performed at night.  Patients arrive at their scheduled time at the facility and are shown to their room.  Each patient has his/her own room.  Each room is much like a hotel room with a comfortable bed, television, and a private bathroom with shower.  The patient will change into their comfortable bed clothes.  At this point, the technician will hook you up to noninvasive monitors and perform a preliminary equipment test with you via the intercom system. You are asked to relax for a bit, but try to be asleep before 10:30pm.  You are monitored overnight.  Patients are awakened about 5 am and disconnected.  After the study, you can shower and dress in the bathroom and leave.  The study will be reviewed and a report with recommendations will be sent to the referring physician.  This process takes about one week.  If the study shows significant sleep apnea, you will be scheduled for another polysomnogram in which the recommended treatment (CPAP) is tried.  Everything would happen the same as the original study, except you would also be using the CPAP.  If severe sleep apnea is observed early in the study, CPAP may be tried during the later part of the night.

 

Instructions

The day of your test:

  1. Do not drink alcohol.
  2. Limit caffeine to the morning.
  3. Do not take any naps.
  4. Try to maintain your regular daytime routine.
  5. Have clean hair; do not use hair spray or styling gel to insure better quality of your sleep recording.

 

What is monitored during a polysomnogram? 

Electrodes are pasted or taped to skin to monitor certain electrical activity within the body.  Scalp electrodes monitor the electroencephalogram (brain waves) so sleep stages can be determined.  Electrodes placed off to the sides of the eyes similarly monitor eye movements.  Electrodes placed on the chest monitor the electrocardiogram (EKG).  Muscle tone and movement are monitored by electrodes taped to the chin and the legs.  A thermister is placed under the nose and monitors air movement through the nose and mouth.  A small microphone is taped to the neck to monitor snoring.  Lastly, a small probe is taped to one of your fingers to monitor the oxygen level in your bloodstream.  Your sleep may also be monitored by a video camera.  These monitors are comfortable and do not interfere with sleep. 

We look forward to seeing you.  There is a questionnaire and a consent that you will need to fill out.  The questionnaire must be returned and reviewed by the sleep physician prior to your study being performed. This is sent via mail.  If you have any questions, feel free to call us.  If you would like to see the facility prior to your appointment call and let us know when you are coming by.