The Morning After a Sleep Study

If you’ve had a sleep study or have a sleep study scheduled in the future, then you’ve probably had or will have questions following the study.

What’s next? What’s the aftermath? Will you call me? Does the doctor who referred me call? 

I think those questions need to be asked and answered. After all, you didn’t give in to your spouse telling you to do a sleep study just to not receive results.

In this article, I will dive into questions you might have. I’ll start from when the tech comes into the room and says the test is over. I’ll even include a few pointers on how to remove the paste from your hair.

Removing the dreaded paste

Here’s the good news: The technician will take off the wires. And after you fill out the “How did you sleep?" questionnaire, you can leave and go home. But one thing will stay on you. The dreaded paste.

For the ones who have been through the process, you know exactly what I am talking about. For people who aren’t familiar with a sleep study, we fill up cup-shaped electrodes with paste and place them on the patient’s head. The electrodes help us determine your sleep stages. Once you wake up, the electrodes are removed, but much of the paste remains stuck in your hair.

Tips for removing the paste

So… how do you remove the paste? I have a few suggestions, but I am certainly not doing a 30-day get-your-money-back guarantee on these suggestions. Just so we are clear!

First: Before putting any product in your hair, just let hot water run through the paste. Hopefully, this will dissolve most of it.

Second: Try Dawn dishwashing soap. I’ve had a couple of people tell me this works well. I know what you are thinking...no, the people weren’t bald.

Third: Did you ever use peanut butter to remove gum from your children’s hair? I can confirm a patient of mine said it works for this paste too.

Fourth: This is my personal favorite: “I am visiting my hairdresser once this test ends.” Like I said, I am not guaranteeing any of these suggestions work.

Getting your sleep study results

When it comes to results, every sleep lab and every health system will vary, so I can only write what our sleep lab does. I would expect results within 2 weeks. Someone from the referring doctor’s office should call you with the results of the test and describe the process moving forward.

If you do not receive the results within the 2-week timeframe, I would reach out to the lab that performed your sleep study. Sometimes people just get missed.

Getting your CPAP machine

If your results come back positive, you’ll likely need a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. At this point, you can get in contact with a durable medical equipment (DME) company. They will provide the necessary equipment: the CPAP machine and a mask of your choosing.

I advise you to check with your insurance company to make sure the DME company is within your primary network. I would also encourage you to ask the DME company to teach you how to use the mask and machine. Also how to clean it and how often you’ll receive new equipment!

Tell us your sleep apnea story. Please comment or add any questions below!