During the initial evaluation, you will set up an appointment for an initial evaluation. In this evaluation, the doctor will ask you about your symptoms and your sleeping habits. He may also perform a physical evaluation. It can be helpful to keep a sleep journal in the week before your evaluation so you can show the doctor exactly what has been happening. In your sleep journal, record what time you go to bed, what time you wake up, and any symptoms you experience in between.

At our facility, the doctor will give you an at home sleep study kit. This kit often includes a device to measure your heart rate, a way to measure your breathing, and a way to record it all. The doctor will give you instructions on how to use the sleep study kit. You will then be able to perform a sleep study from the comfort of your own home and your own bed.

Once you complete the at home sleep study, you will return the sleep study kit to the doctor’s office. There, the doctor will review the recordings found on the sleep study device. He or she will interpret the data to determine whether or not you have sleep apnea or another type of sleeping disorder. You will make an appointment to discuss the results in detail.

After giving the doctor some time to review the data from your sleep study, you will come back to the office to discuss the results and to receive an official diagnosis. The doctor will tell you your diagnosis and explain the details of what it means for you. Whether it’s sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, the doctor will make sure you understand the diagnosis. Feel free to ask any clarifying questions you have at this appointment to make sure you fully understand.

After giving you an official diagnosis, whether sleep apnea or otherwise, the doctor will discuss the various treatment options with you. Sleep apnea treatments can include sleep training, a CPAP machine, or surgery, among other things. After discussing the treatment options, you and your doctor will decide which treatment is best for your situation. This depends on many factors, including the severity of your sleep apnea. You will then follow through on treatment by using a device, doing exercises, or getting surgery.

Once you have begun treatment, you will come in to the office for a post-treatment follow up appointment with the doctor. At this appointment, you will discuss how well the treatment is working. If the chosen treatment is not working well, the doctor may make adjustments to your treatment plan or suggest a new treatment altogether. If the treatment is working well, you will continue with it from there.