Doctor says sleep pill will mess up the test

Is there something special about this doctor? Remember, if he's a dick now, he's probably going to be a dick later, too.

If you go to the test and don't sleep, you get no useful data and insurance probably won't pay for a repeat test. The fact that your doctor is willing to let you waste your money is a bad sign.

Unless the doc is some big time "real" sleep specialist, he's probably not even going to look at the data, just the AHI number and what the sleep lab says. What kind of doctor is he?

It might be worth digging in your heels and finding a better doctor if necessary.

Apnea is usually pretty black and white. Even if a sleeping pill affects your results a bit, most people are borderline enough to change the conclusion. If anything, it is likely to make your results worth. Also, once you get a machine, if you get the right machine and follow up properly, it's like a mini sleep test every night.

Well my doctor is going to be the one going over my results right? So at this point, no point in trying to get an Ambien. They all agree I just have to do what I have to do to get sleep. And they say adjust my schedule and don't sleep the night before so that I show up tired. If I do that, there is a stronger chance I will sleep and maybe fast too. It may not be the best solution, but it's the only thing I can do at this point and it's what they are encouraging me to do. So that means tomorrow night I'll have to stay up and in the daytime maybe go to the movies, see 2 or 3 movies maybe and keep myself up and distracted. I'm not likely to fall asleep in the movies, I have experience in staying up for 48 hours, not because I chose to, but because I wasn't able to get to sleep. So this can be a feasible task for me. It sucks it has to be this way, but the doctor, tech, and even my father told me that's what I must do to get this test done.

archangle wrote:Is there something special about this doctor? Remember, if he's a dick now, he's probably going to be a dick later, too.

If you go to the test and don't sleep, you get no useful data and insurance probably won't pay for a repeat test. The fact that your doctor is willing to let you waste your money is a bad sign.

Unless the doc is some big time "real" sleep specialist, he's probably not even going to look at the data, just the AHI number and what the sleep lab says. What kind of doctor is he?

It might be worth digging in your heels and finding a better doctor if necessary.

Apnea is usually pretty black and white. Even if a sleeping pill affects your results a bit, most people are borderline enough to change the conclusion. If anything, it is likely to make your results worth. Also, once you get a machine, if you get the right machine and follow up properly, it's like a mini sleep test every night.

It was a struggle trying to get this doctor, my plan is not easy to get doctors, but he accepted me. He does specialize in sleep apnea and many other things and many people have gone to him for 2nd opinions.

Enchanter wrote:

archangle wrote:Is there something special about this doctor? Remember, if he's a dick now, he's probably going to be a dick later, too.

If you go to the test and don't sleep, you get no useful data and insurance probably won't pay for a repeat test. The fact that your doctor is willing to let you waste your money is a bad sign.

Unless the doc is some big time "real" sleep specialist, he's probably not even going to look at the data, just the AHI number and what the sleep lab says. What kind of doctor is he?

It might be worth digging in your heels and finding a better doctor if necessary.

Apnea is usually pretty black and white. Even if a sleeping pill affects your results a bit, most people are borderline enough to change the conclusion. If anything, it is likely to make your results worth. Also, once you get a machine, if you get the right machine and follow up properly, it's like a mini sleep test every night.

It was a struggle trying to get this doctor, my plan is not easy to get doctors, but he accepted me. He does specialize in sleep apnea and many other things and many people have gone to him for 2nd opinions.

Ask your primary care doctor for the ambien and don't tell the sleep doctor. He's an idiot and clearly doesn't understand DSPS.

When I did my sleep study, I had to fill out pages of paperwork, and I knew the answers would point to DSPS. I wrote in the margins that I am there for sleep apnea treatment, and NOT DSPS. My work schedule is intentionally late to fit my sleep pattern, and not the cause of my sleep times. When I had my appointment with the sleep doctor, he confirmed that I do have DSPS in addition to the sleep apnea. He confirmed that I understood DSPS and was okay with it, then dropped it. When my sleep was a bit short, he reminded me to get more sleep, but it didn't matter whether it was going to bed earlier or staying in bed later.

Some doctors just can't grasp the concept that some of us are more nocturnal than others. We can't just change our sleep times at the drop of a hat without help.

I would cancel this test, and look for a reasonable doctor.
Ask the lab for a better recommendation. You already have the worst one.

kteague wrote:Is the doctor ordering the test a sleep doctor?

Kteague, you've hit the nail on the head here. In PMs with me Enchanter has cleared up that he only has a primary care physician and it's the PCP who will not prescribe the Ambien.

I'm with Ms. Frog. My sleep doctor is a well-known sleep doctor in the area (recommended by the Stanford Sleep Center), and he suggested that next time I have a sleep study that I have an Ambien. I only got 3 hours sleep after laying awake for about 4 hours for various reasons, an excruciating experience. While 3 hours sleep produced enough data for a diagnosis, it wasn't enough sleep for a titration run. So I needed to self-titrate at home. Since I turned out to have fairly straightforward symptoms, that wasn't difficult, but the sleep study was an experience that I won't be repeating without having an Ambien.

Folks,

In PMs, Enchanter has indicated that he's quite willing to take an Ambien the night of the sleep study. The problem is that his PCP is behaving like an asshole and refuses to prescribe it.

I've recommended that he ask the sleep center to call his doctor's office and tell the doc that an Ambien is ok. Any other ideas on how he might be able to convince the PCP to prescribe the dang pill?

I think that's a terrific idea... but whether or not they will do it, risk alienating the doctor for future studies, etc. remains to be seen.

Just cancel the study, and tell the lab why.
If they want the business, they will find a way.

Enchanter wrote:It was a struggle trying to get this doctor, my plan is not easy to get doctors, but he accepted me. He does specialize in sleep apnea and many other things and many people have gone to him for 2nd opinions.

Enchanter - I don't know where you live and don't know what insurance plan you are on... however, there has to be more than one sleep doctor/PC on your plan. You mean to tell me that you can't switch to another PC?? Many people have suggested that your doctor is nuts. He is!! The more sleep studies you have the more money your doctor makes. That's a fact! He should be more interested in your welfare than his pocket. This is ridiculous and I'm certain is causing you additional anxiety... which you surely don't need.

I am not doubting any of you. Friday is the test and I'm going to try one more time. If it fails, I'm not just going to keep on trying and trying, I'll have to switch my game plan. But hopefully I will be able to make this work. The test is too soon and it's hard to get these tests, so I have to try to make it work.

Two things I could never understand... why check my cholesterol when I am fasting (because I never fast) and why do my sleep study without a half an Ambien and a scotch or two, because that is how I usually sleep!

Home titration would be ideal, once the Dx of plain Jane, vanilla OSA is made.
Best to get a full-data, AUTOTITRATING machine, FOR KEEPS, than deal with any more lab than necessary.

I thought long and hard before posting because I want to honor my commitment and behave myself. So, the following is just a little "food for thought" for Enchanter.

The fact that Enchanter is dealing with his PCP is very enlightening. Some PCP's take an interest in some specialty then say they are "experts" in that specialty.

My father's PCP proclaimed to also be a Cardiologist, which made my father very happy since he had heart issues. Truth was, this doctor had an INTEREST in Cardiology, but was in no way educated enough to be calling himself a specialist. That didn't stop him and my father was too trusting and naive to look into it any further.

Because this doctor really wasn't a specialist and didn't have the training necessary to actually call himself a "Cardiologist" he prescribed a drug to my dad that was contraindicated in my father's situation (he had Myasthenia Gravis). Well, long and short of it, the drug caused a breathing problem that was irreversible and it killed him. And in the end, he knew it, but begged us (his children) not to sue Dr. F. Made us promise.

Specialists, board certified specialists, have been through the training required to call themselves a "Specialist" --

Enchanter - this is your life and your decision. But I would STRONGLY advise you to look into the training this doctor has had because some of what is going on sounds a little questionable.