Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Zeecat
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Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by Zeecat » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:41 am

I'll be seeing a sleep specialist today instead of an ENT. Any suggestions on what to ask him? I've been on CPAP for about 77 days. I was using the F&P Icon+ which put my 90% pressure at 5.5. The ResMed S9 puts it capping out at 10 which is the maximum pressure my ENT prescribed. Essentially I'm still waking up like I'm not using a machine. I haven't seen an actual sleep doc so I'm not sure what issues to press and what direction to go in. Appointments are scheduled out months so I want to take advantage of today's visit.

Thanks in advance!

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JDS74
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by JDS74 » Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:40 am

EDIT: Oops, I failed to notice that you are seeing him today. It's too late to do any of the preliminary stuff but, if you get this in time, perhaps the questions might be helpful.
END EDIT:


First get a copy of SleepyHead or ResScan and get some data about your sleep.
If you are waking up at night, make a sleep journal recording the times of awakening.
If you have a week or two 'til the appointment, make a regular sleep journal showing bed times, wake times, how you feel in the morning, how you feel in the late afternoon. Include anything that you think might contribute to disturbed sleep - watching TV in bed, consuming caffeinated beverages in the late afternoon or evening, late night snacks,spicy foods, etc.

Can you convince the DME to run off a set of reports for you? That would be easier than the learning curve for doing it yourself. You do need to do it yourself, but this sounds like a short time until you see the doctor.

Do you still have the F&P Icon+. If so, I think Sleepyhead can run off reports of how well you did using it.

When you get to the doctor,
"How is my treatment progressing?"
"Compared to my sleep study, how do my current numbers compare to where I started?"
"Do you see any benefit to changing the treatment, the pressures?"
"In the data, do you see whether or not there are excessive leaks and, if so, does that suggest a different mask type?"
"Are there foods to avoid?"
"How frequently should I provide you with CPAP reports?"
"May I have a copy of my sleep study reports?"

Good luck and keep positive and non-confrontational. Remember the adage about sugar and vinegar.

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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by Guest » Thu Aug 28, 2014 12:44 pm

JDS74 wrote:EDIT: Oops, I failed to notice that you are seeing him today. It's too late to do any of the preliminary stuff but, if you get this in time, perhaps the questions might be helpful..

keep positive and non-confrontational. Remember the adage about sugar and vinegar.


Yes keep positive

You are not grilling you are inquiring

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by chunkyfrog » Thu Aug 28, 2014 12:53 pm

Yes, if you were actually "grilling", I might suggest a dry rub.

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palerider
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by palerider » Thu Aug 28, 2014 2:31 pm

chunkyfrog wrote:Yes, if you were actually "grilling", I might suggest a dry rub.
sleep docs, are they better grilled, roasted, or fried...

let's ask the frog!

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Zeecat
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by Zeecat » Thu Aug 28, 2014 4:33 pm



Thanks everyone, I went with a honey based sauce. She was great, though reminded me a little of Carrie on the show Homeland.

The suggestions were helpful, I did bring the printouts I had from the F&P software, though I wish I had known to bring my SD card from the ResMed as well. I was told by my ENT that the card was useless in the office...

She changed my prescription settings (still auto range 6-20, whereas my ENT wanted to fix the pressure at 5.5 ), scheduled an appointment with an "expert" mask fitter, who will get to spend an hour going over masks with me, and we scheduled a titration study. She, nor the other doctors at this sleep clinic, will not prescribe the F&P Icon+, fwiw. They are quite skeptical of it and have received several patient reports of bad performance. She has also consulted with several other patients who initially saw my ENT and was not surprised by his lack of knowledge. He is a really good ENT, but not so much when it comes to sleep apnea.

She also changed my diagnosis from mild to severe apnea and weighed the idea of switching to BiPAP if I don't stop swallowing air

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archangle
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by archangle » Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:46 pm

Zeecat wrote:She also changed my diagnosis from mild to severe apnea and weighed the idea of switching to BiPAP if I don't stop swallowing air
Are you currently using the maximum EPR setting of 3? That might help with the air swallowing (aerophagia.)

There's a youtube video in the links in my signature line that has a suggestion to reduce aerophagia.

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Zeecat
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by Zeecat » Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:58 pm

archangle wrote:
Zeecat wrote:She also changed my diagnosis from mild to severe apnea and weighed the idea of switching to BiPAP if I don't stop swallowing air
Are you currently using the maximum EPR setting of 3? That might help with the air swallowing (aerophagia.)

There's a youtube video in the links in my signature line that has a suggestion to reduce aerophagia.
I will definitely check out the link, thank you. I've only had the S9 a few days, the EPR is set at 3 and it seems to be helping the issue. I'm hoping it continues.

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spmccord
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by spmccord » Thu Aug 28, 2014 6:05 pm

Low heat and a nice rub??

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by chunkyfrog » Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:48 pm

Is that a request?

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jnk
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by jnk » Fri Aug 29, 2014 3:58 pm

I hear Grilled SleepDoc tastes awful, no matter how you do it.

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49er
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Re: Suggestions for Grilling my Sleep Doc?

Post by 49er » Fri Aug 29, 2014 4:03 pm

jnk wrote:I hear Grilled SleepDoc tastes awful, no matter how you do it.
Didn't that use to be a sandwich at the stage deli in NYC?

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