Interesting doctor visit

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
LoriM

Interesting doctor visit

Post by LoriM » Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:16 pm

I am new to Kansas & recently saw a sleep dr here (sleep clinic) because my pressure has been too low at times on my CPAP. Wow! What an eye opener & change from my original dr. in another state! My other dr. was compassionate, caring, & willing to work with me. This guy in Kansas was rude, condescending, & believes that sleep apnea is caused by being overweight only...period! The first thing they did was weigh me & then take my neck & other measurements....all very humiliating I might add. I've had sleep apnea most of my life & have only been overweight the past 10 years or so. He lectured me about losing weight & then my apnea would disappear. He also sat there with a stupid grin on his face every time I asked a question & acted like I was stupid! He is totally against APAP machines...says they don't catch apneas. He also didn't want to increase my pressure! Grrrrrrrrrr.....I'm not sure there are any other sleep clinics here, so I feel stuck with this place. I haven't come across such RUDE people in a long time...except for the DME Lincare...I hope some Lincare reps see this! I went in to get a mask & was told that I needed a CURRENT script....in other words my original script was no good?? WHY NOT???....and guess who won't give them a new script...you got it, Mr Sleep Doc who thinks he knows everything......what is wrong with these people anyway?? I just want a mask!!!


Guest

Post by Guest » Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:29 pm

You don't need a script to order a mask online however you may have to pay all the online cost for it which is probably about 40 % of what Lincare would want to charge you and your insurance.

Guest

Post by Guest » Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:54 pm

A new patient will always have their neck measured and have their weight taken. I get weighed in when I go to my GP for a flu shot. it is his way of monitoring my weight from visit to visit.

If this makes you so upset see another doctor.

It is not the doctors fault to warn you about losing weight. He or she might be held liable if you decided to sue in the future about treatment and no mention of obesity related to OSA was performed. Think of it like a policeman giving you your miranda rights while an arrest is being made.

Is the doctor wrong for saying you need to lose weight? No! is the doctor wrong to assume your SA will COMPLETELY go away when you lose weight? Yes!

My doctor tells me to eat right and take supplements to discourage viruses and colds, what is wrong with a doctor advising a patient to lose weight?

Maybe it is guilt you feel and you realize that your doctor is exactly right.

The truth is sometimes hard to take.

No offense taken I hope, but realism superceeds pessimism.

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HappyHoser
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Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:40 pm
Location: Missoula, Montana

Post by HappyHoser » Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:05 pm

So many Doctors, so little bedside manner! Is your new Doc an MD or is he a Dr. in some other clinical field? Sleep Doc title doesn't provide much assurance of quality care as you have noticed. Maybe you could contact an ENT and see what they can do for you? Good luck!

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HappyHoser

Colorado Jan

Post by Colorado Jan » Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:44 pm

You might want to see what your primary care doctor has to say. You don't necessarily need a script from a sleep doctor, any MD will do. So you could probably at least get the script for the mask from your primary care doctor.

My primary care doctor is the one that is writing my scripts. There was a sleep doctor associated with the clinic that did my sleep study of course. But I've never met him nor had an appointment with him. He wrote a report that was forwarded to my primary care doc....and she wrote the scripts exactly as I asked her to because, well, this is a little out of her field! Works for me!

Jan in Colo.

Guest

Post by Guest » Mon Nov 28, 2005 7:47 am

My experience is the same as Colorado Jan's. I have never "seen" a sleep doctor. My primary physician writes all of my scripts.
I assume that if I had had a lot of problems with my equipment, masks, etc, that I would have been referred to one.

Marie, who is still having trouble signing in, and having my pic posted in my replies, etc.

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yardbird
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Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:29 am
Location: Sanborn, NY

Post by yardbird » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:04 am

My sleep doc wouldn't write a script for an APAP, so I went to my primary doc and told her exactly what I was doing and why. She wrote me the script happily. Some doctors are pleased when patients are involved in their own care. "Involved" meaning that they do the research and understand what they're looking at and are realistic in their involvement.

There are other doctors out there, of course, that treat you like you're a moron and you can't POSSIBLY know as much as they do. They sit there with a smug grin when you talk to them about your ideas for your treatment. Then they ignore you and do what they want based on information they learned 25 years ago in school.

That's when it's time to find someone else.


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Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: original pressure 8cm - auto 8-12

SLEEPYCD

Post by SLEEPYCD » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:57 am

My experience was also like Colo Jan's. My primary physician wrote my script also. At first, I was a little pissed at him, because he didn't seem to want to discuss the Sleep Apnea much. He set goals for me, get BP down, lose weight with lots of exercise (which I do!!!) and get calories down to 1500-1800 a day (don't do, but I try to eat healthy). He also checks heart and lungs and weighs me every visit, for my own good. Sometimes, we have be proactive and realize that there is no magic cure in sight for us, we just have to make ourselves better!!!!! This site and it's people have helped me alot. Also, a little dose of humor each day, makes a big difference!!!!! Good Luck!!!
CD

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Ric
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Location: Left Coast

Post by Ric » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:09 am

My primary care physician CHEERFULLY requested a copy of my sleep report, and wrote all the necessary scripts. Otherwise I would still be waiting until February when the sleep center could schedule the "followup consultation", AFTER which they would schedule a separate consultation to sell me the equipment and on and on....

My doc asked what kind of machine I wanted and where I wanted to get it. Two days later I was using it. (well sort of).

Lori, did you look at the "AREA SLEEP LABS" button on the top of the cpaptalk page? I see 7 sleep labs in Kansas. I bet there are a whole lot more. Why waste your time with crumby service when there are probably other facilities that will treat you in a professional and courteous manner, as you deserve.
He who dies with the most masks wins.