Boston Sleep Drs

[brumol]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a sleep Dr in Boston? I will be choosing between Mass General and Brigham Women's at Faulkner.

[ChicagoGranny]

Brigham Women's has an AASM certification. Check on Mass General here - http://www.sleepeducation.org/find-a-facility

[Minky]

Hi

I live in Boston. I didn't particularly like my sleep doctor at MGH and didn't stay with her for very long. However, I know that there are very good doctors at MGH Sleep if you're lucky enough to get one of the good ones. Sleep study facility is really nice too - it's the hotel right next to MGH.

In my case I don't have apnea (never any question of it). I was prescribed CPAP for suspected UARS. It wasn't working well, so I went to a fantastic neurologist at BMC who figured out within minutes that my real problem was undiagnosed multiple sclerosis.

Regarding BWH Faulkner, I now get all of my care at BWH and I love it. IHowever, I saw my MS neurologist at the beginning of March. He referred me to the BWH Faulkner sleep division because he thinks that some MS-related leg movements are disrupting my sleep and are adding to the fatigue. He also referred me to two other departments in BWH to deal with some MS-related issues. Because he called they all got me in as soon as possible. I saw one doctor the following week, I see a doctor in another division tomorrow. The first appointment I could get with ANY sleep doctor at BWH was the last week in July (!!!).

In my case an appointment five months out is not a big deal since I don't have apnea, but if you really need to see a doctor soon you may want to go to MGH. If I remember correctly the wait for an appointment was not all that long.

Good luck. As someone with a lot of health issues I feel very blessed to live in Boston. We have so many choices for healthcare.

[Guest]

Thank you for the valuable information. Is it realistic for me to select my sleep doctor at MGH or do I have to go with their pick?

I had been in touch with BWH, but I did not schedule an appointment because I don't know how easily I can get to Faulkner. I live outside Boston and will be taking the bus to South Station. If that is the better place it shouldn't matter too much. Were you able to get an appointment there before July?

[brumol]

Thank you for the valuable information. Is it realistic for me to select my sleep doctor at MGH or do I have to go with their pick?

I had been in touch with BWH, but I did not schedule an appointment because I don't know how easily I can get to Faulkner. I live outside Boston and will be taking the bus to South Station. If that is the better place it shouldn't matter too much. Were you able to get an appointment there before July?

I was not signed in when I first posted this.

[Minky]

If you're taking the T from South Station it would be much easier to get to MGH. I'm sure you could get to Faulkner, but it wouldn't be easy where MGH would be just a few stops on the red line. Also, I've been to many departments in both BWH and MGH and have found them to be more or less equal. For example, my cardiologist sent me for a test that is only performed at four hospitals in the U.S. and two of the hospitals are MGH and BWH, so they're both very good hospitals.

While I wasn't nuts about my sleep doctor at MGH she certainly wasn't the worst doctor I've ever seen. Plus, at the time that they booked my appointment they already had my sleep study results and could see that I did not have apnea, so it's very possible that I was sent to the junior doctor because my case was far less serious than those of the patients with apnea. If you go to MGH and don't like the doctor there is nothing wrong with asking to see someone else. There's also nothing wrong with looking at reviews online and asking to see the doctor who looks like the best fit for you. I think they will allow you to choose. There's so much competition among the hospitals that they want the patients to want to continue to go there.

I didn't bother to try to get an appointment at BWH before July. The receptionist told me in no uncertain terms that they were booking into mid-summer, so I think the only way an earlier appointment would be available would be if another patient canceled. I didn't push back since I just need to talk to a sleep doctor about trying a med for limb movements.

I hope it all goes well for you.