advice on working with new sleep doctor

[itsjustme8]

I came to this board about 6 months ago after a go-around with sleep studies. I was uninsured, felt lousy and simply purchased a machine on my own and took a shot at settings. I have seen improvement, but things could be better.


Now, I'd like to tune my results and I have insurance. If I were to see a local doctor, any advice on which type to partner with? I'm not so sure I want to share I've been "self treating"

[D.H.]

It seems that you already own a machine, and a good one at that. I suggest that you download Sleepyhead and analyze your results. I suggest that you do this before you see a sleep doc. Also, make sure that there's a card in the machine (if not you can buy one for < $10). If you see a sleep doc, take the card to your visit (if s/he can't read it, find another sleep doc).

Please fill in your profile for location, as there may be very prestigious sleep clinics near you.

[itsjustme8]

Thanks. I do have a card and will download info this evening once I'm home from work.

[bwexler]

First if you could change your profile to show us the text description of your machine and mask it would be easier for us to advise you.
Next, once have learned to use Sleepy head software, with the help of folks here, you should be able to fine tune your own therapy better than most sleep doctors out there.

You may need a doctor to write prescriptions, but any doctor can do that. My insurance requires my GPS to write all the prescription and request for services. She simply coordinates with any specialist involved or does what I ask. It seems to take me about a year to train a new doctor. Once they understand that I like to take charge of my health care and I know what I am doing they fall in line or I move on. If I have a problem I am unfamiliar with, I discuss it with the doctor and my friend Google. We come to a consensus and proceed.

[palerider]

First if you could change your profile to show us the text description of your machine and mask it would be easier for us to advise you.

Just hover your mouse over the pic, the link should show up somewhere (on firefox, it's the lower left corner of the browser window) and that has the name behind the picture.

[zoocrewphoto]

You may need a doctor to write prescriptions, but any doctor can do that. My insurance requires my GPS to write all the prescription and request for services. She simply coordinates with any specialist involved or does what I ask. It seems to take me about a year to train a new doctor. Once they understand that I like to take charge of my health care and I know what I am doing they fall in line or I move on. If I have a problem I am unfamiliar with, I discuss it with the doctor and my friend Google. We come to a consensus and proceed.

Agreed. I haven't been to my sleep doctor since 2012. I think I had two followups. Everything was going well, so I didn't need more help. The last couple years, I had not gotten past my deductible, so I was buying mask cushions via ebay. I bought a backup mask via Craigslist, so I have two machines. Last year, I met my deductible after an ER visit, so I got a new primary doctor. During one of my visits, I asked for a prescription for cpap supplies. She saw no reason not to, so she wrote one for me.

[LSAT]

It's one thing to have a doctor that will write prescriptions, but, the OP seems to want a doctor that will help him with sleep issues. I think most sleep specialists are Pulmonologists and Neurologists. It's hard to get appointments with them. Ask around for sleep specialists in your area.

[Chris8243]

Now, I'd like to tune my results and I have insurance. If I were to see a local doctor, any advice on which type to partner with? I'm not so sure I want to share I've been "self treating"

I do not like going to the doctor. That said, I'd be totally honest with how/what you're doing with your CPAP therapy. They will either say you're doing great or advise on adjusting settings. They can only be helpful if they know the whole story.

As far as what kind of doctor, I was diagnosed by a neurologist after a sleep study in his office (went to him for a different problem). Decided to go to a "sleep doctor" in a respiratory center at a hospital. I could have stayed with the neurologist for ongoing treatment and followups but I wasn't comfortable with him.

There are people on this forum who are very knowledgeable and if you download some "Sleepyhead" graphs you'll get some good feedback.

[D.H.]

It's one thing to have a doctor that will write prescriptions, but, the OP seems to want a doctor that will help him with sleep issues. I think most sleep specialists are Pulmonologists and Neurologists. It's hard to get appointments with them. Ask around for sleep specialists in your area.

Many Sleep Doctors are ENT Doctors.

[jnk...]

. . . I'd like to tune my results . . .

If you mean change machine settings for getting the best sleep-breathing results, I personally would consider this forum to be worth more than an entire golf course full of sleep docs for accomplishing that sort of thing. Hey, just me.

[ChicagoGranny]

I came to this board about 6 months ago after a go-around with sleep studies. I was uninsured, felt lousy and simply purchased a machine on my own and took a shot at settings. I have seen improvement, but things could be better.


Now, I'd like to tune my results and I have insurance. If I were to see a local doctor, any advice on which type to partner with? I'm not so sure I want to share I've been "self treating"

How old are you?

[Janknitz]

I'd definitely tell the doctor I'd been self treating and show him/her the results. If the doctor doesn't want to collaborate on your care, then find another doctor. A good doctor will acknowledge what you have so far accomplished and work with you to optimize your treatment. A doctor who is threatened by your taking charge of your health doesn't deserve your insurance dollars.

[ChicagoGranny]

If I were to see a local doctor, any advice on which type to partner with?

Google "sleep doctors (city)". When you see one that is interesting to you, check if she is board certified in sleep medicine - http://www.absm.org/listing.aspx

[SewTired]

It's awfully costly to see a random sleep doctor. Knowing what I know now, I would consider calling the office and asking which of the doctors actually looks at the DATA and not just the compliance. When you do see the doctor, don't hide the fact that you've been self-treating. A good doctor should want to see your data when offered.

Keep in mind that many patients are sheeple and doctors are often used to that. If he makes the step up to realize that you take an active interest and management of your condition, you have a better doctor than I did.