Questions to ask the doctor

[DottyG]

Bit of BG: I knew something wasn't right. So, I found a doctor in my area to write me a prescrip for the sleep study. But, I actually did the study about an hour away - near my parents. I liked the setup at this place, plus it meant I could spend some time with Mom and Dad and then run over to do the test.

So, the original doctor's role in this is over. He may get a copy of the results to have in my file (if I request it), but he's not the person I'd be dealing with. The doctor reading the results and doing the actual prescrip for the machine is the one at the study place - an hour away. I've never, actually met him. I did talk to him on the phone once.

End BG

Ok, so when this doctor calls me with the results and is ready to send me for a machine, I need to know what questions to ask him. Since this is a doctor (who, if he's like any other doc, isn't going to want to spend an inordinate amount of time talking to me and wants to make the phone call short), I need a very concise list of things I need to ask him. Can you help me develop that list, so I'm ready? What do I need to know from him in order to get this treated properly?

Also, I noticed that many of you mention going back to your doctor later for followup. I don't know that I'll have that. Is that typical? Do I need to press for that?

So, what do I need to say/ask?

[Rustyolddude]

A few things:

You want a copy of your sleep study results.

You want a Rx for a fully data capable machine.

You want a copy of the Rx.

[ricochetv1]

A few things:

You want a copy of your sleep study results.

You want a Rx for a fully data capable machine.

You want a copy of the Rx.

Add that you want an APAP so you can easily change the type of therapy if needed, without having to worry about changing machines and such, unless your study indicates a biPap, in which case you'll have a machine that already does "all-of-the-above"
Ask which DME they'll refer you to and check forums for reviews and opinions of said DME before you are actually referred to them, and advise that you may want to pick your own DME, so you can make SURE they carry your insurance, and are a good quality DME, and not one of them sheisters.

[KengEsq]

Bit of BG: I knew something wasn't right. So, I found a doctor in my area to write me a prescrip for the sleep study. But, I actually did the study about an hour away - near my parents. I liked the setup at this place, plus it meant I could spend some time with Mom and Dad and then run over to do the test.

So, the original doctor's role in this is over. He may get a copy of the results to have in my file (if I request it), but he's not the person I'd be dealing with. The doctor reading the results and doing the actual prescrip for the machine is the one at the study place - an hour away. I've never, actually met him. I did talk to him on the phone once.

End BG

Ok, so when this doctor calls me with the results and is ready to send me for a machine, I need to know what questions to ask him. Since this is a doctor (who, if he's like any other doc, isn't going to want to spend an inordinate amount of time talking to me and wants to make the phone call short), I need a very concise list of things I need to ask him. Can you help me develop that list, so I'm ready? What do I need to know from him in order to get this treated properly?

Also, I noticed that many of you mention going back to your doctor later for followup. I don't know that I'll have that. Is that typical? Do I need to press for that?

So, what do I need to say/ask?

Someplace on this site there are a lot of similar posts with great responses. I just do not know how to direct you to those posts. I know I was concerned about my first visit with my sleep doctor because I had studied up on everything about OSA and treatment, including all the machines and masks. Before I ever saw my sleep doctor my PCP prescribed a CPAP machine for me and I had used it for about 4 months without much success. My sleep doctor turned out to be great and when I asked him for an APAP machine he quickly agreed it would be best for me and wrote the script for it. My ResMed S8 AutoSet II has been great for me. Good luck.

[cflame1]

Find out if it's just sleep apnea or if there are central apnea's or PLM (periodic leg movement) involvement in it as well.