I cancelled my one year appt for follow up sleep study

[Froro]

I'm supposed to be at a sleep clinic tonight.

I decided to cancel the appointment earlier today. Reality is I'm doing just fine. I downloaded my data last week and all looks good. I've got one little man running a 104 fever, my husband is working late and flying to Atlanta tomorrow, my teenagers can be trusted as far as I can throw them, so yeah...I'm not going anywhere.

After I called an cancelled today I ended up calling another sleep clinic though to get some info from them and check the process of getting a referral to them instead.

I was pleasantly impressed. Firstly, it's literally a five minute drive (20 minute walk) from my house. I spoke at length today with them and they were kind of horrified with the lack of attention or follow up from the previous clinic. I told them about the DME I was experienced with and they were equally horrified. I told them all about this place and the reason I ended up here was a lack of any kind of support from where I was.

I told her I had the software and she was thrilled. Told her my results generally and she was again thrilled. Said they had zero problems with patients getting the software and actually encourage it. The clinic I'm currently with has a policy for a sleep study once a year whether you think you need one or not.

Thier policy is if you have any problems you get a consult with the sleep doc and if he feels you need one or you request one. His minimum appointment time with new patients is one hour in length to help educate them and explain everything. Follow up appointments are set to ensure you are benefitting from your therapy.

I told her that I had changed my pressure and she kinda went oh? I explained my logic, based on the data from the software and how much I changed it in incredments until I got my average AI down to one or less per night. She was impressed, and said she wished all their patients would participate in their therapy to the same extent. While not condoning changing the pressure she said if I was going to do it at least it was based on common sense and research.

So...I'm going to see my family doc to get him to refer me over there instead. This one is based in one of the wings the hospital, and he has priviledges there as well.

Knocking on wood that they are good as they appear. In the meantime....I about to celebrate my one year anniversary of cpap. I feel great and my life has been permanently changed for the better.

[DreamOn]

That's wonderful, Froro!!! The new sleep clinic sounds fantastic! It's a very good sign that they encourage the CPAP user's involvement in their own therapy.

Wishing you continued success with your therapy during your second and subsequent years! It's always great to read about the success stories.

~ DreamOn

[rested gal]

Wow, Froro! Double WOW and TRIPLE WOWWWWWW!!!

What a sensible person you talked with at the sleep lab you're considering.

That sounds very, very encouraging.

[jnk]

Are you sure that the person who picked up the phone over at the sleep center actually works there?

[el_zorro]

Hey Froro,

You are a great example of how a person can manage their own healthcare and take control of the situation with the healthcare providers. Thanks for the encouragement to everyone.

Z

[FarmerJill]

That is great!!!! I too have a wonderful Sleep Center ( can't say the same for the Doc) I have one girl who is my new best friend!

I will say that I wish I could download my info and look at it and have the ability to tweek things......apparently it's a major secret.....to the point when I was in the room and they had to make a change....they made me turn my back so I could not see them! It makes it hard on me since I live a great distance from the Sleep Center and I have other problems that interfere with the CPAP....so if I were able to make small changes it would really help me.

Here's wishing you another year of success!

Jill

[cflame1]

Jill,
Looks like this is what you need in order to be able to download.

http://www.cpapaustralia.com.au/shoppin ... combo.html

[hayeswildrick]

Once a year sleep study? Cay you spell R-I-P-O-F-F?

I don't know what a sleep study costs in your part of the woods, but here in New Jersey the sleep center bills at about $5000. Nice job, if you can get it! No wonder they don't want you to have a data-capable machine and access to your own numbers!

Great work taking the initiative in your own care.
-Jeff

[Froro]

You know? That is what I was thinking Hay.

If they could only give me 5 minutes of their time after two sleep studies (one overnight,one titration), with no follow up (even phone call) I figure why should I go back?

I think OHIP (our provincial coverage) pays around $1500 per sleep study and you are allowed one per year (plus titration). While I appreciate the universal coverage, I'm not one to abuse it and personally, I think going for a sleep study just because it's allowed and not really necessary is abuse. No need to drive up the health care costs.

I've got to call our family doc today anyway to book an appointment for hubby so I'll book one for myself as well and get him to refer me over to the new place.

This hospital is where we always go to for proximity (and the quality of care). I figure if I ever end up in there for one thing or another it might be nice to have my sleep doc in the same place. Maybe I wouldn't have had such an issue as I did back in November in the recovery room and denial of cpap therapy as I did at another hospital.

Speaking of the issue regarding my letter to the hospital administration over the situation back in November. I have had a response. I recieved a letter of apology from the hospital, and a thank you for bringing the matter to their attention. Looks like they will be evaluating their procedures and introducing some education regarding cpap and post op/recovery room procedures into their ongoing education program with staff.

My family doc said the letter was excellent and he was also discussing it with collegues from that hospital. (different from the one where the new slepp clinic is located)