Who's Better? ENT or Pulmonologist?

[Autopapdude]

A politician picked up a lady and took her to his motel room.

They had you-know-what and then relaxed in bed.

The lady said, "Do you have aids?"

The politician said, "No!! Why do you ask???"

The lady said, "Oh, that's good. I wouldn't want to catch it again."

Same politician's wife goes to the doctor. When she comes home, she's got an unhappy face on. He asks her "why so glum? Did the doctor tell you bad news?" She responds "yes, he said I either got Alzheimers or Aids--I don't know which."
At this the politician is confused and doesn't know what to do. He calls up his friend for advice. His friend says "take your wife for a ride downtown. Drop her off to go shopping, and then drive away. If she can make it home, don't do 'you-know-what' with her."

[JohnBFisher]

Which one makes a better sleep doc?

I always hate it when I hear this, but "It depends!" ...

I had an ENT who just wanted to do surgery. I got a second opinion and the doctor pointed me to peer reviewed articles that noted a poor success rate. Hmm... was the original doctor solving my problem or his checking balance issue? The second ENT recommended that I see a pulmonologist in our area who handled sleep issues (few of them at that time).

So, I switched to that pulmonologist who was excellent. He helped me manage my obstructive sleep apnea. It made a huge difference in my life. I stayed with him until I started to have neurological issues and he admitted he was not the best to handle the those additional complications. As I noted, he was a very good doctor. He understood his limitations.

I then went through a series of neurologists who were okay, but not willing to listen to me as I (and my wife) described my symptoms, including what appeared to be central sleep apnea. Of course, many of them essentially ignored the fact that I had problems falling asleep - even more than once I was asleep. Essentially they felt that since central sleep apnea is so rare, I could not have that. I am overweight, so that must just be the problem.

Fortunately, a couple years ago I found a sleep specialist who is also a neurologist who LISTENS to the symptoms. It makes a huge difference, since he is helping me manage those symptoms. In this case his understanding of the underlying neurological issue helps me obtain care that makes a difference.

So, which is better? Just as in any other profession, it depends on the person and the situation. Some doctors care, listen and attempt to help solve your problem. Others lose that focus. Some doctors understand the underlying issues, others do not.

As the person seeking a solution to our sleep issues, we must decide if the doctor is actively listening and helping us manage our situation. We must also decide if they are helping address any underlying issues.

So, "It depends!"

[Gerryk]

My normal everyday family doc is a pulmonologist and a cardiologist. He suggested that I go see an ENT last spring to see what her thougths were, that he thought I needed surgery to remove my tonsils so my pressure requirements would be reduced to allow successful cpap treatment.
I reluctantly went to this ENT and she looked in my throat and ears and nose. She said to me that I needed to have my tonsils out that they were some of the biggest if not the biggest she has ever seen.

My ENT specializes in sleep apnea and thyroid disorders. She does not see pt's outside those parameters any longer.

I had surgery and am to the point that I barely need cpap any more. My ENT says once I get my nose fixed and lose more weight I may not need cpap.

I guess I am lucky to have my regular doc have his specialty as a pulmonoligist and then have him send me to one of the best ENT's in the area.

We can pick different doctors but we need ones that will admit when they know someone else can treat you better and send you off to them. I am fortunate to have one of those docs as my primary care physician.

Gerry

[CPAPJourney]

My husband wanted to get treatment for bad snoring, asked to be referred to an ENT, and the PCP said that he had to go to a pulmonologist first for a sleep study. We are in an HMO, so we have no choice. I wonder why that is the route our PCP thinks should be taken? She implied that he needed a sleep study if you have bad snoring, and for a sleep study, you go to a pulmonologist. I'm confused.

But I also noticed that our pulmonologist has a sign on his door that says "sleep specialist" while our ENT doctor has a sign that says ENT plus "plastic surgery".

How come they all can't work together to figure out the best solution???????

[emilee2]

My Pulmonologist doesn't believe in CPAP. He doesn't come out and just says this, he just acts like it wasn't going to help me? And why bougher?
So that is how I got the message that he doesn't or "don't belive" in using CPAP.

My Pulmonologist showed me another way to wear my oxygen tub, and says that is all I need? I knew that already just didn't want to hurt his feelings. Went along with his ideas. Mostly not to shake the boat too much then.

Well what happen next is I have this machine don't like wearing any of my masks, and feel push into it by another doctor,(sleep doctor)! Whom later didn't believe I had COPD. Yeah right! I went to 3 doctors and a hospital all believe I do have COPD and on oxygen for now 7/24. So why should I believe this Sleep doctor espiecally since before I ever went to him I never heard of sleep apnea before? It is truly something you got to get use too both what sleep apnea is and the equiment.

For me I have try it over n over. Maybe one day I will get use too enough to keep it on.

I have also gone to an ENT for other health reasons. I told her about my sleep apnea, she knows about my copd, etc. She thought I should go to a different Pulmonologist. Most on her list I been too for my COPD. But other then that I haven't try yet. I have some insurance issues going thru for now.

Thank you

[elena88]

it was a cardiologist who sent me to a sleep doc, she looked at my heart , coratid arteries, insomnia, and sent me right to the sleep doctor,
who was a pulmonogist.. she took one look at my jaw, my mouth.. and she KNEW..

I can tell you WHO missed my tiny throat opening and my huge tongue, tonsils, etc..

my dentist, a gi doc who took a celiac biopsy, and my ent who scoped me for larnynx reflux several times..
and my pcp who remarked about my pediatric sized ear canals and throat opening, but didnt put it together.


Gee, I can look in my mouth, and see my itty bitty throat opening.. and know there is something wrong there..
Even my singing teacher noticed it!

I wish they had a questionaire that included: do you constantly bite the inside of your mouth when you are chewing food?
Do you bite your tongue? Does it feel like your tongue doesnt fit in your mouth properly, or the edges have been cut by your teeth?
Do you choke a lot when you are drinking water, or eating food?
Geez, if I had a questionaire like that twenty years ago.. oh boy, that would have been nice..

[Hospiceangel]

Gosh Rooster,
Tell us how you really feel!!!!!
Shar:)