I got the Best. Sleep. Doc. Ever.

[Iowamv]

Today I finally had my first appointment with a sleep doctor. My first sleep doc ordered my baseline and titration studies, then prescribed a machine without even meeting me. Details here:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=92641&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... 15#p854836

So today I met this incredible doctor, a pulmonologist by the name of Dr. Akshay Mahadevia. Older gentleman, who was the most patient and warmest doctor I've ever met. He must have spent at least 30 minutes talking to me about my treatment, CPAP and sleep apnea generally, etc. After hearing about my progress on CPAP, but sporadic days where I wake up with mild headaches and feeling lethargic, he says "well, you had many RERAs in your sleep study, and it looks like you are still have some flow limitations. My guess is that your constant pressure isn't high enough on some days to eliminate those events. Some days it is, some days it isn't. What would you say to changing to an APAP machine?" I almost fell out of my chair. I said "I asked for one a few weeks ago, but was denied by my insurance because my doctor would not vouch for its necessity." When he found out that the DME I use has a branch in the same building as his office, he stood up and said "Come on, let's go talk to them together" and walked with me to the DME office. Unfortunately, the DME was closed. BUT, he said "I'll talk to them personally in the morning and we'll see if we can't get this straightened out."

I told him that I can just imagine how this is going to look to both my insurance company and my DME (guy can't get the upgrade to an Autoset he wants, so he goes doctor shopping to find a doc who will prescribe one). He just smiled and said "Let me take care of this, I'll speak to them." I honestly hadn't brought it up at all.

Then later, as I was leaving his office, he smiles and says "Remember, if you have any questions at all about your treatment, I'm just a phone call away."

I'm stunned. STUNNED. So if you live in eastern Iowa or NW Illinois, it is worth the trip to see this guy.

Oh, and he's an author on one of the very early papers demonstrating effectiveness of CPAP:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6354028 Great guy. I finally feel like I have a real live doctor who is supporting my treatment.

[chunkyfrog]

OMG! If I wasn't green enough already!

[DoriC]

Wow! Does he have a brother who practices in NJ? You hit the jackpot! BTW, I don't think Medicare cares whether you get a cpap or apap, they both have the same code and pay the DME the same. The only difference is that the DME makes less profit on the auto because it costs more.

[ems]

It's great to read something like this. You are very lucky! I like my sleep doc too, but yours sounds beyond belief.

[Stormynights]

We need to have a list of good sleep doctors.

[TonyE]

We need to have a list of good sleep doctors.

Any chance he will do home visits to Australia

[Sheriff Buford]

Good news!! Of course after looking at your Avatar... you'd probably need the best doctor....

Sheriff

[Iowamv]

What, you don't like him? First time I heard someone use the term "hose head," that picture popped into my mind. Now HE'S a hose head.

[flyingwithoutwings]

"I asked for one a few weeks ago, but was denied by my insurance because my doctor would not vouch for its necessity." When he found out that the DME I use has a branch in the same building as his office, he stood up and said "Come on, let's go talk to them together" and walked with me to the DME office. Unfortunately, the DME was closed. BUT, he said "I'll talk to them personally in the morning and we'll see if we can't get this straightened out."

Just the doctor I need. When I asked my doctor for a new Rx for a data capable machine, Instead of writing a new Rx, she met with the DME rep and let them convince her that the insurance wouldn't pay anything more than "hours of use". Had to fire them both!

[Sheriff Buford]

What, you don't like him? First time I heard someone use the term "hose head," that picture popped into my mind. Now HE'S a hose head.

Well... I haven't thought about liking or unliking him.... looks as tho' this fella has a bunch of cpap hoses attached to his head. Trust me... I have arrested uglier people...

Sheriff

[KellyA1973]

I Just had my 1st visit with Dr. Mahavevia on Friday and I 100% agree with your assessment of him ..... VERY impressed! My first sleep study they had the pressure up so high that air was literally coming out of my eyes! When my reg. doc. said she wanted me to have another s.s. I told her no, that I didn't see any reason to have another one if it was going to be like the first one. That is when she referred me to Dr. Mahadevia! Now, I can't wait to get my next s.s. so that I can get my self all straightened out! My memory is horrible, I sleep 10-12 hrs. a day and STILL wake up tired, sometimes with bad headaches and have VERY little energy! Dr. Mahadevia say's that the right machine at the right setting will help tremendously with these things! I have every confidence in him, I think he is quite possibly the nicest Doctor I have ever met!

[JimW159]

[quote="Iowamv"]Today I finally had my first appointment with a sleep doctor. So today I met this incredible doctor, a pulmonologist by the name of Dr. Akshay Mahadevia. Older gentleman, who was the most patient and warmest doctor I've ever met. [quote]
How far away from retirement is he? Ask if he would consider relocating to the St. Petersburg or Tampa Bay area when he does = even on a part time basis his attitude would be most welcome.

[Guest]

Today I finally had my first appointment with a sleep doctor. So today I met this incredible doctor, a pulmonologist by the name of Dr. Akshay Mahadevia. Older gentleman, who was the most patient and warmest doctor I've ever met.

Finding a good doctor is hard but finding a good sleep doctor is priceless but can be done with time, patience, & determination.

By time you figure out you have a sleep problem you will not have one of those three (time, patience, & determination).