Sleep study on the 15th....

[August]

I come at this from an interesting point of view, because I work for a pulm/sleep doctor clinic. I work with CPAP patients all day long, I know most of the RTs at the DME companies by name.
But now I'm going to be a patient. I have my sleep study on October 15th. Any advice?

[chunkyfrog]

Welcome, August.
The more you know, the better the outcome.
We promote efficacy data, as compliance numbers are of no use to anyone but insurance company bean-counters.
Read Jan's blog so that you will know which machines benefit the patient--as opposed to the company line:
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/
(this list does not yet reflect the Airsense 10 line, but you can review/compare the features on cpap.com.
Learn all you can about different masks, even those not handled by your employer.
Soon you will realize that effective, comfortable treatment is the best assurance of continued participation/health.

[kaiasgram]

If you think you might have trouble falling asleep on the night of the sleep study (many do), talk with your doc ahead of time about a backup sleep aid.

And bring your own pillow.

And you might look at some of our discussions about getting the "goop" out of your hair afterwards: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50634&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=goop

Welcome.

[palerider]

I come at this from an interesting point of view, because I work for a pulm/sleep doctor clinic. I work with CPAP patients all day long, I know most of the RTs at the DME companies by name.
But now I'm going to be a patient. I have my sleep study on October 15th. Any advice?

i wonder if you'll get special treatment because of that, or if they'll revert to form and send you through the grinder like they do to most people.

we'd probably have to go with the normal advice, "don't trust anything they say", "educate yourself and stand up for yourself because the people at the doctors, sleep centers and DME's don't care about anything but your money".

etc.

[grayghost4]

you should be in the best position to evaluate the Dr.s office and decide if you are in the right office ... or is it a cpap mill ? Or you may get special treatment since you are working there.