bad primary care doctor...

[bellab]

I think it may be time for a new doctor -__-'


So I took my home sleep study two weeks ago, and after my sleep study I was told that I wouldn't be able to be seen for a follow up for a month- that's now two weeks from now. I was falling asleep at the wheel and overall not functioning. I called my primary care doctor to ask if they could write a prescription based on the results of my sleep study- they set up an appointment for me to come in, which was today...

I took off work to go to this appointment, and all they did was tell me that they couldn't write me a prescription and that I should wait for my appointment with the sleep center. Rather than, oh I don't know...telling me that over the phone when I asked?


The bigger issue was all of the mistruths and that she said. At this point, I know more about sleep apnea and what my results indicate than she does. She kept telling me things that were untrue. I played dumb and pointed to my results "oh, it's just that it says here..." to no avail. For example, she said she couldn't write my a prescription for an automatic machine because I have "very severe" sleep apnea, not just mild apnea....I pointed out that my AHI was an 8, putting me in the mild apnea range. She pointed to a line that said "A CPAP tiration study is indicated, given the severity of sleep related breathing disturbances....alternatively, the patient may be outfitted with an auto-titrating CPAP unit minimum 6cm maximum 15 cm with nasal interface"

She pointed to the word "severity" and stated that I had severe sleep apnea, even though I told her my AHI was in the mild range.

She told me that an automatic machine would make my sleep apnea worse, putting me at risk for cardiovascular issues.

She also told me that weight loss would improve my sleep apnea

Finally, she stated that I have Type 3 sleep apnea

She got this because my report says "HST- Type III" Uh lady, that refers to the type of sleep study I took...there is no type 3 sleep apnea


So, according to my doctor...I have type 3 sleep apnea in the severe range, an apap will cause me to have issues with my heart, and I can fix all of this by losing weight.




Unbeknownst to her, I got an apap off craigslist, and in the couple of days I've been using it my blood pressure had dropped 10 points, I've lost two pounds (when previously I was gaining uncontrollably despite diet and exercise) and I'm actually able to drive and go to work without falling asleep at my desk or at the wheel.

[LSAT]

I think it may be time for a new doctor -__-'

Unbeknownst to her, I got an apap off craigslist, and in the couple of days I've been using it my blood pressure had dropped 10 points, I've lost two pounds (when previously I was gaining uncontrollably despite diet and exercise) and I'm actually able to drive and go to work without falling asleep at my desk or at the wheel.

I agree

[chunkyfrog]

Sheesh! You may have one who needed to cheat to graduate in the bottom ten percent at med school.

[Mudrock63]

I'm sort of kind of amazed at the lack of knowledge about sleep apnea among the medical professionals I have dealt with. Honestly, this is the place to come for information. And I am so thankful it is here, and for the folks that help everyone out every day.

[OkyDoky]

I know medical professionals sometimes don't have all the answers. That's why there are specialities. I respect someone that says, I don't have that answer but I will check into it for you. They lose all my respect when I know they are bluffing their way through something they don't understand but don't want to admit it.

[grayghost4]

Yes you need a new DR. !.... someone you can confer with and agree on a course of action.

[ChicagoGranny]

How old is this damn doctor? Seems to have slipped into dementia.

[Janknitz]

When you leave this doctor, write her a polite, factual note about WHY you are leaving her practice. Point out that you researched sleep apnea carefully, and that what she told you simply was not correct. Explain to her that you would have been fine with her admitting that her knowledge of sleep apnea was limited and it would have been OK to defer to the specialist, but that you lost respect for her when she professed knowledge she didn't really have--the "Type 3 apnea" being a prime example.

You will be doing a great favor to her other patients if you politely point this out to her, and really a favor to her, too, though she may not appreciate it.

[Bookbear]

Oh, I can almost guarantee that she will not like it. No 'god' likes to be told they are less than Olympian.

[Thatgirl]

This would be hilarious if it weren't actually effecting her treatment of patients.

[49er]

Sadly, I am not surprised based on my previous experience. A few years ago, when I thought I wanted to switch PCPs, I consulted with two who was listed on a local list as top docs in their area.

I don't remember the exact quote but one claimed that most apneas were central related. Another one thought that I should just stop using the machine since I was struggling so much.

But in all fairness, soon to be former PCP and my new doc definitely understand the issues. So hopefully, your experience was a fluke and not typical of the PCPs in your area. God, I hope so.

49er

[Sheriff Buford]

I'm sort of kind of amazed at the lack of knowledge about sleep apnea among the medical professionals I have dealt with. Honestly, this is the place to come for information. And I am so thankful it is here, and for the folks that help everyone out every day.

Don't be amazed. It's not that unusual. I tell the doctors and DME what I want and I get it. Shouldn't have to do that.... should be the other way around. I get an average of .2 AHI, no leaks, happy with my mask and most of all.... I feel much better during the day. Oh well.

Sheriff

[chunkyfrog]

I was a bit disappointed that my PCP is not "into" apnea, cpap, etc, but
he referred me to a good pulmo, plus his own nerd zone is diabetes, and that's not a bad thing.

[bellab]

Well, I definitely see why people on this board advocate for taking charge of your own treatment- it's true, no one is going to watch out for your health better than you are. If I didn't do my own research and believed my doctor, I'd be sitting around believing that I have type 3 sleep apnea and an apap will give me a heart attack

[Sleeprider]

Your doctor's sleep apnea knowledge aside, any PCP should be your partner and advocate. My PCP does not have any particular expertise in sleep disordered breathing, but he supports what I need so I don't need to see a specialist. Yesterday I gave him two Encore trend reports (2-pages each) showing compliance and efficacy for the past 3-months, and one from 2014. I also provided a 1-paragraph summary of my sleep study, history, and a comparison of APAP and BPAP efficacy and "his" recommendation to continue BPAP treatment at x, y, z pressure. That all goes into my medical record, and supports prescriptions.

I really like my doctor. You should find one like that.