"A Doctor's & RT's WORST NIGHTMARE"

Rabid1 · Post by **Rabid1** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:58 pm

I have to say, I've been called a lot of things, but today takes the cake! I went to see the RT at my sleep clinic for the first time after getting titrated.

I brought him a print-out from Encore Pro of my therapy. Actually, I brought him a couple of print-outs.

The first was from a night I set my APAP to CPAP and set it to my titrated pressure of 8 cm. My AHI from that night was 11, and the VS was 29.

The second print-out was from my new BiPAP, which showed an AHI number of 3.0, and VS of 3.5.

He looked at the print-outs (like they were in Greek) and replied I was a doctor's and RT's worst nightmare!!!

Being the civil gentleman I am, I didn't fly out of my chair and kick him in the family jewels. Rather, I smiled and proceeded to ask him questions. Well, he probably would have preferred I kicked him in the nads.

Now I see why I'm a nightmare to them. I know more than they want me too!

He had no reasonable answer as to why my numbers were so much better on the BiPAP, and why I was so much more comfortable with it. I'm guessing he had the answers, but not the humbleness to reveal them

Seeing I wasn't going to get any good feedback from this guy, I asked if he could help me adjust my new mask (Aura). I brought in the mask and after a few minutes the old phrase of a "monkey.......a football" sprang into my noggin. He complained it was some off-brand, and did the most half-assed job of fitting imaginable.

When I was getting ready to leave, he again reminded me I was a nightmare, and said he wasn't going to lie to my doc. I told him I didn't WANT him to lie! He said he'd tell the doc the truth, and if the doc wanted to see me he would, if not he wouldn't.

I have an appointment to see "the doc" March 1st. Any reason to go?

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, Encore Pro, CPAP, AHI, APAP

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:13 pm

Well, yeah! I'd go. Dontchya wanna see whachyer doc's reaction is gonna be? Shucks, he may disappoint you and actually be impressed that you've taken such an interest in your therapy!!

Rabid1 · Post by **Rabid1** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:20 pm

Slinky wrote:Well, yeah! I'd go. Dontchya wanna see whachyer doc's reaction is gonna be? Shucks, he may disappoint you and actually be impressed that you've taken such an interest in your therapy!!

Slink,

You da Gal!

From an earlier conversation with him, he said he likes to see "informed patients". I got the feeling he was being a condescending chump.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:30 pm

Well, I think it might be FUN if it turns out you ARE smarter than the doc regarding your therapy. But, shucks, he may well just be impressed and maybe even had a little more interest in using an auto for those having problems with titration. Mebbe you can teach the old dog a trick or two!

Rabid1 · Post by **Rabid1** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:33 pm

[quote="Slinky"]Well, I think it might be FUN if it turns out you ARE smarter than the doc regarding your therapy. But, shucks, he may well just be impressed and maybe even had a little more interest in using an auto for those having problems with titration. Mebbe you can teach the old dog a trick or two!

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:34 pm

I would save my money. What is the point of going? You are doing fine.

Rabid1 · Post by **Rabid1** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:47 pm

snoregirl wrote:I would save my money. What is the point of going? You are doing fine.

I guess there's a part of me that wants to say;...no, SHOUT, "this is MY body, and I'LL be the one in charge of it!!!!

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:59 pm

Rabid1 wrote:I have an appointment to see "the doc" March 1st. Any reason to go?

I can think of one very good reason: You need the closure. One office visit won't cost that much, and it sounds like you don't really know what your doc's reaction is going to be. If your doc is supportive, then he's a rarity and likely worth keeping.

Don't take this the wrong way. I'm the last person who'd recommend keeping a hopeless doc. I've dropped my share of docs, but only after I knew for sure that there was no point in continuing to work with 'em.

Regards,
Bill

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:52 pm

I would definitely go.
I would take the charts with you and start the interview with the doc before s/he has a chance to.

I would tell him you had an unusual meeting with a dme and would like his help in understanding his attitude.
Ask him just what he thinks the dme meant when he said you were a doc and dme's worst nightmare.

Then ask him if an informed patient the best case and a patient should know as much as possible about their condition.

Then inform him/her that in pursuing this learning curve you participate in a forum of very knowledgeable apnea sufferers with many years experience
Be nice. If s/he has an attitude, let him/her know that one thing you have learned is that there is an enormous variation of competence in dme and docs and many people are given very bad information and advice.
Show the doc your charts.
Try to avoid the DME.
Be nice- to quote Dalton in Road House..
I could be wrong.
tomjax

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:09 pm

Why not ask him/her for recommendations for a knowledgeable DME?

Rabid1 · Post by **Rabid1** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:23 pm

[quote="greyhound"]Why not ask him/her for recommendations for a knowledgeable DME?

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:41 am

Rabid1 wrote:Asking him for a knowledgeable DME would be insulting.

And telling you that you're an RT's worst nightmare wasn't?

Anyway, if it were me I'd just go on with my life. If you need the closure then close away.

Rabid1 · Post by **Rabid1** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:06 pm

blarg wrote:
Rabid1 wrote:Asking him for a knowledgeable DME would be insulting.
And telling you that you're an RT's worst nightmare wasn't?

Anyway, if it were me I'd just go on with my life. If you need the closure then close away.

Mile High Sleeper · Post by **Mile High Sleeper** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:39 pm

Right on, this sort of insulting RT behavior and attack of patient responsiblity should not be tolerated. The doctor as manager needs this feedback about substandard care offered by his/her RT.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:14 pm

This feedback can be offered in ways other than spending your money to tell this to the doctor.

Letter, complaint to whatever board certifies RTs in your state etc.

I just would not spend my hard-earned money just to tell a doctor what insulting thing his employee said to me.

"A Doctor's & RT's WORST NIGHTMARE"

"A Doctor's & RT's WORST NIGHTMARE"

Re: "A Doctor's & RT's WORST NIGHTMARE"

doc

see the doc