PCP looked at ResScan data, had questions, then commended me

[jnk]

What a strange, but encouraging, doc appointment I just had. It's been a while since a doc has surprised me like this . . .

I had told my primary care physician months ago that I had obtained software for my machine. In fact, I had e-mailed him a pdf of a report I generated, and according to his nurse, he printed it out and faxed a copy of that to my sleep doc. So the other day when I got my appointment slip from my PCP to come in today for a follow-up appointment, the slip had on it that he wanted me to bring in my latest software data from my machine. I assumed he simply wanted a printout to fax it to the sleep doc again.

But when I got there today, he sat down, took out my printout, asked "is this my copy?" and started comparing the printout to the data from my sleep studies right there in the exam room! That was surprising enough to me. But then he started asking ME questions about what the data meant.

He admitted he didn't understand much about the terms and asked "So is AHI some kind of ratio between AI and HI?" I explained to him no, that it was AI plus HI. He then asked "So this average AHI number in your report, 7, is how many events per hour, total, you are having now?" I said yes, but that because I was using a ResMed, it was likely overscoring the number of hypopneas in comparison to other machines. The doc looked at my sleep study again and noted the 114 AHI I had. He asked if my "7" was really where I now was in comparison to the 114 of the sleep-study night. I said well, yes and no. A sleep study very accurately measures AHI according to agreed-upon standards that include O2 information, whereas home machines use their own definitions of hypopneas. But I told him it was ballpark enough for my purposes, though, barring another sleep study. He said, "Still, that difference is impressive, isn't it?"

I explained the leak chart and told him how I had learned from people online how important it was to prevent mouth leaks to make the therapy effective. He asked what I had done to deal with that. I explained that I use a mouthpiece to keep my mouth closed, wrap a headband from the crown of my head to the front of my chin to prevent lip flutters, and that my switching to a different kind of nasal pillows had helped.

He pulled up my bloodwork and other information and noted that I had lost five pounds, had improved my cholesterol, had lowered my blood pressure, and was, as he said, "obviously headed in the right direction" with what I was doing. He said for me to let him know if there was anything he could do to be of assistance, and concluded with "I want to commend you for how you've made a real success of your use of that machine." (This is from a doctor who actually does not like the idea of PAP therapy, mind you. He only sent me for the sleep study to have me get UPPP surgery. Fortunately, the sleep doc got me on PAP therapy and discouraged surgery.) Anyway, although my PCP is not at all knowledgeable about PAP therapy, I was impressed with the interest he took and with his support anyway.

Just thought I'd share my experience.

Any thoughts, reactions, critiques, or complaints are welcome--that is, after all, what boards are for, right? So feel free to fire away!

jeff

[packitin]

Something sort of like that happened to me too. I'm not as knowledgeable as you, but I did answer a lot of questions about my therapy, such as relating to pressure, machine, software, filters, masks, etc. He told me I was his most informed patient - which surprised me.
In fact, I forgot to bring in my software report that I had printed out. So I asked if I could an email address that I could send it to, and finally got one from the receptionist's window. (I really doubt if anyone will look at it). Its probably still out there somewhere in the caverns of cyberspace floating around in the twilight zone, but he was still impressed that I had it.
Jay

[jnk]

Something sort of like that happened to me too. I'm not as knowledgeable as you, but I did answer a lot of questions about my therapy, such as relating to pressure, machine, software, filters, masks, etc. He told me I was his most informed patient - which surprised me.
In fact, I forgot to bring in my software report that I had printed out. So I asked if I could an email address that I could send it to, and finally got one from the receptionist's window. (I really doubt if anyone will look at it). Its probably still out there somewhere in the caverns of cyberspace floating around in the twilight zone, but he was still impressed that I had it.
Jay

Hopefully, if we can all help to educate our family doctors, they will start to "get it."

[Georgio]

JNK.....just goes to show how well you have learned your stuff.....when the MD asks you to teach him. I honestly don't think your encouter would be that unusual given the lack of main stream attention sleep apnea has had. I had a similar experience showing my data to my resperatory therapist/RN sister in law who just did a lot of head nodding and "Uh-uhs". I would not be suprised if my next visit to my PCP is exactly the same as yours, he is always eager to learn!

Good going with your therapy, your numbers, and keeping your posts civilized (just kidding).


Georgio

[jnk]

JNK.....just goes to show how well you have learned your stuff.....when the MD asks you to teach him. I honestly don't think your encouter would be that unusual given the lack of main stream attention sleep apnea has had. I had a similar experience showing my data to my resperatory therapist/RN sister in law who just did a lot of head nodding and "Uh-uhs". I would not be suprised if my next visit to my PCP is exactly the same as yours, he is always eager to learn!

Good going with your therapy, your numbers, and keeping your posts civilized (just kidding).


Georgio

Well hopefully I didn't tell him anything too wrong.

Civilized? Me? Nah! I always feel most at home in the presence of anarchists and counter-culture rebels, myself.

[Slinky]

Oh my gawd, jnk!!! I'M IN LOVE - with your PCP! I haven't met a sleep doctor that interested in the data, much less in the data from these unreliable xPAPs!!!!! I'm so impressed. How wonderful. That doctor visit had to have made your day. It sure would have made mine!!!! Congratulations - and next time you see him give him my love.

[Capri]

Same here. I've been taking reports in now for the past 2 years. Now the doc not only expects a report at every visit, but also wants reports faxed to him monthly. It used to be nearly impossible to get the software! Now I see it's easily available, though not cheap.

The pulse oximeter, however was a complete waste of time and money. Leave that for the sleep studies.

[jnk]

Oh my gawd, jnk!!! I'M IN LOVE - with your PCP! I haven't met a sleep doctor that interested in the data, much less in the data from these unreliable xPAPs!!!!! I'm so impressed. How wonderful. That doctor visit had to have made your day. It sure would have made mine!!!! Congratulations - and next time you see him give him my love.

He's a good guy. But, unfortunately, I'm just not comfortable with the idea of passing along anyone's love to a guy who's seen me naked. Sorry, Slinky.

[carbonman]

jeff, you're a cpap poster boy .....brother.

This is really what jumps out at me.

noted that I had lost five pounds, had improved my cholesterol, had lowered my blood pressure, and was, as he said, "obviously headed in the right direction" with what I was doing.

Just thought I'd share my experience.

jeff

It has just got to feel SOOOOOOO good!

My RX for you is to dive into that SOOOOOOOOOO good feeling,
and wallow around in it and get it all over you......
and ENJOY!!!

You're setting the bar for the rest of us.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

.............it has just got to feel SOOOOOOOO good.

[dsm]

JNK,

I gues it can't get much better than that (assuming the OSA doesn't just vanish ) - what a great doc !. He is clearly impressed by his patient & probably wishes he had more like you

Good news

DSM

[jnk]

. . . wallow around in it and get it all over you......
and ENJOY!!! . . .

Thanks, carbonman. I've still got a ways to go before I could pedal one next to you (except maybe on the downhill ), but I hope I'm well on my way. I appreciate the support!

[jnk]

. . . Now the doc not only expects a report at every visit, but also wants reports faxed to him monthly. . . .

I hope mine doesn't get to that point, or I'll have to ask to get put on his payroll!

[jnk]

. . . assuming the OSA doesn't just vanish . . .

I'd be happy if I could get about 50 pounds (23 kilos) to vanish!

Thanks, DSM.