Questions about finding the best sleep doc

[Pap365]

I’ve been looking for a new sleep dr. and I’ve noticed that they seem to fall into three groups: pulmonary, neurology/ sleep disorders or Otolaryngology/ENT. I’m wondering how the Drs. background affects their approach to sleep apnea? Is one specialty better than another?
Take Care,
G

[Not Fade]

Of course it depends more on the individual doctor and his drive, interest and approach to helping patients.

But beyond that you ask the question of specialty.

A specialist in neurology/sleep disorders has the better background for doing sleep studies, making diagnoses and prescribing treatments.

This specialist may refer you to a pulmonary specialist if your lungs are in any way dysfunctional.

He may also refer you to an ENT if he suspects an unusual blockage like enlarged tonsils, enlarged adenoids, enlarged turbinates or deviated septum.

I personally think anyone diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea should be examined by an ENT to have a look for these problems.

[Chuck Connors]

I’ve been looking for a new sleep dr. and I’ve noticed that they seem to fall into three groups: pulmonary, neurology/ sleep disorders or Otolaryngology/ENT. I’m wondering how the Drs. background affects their approach to sleep apnea? Is one specialty better than another?
Take Care,
G

________________________________________________________________________________________
Excellent question, and difficult to answer.

I can reference three top sleep docs in Seattle, just as an example, and you can study their credentials to find any common threads.
Dr. Chang - http://www.polyclinic.com/dr_david_c_chang
Dr. Pascualy - http://www.swedish.org/Physicians/Ralph ... z2GmFAZIk1
Dr. DePaso - https://www.virginiamason.org/body.cfm? ... il&ref=115

I agree that everyone with sleep apnea or thinks they may have sleep apnea, should be checked out by an ENT doc. I had been on a CPAP machine for awhile, when I needed to see an ENT doc for an exam. After his examination, I learned that I had a nasal septum deviation and as the doc described it, "the passageway of a three year old." Out-patient surgery followed. My breathing improved. When I returned to my sleep doc following surgery, he made downward adjustments on my CPAP machine.

-Chuck-

[zoocrewphoto]

My mom did not like the staff and treatment with Dr Chang and refused to go back. We both go to Dr David Brown in Federal Way. He is a neurologist, and he only prescribes full data machines.

[Not Fade]

only prescribes full data machines

That is a biggie! Especially for new patients. If you have simply OSA, you can do a lot for yourself with data.

If you have to wrestle with a doc for the correct CPAP prescription, screw the rest of the asshole's credentials.

[borgready]

The real post should be If you have a good sleep doctor please post who it is and what you like and dont like about him. No body every post who their sleep doctor is and or facility that they think is terrific. Is this a website policy and if it is why?

[Not Fade]

The real post should be If you have a good sleep doctor please post who it is and what you like and dont like about him. No body every post who their sleep doctor is and or facility that they think is terrific. Is this a website policy and if it is why?

Bad idea based on my experience. I have an excellent sleep doc and an excellent GP. I have heard patients trash them and refuse to see them again. These are the kind of people that spend a lot of time on the internet and trash the doctors.

I used to live in a low-income urban county just next to a major city. The doctors in our county were constantly trashed by people who had never used them. There was a snooty attitude,"I won't use a doctor or the hospital in the county, I will only go over to the city". These people were just flat wrong. I had enough friends and relatives who had used the local docs and hospital that I knew they were excellent. The hospital was better than the one in the city.

How would that work in this case anyway? The OP is in Ohio and people are giving comments on doctors in Seattle???? (I understand Chuck, you said it was just a for example.)

[49er]

Ratings of doctors are very subjective.

As this board knows, I had a horrible experience with my first sleep doctor. And no, I am not being picky as it was horrible.

But I know for a fact that another cpaptalk.com member had a great experience with this same doctor.

So if the two of us were to write a review of this doctor on this board, let's just say things would be quite interesting:)

Unfortunately, it is very hard to find a suitable doctor. It seems about 10 years ago, it was possible to schedule a brief paid visit with at least a primary care doctor to see if there was a potential match. But unfortunately, that seems to no longer be possible.

49er

[Pap365]

Thanks all for the feedback so far. I’m not looking for recommendations for specific drs. I’m wondering if there is a background that makes one sleep doc a better choice than another.
@borgready-interesting question! Perhaps you could start your own post?
Take Care,
G

[Judge Nap]

49er
Unfortunately, it is very hard to find a suitable doctor. It seems about 10 years ago, it was possible to schedule a brief paid visit with at least a primary care doctor to see if there was a potential match. But unfortunately, that seems to no longer be possible.

Maybe it depends on where you live? Within two miles of my home is a great medical complex and within a 25-mile radius the choices of facilities and doctors are remarkable. Very pleased with the selection.

[49er]

49er
Unfortunately, it is very hard to find a suitable doctor. It seems about 10 years ago, it was possible to schedule a brief paid visit with at least a primary care doctor to see if there was a potential match. But unfortunately, that seems to no longer be possible.

Maybe it depends on where you live? Within two miles of my home is a great medical complex and within a 25-mile radius the choices of facilities and doctors are remarkable. Very pleased with the selection.

Hi,

Are you saying you were able to prescreen doctors as I outlined in my post?

As an FYI, I live in a large metropolitan area but based on conversations I have had with people, that doesn't seem to make a difference in satisfaction with doctors.

49er

[Sheriff Buford]

This post is making me ponder about this subject. I have never seen a sleep doctor. My primary care physician order the sleep study, and rarely mentions my therapy when I see him now. If I need a new prescription, I ask and he writes. I had an AHI of over 70 on my first sleep study. With the cpap machine, my ahi average is a .3 with no leaks. Apnea-wise, I guess I'm fat, dumb and happy. Unless I had issues, why would I want to see a sleep doctor? When I say issues, what will the sleep doctor do for me if my leak rate was high, had centrals or my ahi was high? If I had other "issues", I would see another doctor anyway. Am I missing something?

Sheriff

[Pap365]

Hey Sherif!

I’m glad your treatment is going well! My motivation for the post is that now that my apnea is treated, low AHI, minimal leaks ect. I have some remaining symptoms that make me think there’s more going on than just sleep apnea. That got me looking at sleep docs in my area and then wondering if the doc’s background made a difference. BTW your posts about the Fitlife mask encouraged me to try the mask which has made all the difference. THANK YOU!!!

[Judge Nap]

49er
Unfortunately, it is very hard to find a suitable doctor. It seems about 10 years ago, it was possible to schedule a brief paid visit with at least a primary care doctor to see if there was a potential match. But unfortunately, that seems to no longer be possible.

Maybe it depends on where you live? Within two miles of my home is a great medical complex and within a 25-mile radius the choices of facilities and doctors are remarkable. Very pleased with the selection.

Hi,

Are you saying you were able to prescreen doctors as I outlined in my post?

As an FYI, I live in a large metropolitan area but based on conversations I have had with people, that doesn't seem to make a difference in satisfaction with doctors.

49er

Isn't this automatic? Every person I have ever heard of visiting a doctor for the first time could walk out and move on to the next doctor if he did not like what he observed. You don't have to let them touch you, although the nurse will probably weigh you, measure your height, take your blood pressure and pulse. For most people this is a $25 or $50 copay and locally self-pay is typically $76.

[Always tired]

I think an excellent question to ask any prospective sleep doc is -- do you have sleep apnea?
Mine does and it makes a big difference.