When the doctor looks down your throat for OSA?

[Krelvin]

TALK to your doctor and find out. Most insurance requires a referral but you may not.

[Enchanter]

TALK to your doctor and find out. Most insurance requires a referral but you may not.

So just tell him I'd like to see an ENT just to make sure?

[postitnote]

Maybe the "Thing" he's looking far is a Fat Wallet, and he thought yours was undersized. Go out and get one with a chain and zipper like truckers use. Jim

Jim that wasn't necessary. Enchanter should see an ENT to check for sure. It's better to find out than wonder and worry. Everything that gets ruled out leads to a better diagnosis in the end. Enchanter has good insurance.

Do I need my doctor to send me to one or do I go out on my own to find an ENT?

I think that depends whether you have an HMO or not. If you have an HMO you may need a referral. You could find an ENT and call their office. Ask about your insurance and they will tell you if they are in network and if you need a referral.

[sleepstar]

I'd suspect he is saying you have a narrow airway. I don't know why he would say "thing" but he most likely was looking at the width of your throat (narrower throat = increased likelihood of OSA), tonsils (large tonsils = narrower airway = increased likelihood of OSA) and/or your uvula (the dangly "thing" at the back of your mouth.)

Completely standard to look for these things - I'd be very surprised if a doctor didn't.

I would think if he was concerned about a "thing" in your throat he would have followed this up. Like always though, ask him if you're concerned.

[cancun]

[

Here are video and article for the condition. CPAP will not treat it and actually make it worse due to the anatomy of epiglottis.
I have a surgery scheduled in two month to remove part of the epiglottis and will report back the result. ''

You do have surgery scheduled? When did this happen? I am confused, does this mean you don't want the CPAP machine that postit has sent you?

I was quoting another member on here. Of course I am grateful for the CPAP being sent. All I'm saying is that this is my life and I have to make sure that I'm not overlooking anything. You know, others on here told me to not overlook everything. That's what I'm doing, but people tell me to just stick to CPAP. Not saying that's bad, but I'm just pointing out another possibility. I read that thread last night. The guy wasn't helped with CPAP because of his floppy egiglotis.

Thanks, for clearing that up, I was just so confused. I had been following the threads (as well as I could) and was so glad that you were getting the machine and were going to get help setting the pressures. I continue to wish you well with your CPAP journey.

[Cardsfan]

Enchanter- Actually, you should call your insurance company. Their number should be on the back of your insurance id card.
Ask them:
Do I need a referral from my primary care Dr to see a specialist? and
Can you tell me the name of an ENT Dr, who is In Network, and located near me?

Good luck.

[postitnote]

Enchanter- Actually, you should call your insurance company. Tell them you want to see an ENT. Ask them if you need a referral from your primary care Dr. Ask them which ENT near you is in their network.

Good idea but have you tried calling your insurance company lately? Mine has a find a doctor search function though. Maybe Enchanter could use the ins. web site. The doctors all ask about insurance for new patients and verify everything for you. I just saw a foot doctor and they did that. My co-pay was cheaper than a pedicure at a salon. Okay no toenail painting but I got a foot massage and my feet are so soft I feel like I need anti slip tape on them

[musculus]

I remember when I went to my doctor to see if I had OSA. Gosh, this feels like an eternity ago. (And still not done with tests.)
My doctor looked down my throat and said that it looked like I may have OSA. But I think I recall him saying I have a little ''thing.''
What could that mean? Is it a floppy egiglotis? Big tonsils?

What does a doctor usually look for when he looks down your throat for sleep apnea? Narrow airway? Narrow throat?

Now that someone brought up Egiglotis, I'm wondering if there could be any correlation.

Not just an ENT, for epiglottis issue, you should see someone who is both laryngologist and head neck surgeon at a good teaching hospital. Otherwise you run the risk of misdiagnosis as I had.

I recommend to have a cephalometry done like this (orthodotist usually does this):
http://drgstoothpix.com/2013/11/07/radi ... adiograph/
personally I found it very helpful to get correct diagnosis.

[palerider]

Enchanter- Actually, you should call your insurance company. Tell them you want to see an ENT. Ask them if you need a referral from your primary care Dr. Ask them which ENT near you is in their network.

Good idea but have you tried calling your insurance company lately?

doesn't matter, there's no possible way that *WE* can answer the question of whether or not he needs a referral for a specialist, or which ones would be covered by *HIS* insurance.

unless he fills out that hipaa waiver for you to give you authorization to handle all his needs. maybe a DPoA while he's at it.

[postitnote]

Enchanter- Actually, you should call your insurance company. Tell them you want to see an ENT. Ask them if you need a referral from your primary care Dr. Ask them which ENT near you is in their network.

Good idea but have you tried calling your insurance company lately?

doesn't matter, there's no possible way that *WE* can answer the question of whether or not he needs a referral for a specialist, or which ones would be covered by *HIS* insurance.

unless he fills out that hipaa waiver for you to give you authorization to handle all his needs. maybe a DPoA while he's at it.

My husband signed one (power of atty). He hates talking to doctors that much!

[Enchanter]

I have a question. Does wearing the CPAP get rid of sleep apnea? So lets say I wear the mask I just got for 3 days and then have to take another diagnostic test at the lab. Will wearing the CPAP for a few days get rid of sleep apnea at least to the point where it makes the real test say I no longer have it?

[postitnote]

I have a question. Does wearing the CPAP get rid of sleep apnea? So lets say I wear the mask I just got for 3 days and then have to take another diagnostic test at the lab. Will wearing the CPAP for a few days get rid of sleep apnea at least to the point where it makes the real test say I no longer have it?

No

[ems]

I have a question. Does wearing the CPAP get rid of sleep apnea? So lets say I wear the mask I just got for 3 days and then have to take another diagnostic test at the lab. Will wearing the CPAP for a few days get rid of sleep apnea at least to the point where it makes the real test say I no longer have it?

Nope! Doesn't work that way. For some people it takes months for any improvement. Some people a day. Most several weeks to months.

[chunkyfrog]

Some doctors may think it does/can.
I don't..
--but I am not a doctor.

[Enchanter]

I have a question. Does wearing the CPAP get rid of sleep apnea? So lets say I wear the mask I just got for 3 days and then have to take another diagnostic test at the lab. Will wearing the CPAP for a few days get rid of sleep apnea at least to the point where it makes the real test say I no longer have it?

!

Nope! Doesn't work that way. For some people it takes months for any improvement. Some people a day. Most several weeks to months.

But what I'm saying is this. Is it possible to wear the mask and then take it off for one night and not have sleep apnea according to the test? Because this is why I'm worried. What if I start wearing it and it causes the sleep apnea test to show up negative when I do the test. I could end up believing I never had it to being with.