1st follow up with sleep doctor - disappointing

[lmmo]

I just want to share an interesting observation. We just had a patient come in for a psg (sleep study) with his own auto pap. It was very interesting, because I got to observe how the auto pap worked during the study. However, his ahi was still 10 at the end of the study, concluding that the auto pap was not effective in eliminating the apnes and hypopneas. I think it is an interesting concept but still needs perfecting.

[CollegeGirl]

lmmo - let me guess, his apap was set "wide open" from 4-20. APAPs have to be set up knowledgeably in order to work correctly.

[GuyK]

I feel kind of neither here nor there --

My somnodoc did prescribe a fully data-capable machine (the AutoSet II) and the DME did send me a card on which to download the data, after thirty days. I saw my somnodoc for a followup after 90 days, where he described the data he'd seen from the 30-day report. I luckily had more more recent data (because I found this forum ) so we could talk about that. It was a productive visit, because we could talk about leak rates and he saw the need for me to try a new mask.

On the other hand, he really seemed to just be concerned about whether or not I felt better. "Yes, sort of...", but he only heard the "yes". He pointed to a printout I had from a forum, and labeled it as "B.S.". I responded "how else am I supposed to learn?". It's not like he has the ability to educate in the 3 minutes and 17 seconds that I spent with him.

So, all that is kind of neither here nor there. But he doesn't seem to care. The next followup is in a year. I'm thinking I may be visiting another sleep doctor before then. In a couple of weeks, I have a followup with an ENT surgeon and I'm planning on asking him if he knows other somnodocs.

If doctors are just concerned with milking a cash cow, then it makes sense for us as consumers to keep looking for one that knows how to provide reasonable customer service. It might be covered by medical insurance, but we pay for it. That's a refrain I keep coming back to with my providers -- they seem to be unconcerned they are in a true customer service profession, and are still operating in an old school environment with an "I'll decide what's important to tell you" attitude.

Guy

[UsedSlinky]

I don't think anyone here really believes that a fully data capable APAP can do a better job of detecting SLEEP PROBLEMS than a full in-lab PSG - BUT - we sure get BETTER and MORE information from the fully data capable xPAPs that we can from most sleep doctors and local DME supplier's RTs - and probably a lot more truthful than from some of the "professionals" as well. A sad commentary on today's sleep profession.

[LinkC]

"No, we're in Florida..."

It hit 82 yesterday up here in Fernandina. Howdy neighbor!