Switched doctors

Bons · Post by **Bons** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:38 pm

I ditched the sleep doc who called me neurotic and controlling because I asked questions about my AHI. Met the new doctor yesterday, who couldn't do much because the old doc hadn't sent any records yet, but he seems to be okay. He needed to be educated about ordering masks on line, but I can work with him - he didn't believe me when I said he could write a mask for "full face mask" without specifying a manufacturer and model, so we compromised and I had him write in the Legend mask I want to try. At least he's trying to work with me - the doc I'm ditching would have refused to write one at all.

Anyhoo, I received a copy of my bipap titration study today that confirms my choice to travel 3 hours round trip instead of 30 minutes is the right one. During my last visit with the doc who did the study, he said I should go on klonopin because I was "obviously" having emotional issues with the pap (I use it on average of 8 hours a night - I worked with it, but it didn't work for me). So today I read the report of the overnight study and the #1 recommedation is "the patient should be advised to avoid alcohol, benzodiazepine, and benzodiazepine type medications, which could make the patient's disordered breathing worse". Standard warning, but glaring in light of the fact that the doctor was furious when I refused a prescription to take klonopin on a regular basis (will still take it before going to the dentist).

At least now I know why I'm on the ASV that he never told me he was switching me to. My obstructives stopped at 8cm H20, but centrals continued, as did snoring. REM latency was 172.5 minutesand I had an average of 32.4 arousals per hour during the titration, many related to PLMs. My lowest oxygen sat was 83% .

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:45 pm

Good for you switching doctors. I think when we are unhappy with a physician the only thing we can do is vote with our feet. When a physician starts to lose enough patients, he/she will get the message.

Unfortunately, too many people still worship their physician's like gods and don't question or take an active role in their care. That's why your first doctor gets away with his behavior so often that he thinks it's the right way to behave.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:53 pm

Re: Switched doctors

There've been a few that I sure wanted to take a switch to, but when I sent them to cut their own, they never came back.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:50 pm

Bons wrote:Met the new doctor yesterday, who couldn't do much because the old doc hadn't sent any records yet, ...

Which is why I request copies at each visit. Many docs now routinely provide them at each visit. I had one doc who sends it to the printer and the end of visit, then stamps it DRAFT. Not a sleep doc tho.
You can always appear at the ol' docs office to request copies, today.

I think HIPAA allows 30 days to comply with the request but it needs to be in writting which most people don't do until they have trouble.
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/

Bons wrote:he didn't believe me when I said he could write a mask for "full face mask" without specifying a manufacturer and model, so we compromised ...

Have him write two next time, that way you will have a spare script

jnk wrote:
Re: Switched doctors
There've been a few that I sure wanted to take a switch to, but when I sent them to cut their own, they never came back.

How cute are you

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:53 pm

GumbyCT wrote: How cute are you

I aspire to be a close second to GumbyCT, you paragon of wordplay you!

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:06 pm

jnk wrote:
Re: Switched doctors
There've been a few that I sure wanted to take a switch to, but when I sent them to cut their own, they never came back.

Bons, once you get your treatment working good for you, if you continue to have symptoms of poor sleep, keep those limb movements in the back of your mind. They may improve with treatment, but sometimes they don't, and may need to be addressed separately.

Hope your new doc turns out to be a big help to you.

snuginarug · Post by **snuginarug** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:56 am

Bons, I am so glad you switched... the previous doc sounded insane. Good for you for taking care of yourself!

elena88 · Post by **elena88** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:19 am

good for you for switching, there are some really great docs out there, you just have to sift thru the crappy ones..

I sure am glad I got rid of one this year, OMG, she should never have been allowed to be around breathing patients!

what a kook!

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:35 am

I ditched one doc because when I told her about my extremely painful dysmenorrhea, she told me to 'Deal with it."
Next doc found humongus fibroids. She wouldn't even check.

SleepingUgly · Post by **SleepingUgly** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:23 pm

You guys need to add these things to the "ridiculous things doctors etc have said" thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52312&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... es#p482773

elena88 · Post by **elena88** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:46 pm

Why are there more "mean and nasty" and uncaring doctors around now?

Is it because they didnt go to med school to heal people, but to make a ton of money?

I swear, it seems there are more nasty people who have become docs than there are in the regular population..

that "deal with it" comment didnt even surprise me.

I was one of those people who needed wild horses to drag me to the doctor, and all needed was a negative experience, and out the door
I went.. I wonder if they get that.. that someone just decided to let their guard down and trust them, and they screw it up, and that person
never wants to go back... and they might really need a doctor..

That being said, I have managed to cull out the creeps and found some sweet ones who really know their business..

SleepingUgly · Post by **SleepingUgly** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:25 am

I have had some great sleep docs. Unfortunately, either I move, or they move. The current state of affairs in medicine requires doctors to rush and not spend as much time with patients as they used to. But then there are some, who even in the limited time they spend, do much damage.

Bons · Post by **Bons** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:24 pm

jnk wrote:
Re: Switched doctors
There've been a few that I sure wanted to take a switch to, but when I sent them to cut their own, they never came back.

A switch like that would be good for the doc I'm dumping. I just realized from my report - my baseline AHI was 9.5 (30 supine but much less on my sides). He was telling me that I was being too anxious when I was upset that my AHI was still around 8 - heck, that was almost as bad as my UNTREATED average so OF COURSE it wasn't worth putting up with the hassles involved with the treatment.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:46 pm

jnk wrote:
Re: Switched doctors
There've been a few that I sure wanted to take a switch to, but when I sent them to cut their own, they never came back.

jnk was a Dominatrix in her previous life like before the doc came back with the switch.