Was anyone else not allowed to talk to their sleep doctor?

[WCU80MT]

Not talking to the sleep doc? Really? That's just not right.

I was scheduled for my initial sleep study. After that was done, I saw him a little later - a week or so.

He spent 45 minutes with me (and my wife) going over the sleep study printouts, explaining what they all meant.

I scheduled my next sleep study (titration, I'm pretty sure). Saw him 5 days later and he went over all that- about 30-40 minutes of explanation.

Got my machine the same day - fitted and ready to go.

I'll see me at the end of June for my monthly follow up.

In this day and age, just ask for an appointment with the doc to discuss the results. Contrary to what someone else wrote, they do get paid for those office visits if you have insurance or even if you pay out of your own pocket....he gets his $$. For better or worse, they're businessmen first.

WCU80MT

[LSAT]

My PCP sent me to the sleep doctor to have him set up the sleep study...after the study and titration he discussed everything with me and wrote a prescription for the equipment. I have not been back since I started with CPAP (30 months), but if I have a question or problem I will go directly to the sleep doctor...not to my PCP.

[Lizistired]

My guess is that it has more to due with how much your insurance pays for what and who is affiliated with who.
MY PCP works for the hospital that owns the sleep clinic that he referred me to. I imagine the hospital could bill more for the evaluation and follow-up with a sleep doc than with my PCP.

[Judy in CA]

I feel really blessed after reading these posts.
My sleep study Dr. was wonderful on the first consult. Then there were 3 attempts at sleep studies so i could pass new SS CA standards. I usually talk to one of 2 tecq's who know their stuff. Since they haven't been able to solve my issues --poor fitting masks, too high pressure, etc, after giving it 100% try, the dr came in on his day off today to see my husband and I and is getting some solutions for me that only he can prescribe as the tecqs can't do it.
It's taking months to get my cpap needs met but not from lack of trying by both me and the provider. I wonder if it is different State to State or with SS standards and rules. Maybe I'm just plain lucky.
I have been very persistent so many that is part of it too

[DocWeezy]

I too feel blessed because I chose my sleep doc only because he was affiliated with the medical center/hospital where my last knee replacement was done. I'm sticking with that medical complex because customer service is at the top of their list and I see it every time I go to ANY doc or clinic there. It's Virginia Mason in Seattle.

I got an appointment with a sleep doc there who happened to be on my insurance co's preferred list. Saw him, saw the RT for an intro to CPAP (and to play with a machine and mask), had a sleep study done the next night. Saw the doc later that morning to go over the results. Scheduled a titration study for that night. Saw the doc again the next morning. Got fitted for my first (but not last!) mask. They only provide top of the line data capable machines and I got to choose whether I wanted a ResMed or Respironics auto.

Started to learn about stuff here and doing my own titration. I had slept so little at the titration study that the doc admitted he had no idea what pressure I really needed to he prescribed an auto to be set at 4 to 10 (I think--it wasn't wide open but I don't really remember to top number now). He wanted me back in a week. In that time I had discovered this place, got the software, and started tweaking...we talked about other sleep issues, panic attacks, etc. and started working on them. He also gave me his email address and said to either email or call if I had any questions.

Went back a week after that to check in re pressure and chat about the other issues. Went back a month after that to do the same. And the following month. By then, I had started to really iron out the problems and was doing pretty well. Now I just contact the great RTs when I need a mask or parts or whatever and they get right back to me. I made a brief mistake of trying to use Apria because they SAID they could get Hybrid mask parts (the hospital had quit carrying them), but it was a joke and I will never deal with them again. The DME through the hospital is fabulous and they work with my ins. company. I found my "forever" mask the last time I was in and they were having me try on masks at pressure lying down in a recliner (of course by that time there weren't many masks left that I hadn't already tried!).

Those folks are great and I can't say enough good about them!

Weezy

[StevenXXXX]

I am wondering if those of you who had another Doctor order the Sleep Study which had to be done by a different "Sleep" Doctor are not able to see that Sleep Doctor because your Doctor is afraid that you will cut him out as the middleman?

At my one & only Sleep Study 12+ years ago, "I" made my own appointment with a Sleep Doctor associated with a Sleep Lab IN a local hospital.
I saw that Sleep Doctor BEFORE the Sleep Study was even scheduled. I again met with the Sleep Doctor before I left the Sleep Lab after the 2nd night of a 2 night study & went over the results with him then. I also reqquested & got a copy of my results then.

A DME not associated with the Sleep Lab was already at the Sleep Lab with CPAPs & a variety of masks for the 3 or 4 of us who were prescribed CPAPs.

I never knew it was done any other way.

[jonnybee]

Sleep doctor??? What's a sleep doctor? Never saw one and the DME is clueless. Thank goodness for this forum.

[cflame1]

my original sleep study.... my PCP set it up, it was "read" by somebody that I never met only, paid for. The reason that I say "read" is that I think that the tech did it all... he just rubber stamped it. He's out of state. No help from him, and the PCP admitted that she didn't have any idea about anything to do with OSA (and didn't want to learn). Come to find out later... she had her own test done... and has OSA.

So... fired the PCP... and found a sleep doc. Now my PCP's a PA (never met the doc she work's under). And my sleep doc's awesome! I didn't have to have a referral to get into him.

[tripledee138]

I talked to my PCP about sleep apnea..but never did anything about it. When the heartburn and the tiredness got to be too much, I did a search for local sleep docs, read the reviews and made the appointment directly.

I guess I could be considered fortunate because my insurance does NOT require me to get a referral for anything! I can see whoever, whenever, wherever. Of course, if the office accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, even better, but I can even see someone out of network and get some coverage.

I've seen my sleep doc twice - once in the initial consult to set up the sleep study; he seemed genuinely concerned for my health and took time to answer my questions. My last visit, he was happy that I was using the CPAP machine and not having many issues; he even said that I sounded different (apparently the years of apnea were destroying my airway, affecting my vocal quality..now that my apnea is being treat, my airway can heal..woo!).

I will admit, it does seem a little rushed..but it's not like going to your PCP for a physical. And you're usually not 'sick' in illness sense. Most of time, it seems like it's a Q&A session:

How ya feelin?
How's the treatment?
Anything to help make the treatment better?
Any other questions/concerns?

Maybe I'm just a luckier one?

[agadoresmama]

I wouldn't know my sleep doc if he hit me on the head with a bat...never saw him, talked to him...didn't even know he existed...thought the people who actually performed the study told the chick who fitted me with too much pressure and a full face mask(I am asthmatic and claustophobic) was all there was.

Only saw the chick at the sleep center one time afterward when I said I would not wear the mask at 20...they could keep the machine if that was my only option. She lowered the pressure to 16.....not much better.

Then I dealt with a DME whose only goal was SELL SELL SELL.......

Finally I found this haven of good souls who have helped me more than anyone else.....I am now at a CPAP setting of 8 and I sleep thru the night....I DREAM....and I wake up refreshed........

Now I just need to figure out how to get my laptop to read my smartcard......I KNOW it's working cause I feel so much better....butI'd LOVE to see the results....

[avi123]

Yes, I was not allowed to speak to my sleep MD after my sleep study was done. My Internist MD that works at the same group and who sent me to the sleep study clinic which is managed by his collegue the pneumologist and sleep MD, told me that he'll handle my question about sleep problems.

It took me a few weeks to guess the reason which happened to be MONEY. So I made a separate appointment with the sleep MD and paid the fees of $120 of which I got back about $100 from Medicare reimbursement. This sleep Doc explained to me the results of my sleep test and also set a next appointment with him. All these docs are NON Medicare providers. Apparently that's why they happened to be CONSULTANTS (and good ones!).

[DougVK]

Yes, I was not allowed to speak to my sleep MD after my sleep study was done. My Internist MD that works at the same group and who sent me to the sleep study clinic which is managed by his collegue the pneumologist and sleep MD, told me that he'll handle my question about sleep problems.

It took me a few weeks to guess the reason which happened to be MONEY. So I made a separate appointment with the sleep MD and paid the fees of $120 of which I got back about $100 from Medicare reimbursement. This sleep Doc explained to me the results of my sleep test and also set a next appointment with him. All these docs are NON Medicare providers. Apparently that's why they happened to be CONSULTANTS (and good ones!).

If I wanted to see the sleep doctor without the PCP permission I would have to pay over $200 out of pocket since the insurance won't cover it. Did they give you a discounted medicare allowed rate or was 120 the rate for people without insurance? I would have to pay the full rate for uninsured people since it isn't covered as part of my insurance.