Is My Sleep Doctor Napping?

[brucifer]

Since I started my CPAP therapy over a month ago, I have not heard a peep from my sleep doctor. I received her bill for reading my polysomnogram, but that's been it. Neither my sleep doctor nor anyone from her office has called me since I received my CPAP machine. I know she is expecting a follow-up visit from me although an appointment has yet to be scheduled. Is this sort of lack of follow-up normal for the profession, or is my sleep doctor napping on the job? What is your experience your own sleep doctor?

[chunkyfrog]

Unfortunately, often SOP.
I didn't see the doc who read my PSG until nearly a year later.
Hopefully, more complicated cases may receive more attention.

[DoriC]

I would think it's up to you to call and set up a followup appt. I'm sure she has many patients and can't keep tabs on all of them without some input from the patient.

[Roxy]

I had my appointment today to go over the sleep study results. I am getting the machine tomorrow. Before I left, the office scheduled a three week follow up appointment

[JohnO]

What is your experience your own sleep doctor?

My sleep doc (and clinic) have a pretty close relationship with their chosen sleep study center. At the sleep center on the morning after your study, one of the pieces of paper they give you says, "What's Next?" On it, they suggest you schedule a follow-up with your sleep doc about a week after the study to have your report results discussed. It turns out that I could have waited a month, since I need to have 30 days of data before I start down another journey (with the FAA...)

I had the review, where I was "officially" diagnosed with severe OSA (after having my machine since the sleep study). When I go back after 30 days my sleep doc said we'd pull the card and do a deep dive on the results together!

[greatunclebill]

it's really no different than any other illness or treatment. over the years, not one of my doctors has ever called me to see how i was doing. their job is to treat you and send you home. your job is to make follow-up appointments and notify the doctor that his treatment plan isn't working as expected. if they don't hear from you they assume treatment is working.

[kaiasgram]

Love the title of your post, Bruce! I'm quite certain I'll never hear from my sleep doctor again unless I contact her. That's probably true for most of us in high volume medical settings. I'm willing to be responsible for making follow-up appointments but my HMO never even gave me info about how to do that, or how often. Methinks you'd better make the call if you want the appointment.

[snuginarug]

Compliance data is important. Every machine records how many hours you spend with the machine on every night. I think the usual requirement is averaging 4 hours per night for 30 days. ... 120+ hours at the end of 30 days. This is used to determine if you are actually using the thing or if you tried it once and stuck in the closet to collect dust. Minimum compliance rates are a pretty standard prerequisite for most insurance companies to cover the cpap machine.

It is usual to see your sleep doc after a certain period of time from the initial visit so that the doctor can record your compliance rate for the insurance company. Since you may need this data to continue having your machine covered, it's important to be proactive and make sure that you get the appointment at the right time.

This period of waiting is good for the patient to get a sense of what's working right and what is causing problems. My doctor scheduled a follow-up keeping my insurance requirements in mind and asked me how I was doing when I kept that appointment.

If you do not have a follow-up scheduled, get one now.

There, I hope that wasn't too confusing.

[brucifer]

I would think it's up to you to call and set up a followup appt. I'm sure she has many patients and can't keep tabs on all of them without some input from the patient.

When my sleep doctor called last month to discuss my polysomnogram results, she told me that she would schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss my results in detail, so here I wait. I'm fine calling and scheduling doctor appointments. I do it all the time. but I feel the ball is in my sleep doctor's court right now. After running a business for many years, I'm very customer oriented, but I expect reasonable service as well, expecially if I am paying a premium for it. I also deal with a lot of doctors every year. However, my relationship with my pulmonologist just doesn't seem to be what it should be. That's why I am asking here if what I am experiencing is the norm.

What I had in mind to do was just drop my pulmonologist and handle my OSA through my PCP. I can probably tweak my S9 settings on my own. Compliance isn't an issue with my insurance company, and even if it were, I'm sure my PCP could handle that. I have a great relationship with him, and we trust, understand, and respect each other. That being said, I don't want to jump the gun and cut my pulmonologist loose if I should really stay. I was considering even going to Emory Hospital and maybe working with one of the sleep disorder specialists there if necessary. Thus, I'm trying to get input from other CPAPers, so that I can make an informed decision.

[brucifer]

I appreciate all the excellent responses. You guys are a big help! Thanks!

[nanwilson]

I haven't seen or heard from the doctor or the dme since I bought and paid for my machine ...and its been 2 1/2 years.
My family doc doesn't know much about sleep apnea...so....my sleep help has come from all of the great patients here on the forum The dme knows that my insurance doesn't pay for osa gear and that I am a retired senior......so..they assume that I can't pay for the supplies and masks that I need. Needless to say, I have all the supplies I need and have 4 or 5 masks in my stash, plus a second machine...oops..that assumption the dme made has lost them a few $$$$$$$

[greatunclebill]

What I had in mind to do was just drop my pulmonologist and handle my OSA through my PCP.

that could be a good idea if straight sleep apnea is your only contact with the pulmonologist - and - your pcp will say he is knowledgeable enough to go it alone with your sleep apnea and take full responsibility for your care. but, there's always a but, if you have or suspect other lung issues it is imperative that you have a good pulmonologist on board following you regularly. if you don't feel comfortable with the care you're getting from the current pulmonologist and feel a need to have one, find another. sometimes if you're very happy with the medical care you can overlook some of the admin deficiencies.

[SnoreElyria]

Wow I do not even know who my sleep doc is .... The only person I have had contact with so far is my PCP. She set up the test and then informed me that I have OSA and is sending me tonight for my titration sleep study. Wonder if I will actually ever meet the person actually doing the DX

[brucifer]

Nan - I also find the information on this forum much more timely and helpful than from my doctors or DME supplier. Sounds like you have a VERY nice relationship with your DME supplier!

GreatUnn & SnoreE - Other than OSA, I have no lung issues and am a non-smoker, so I really don't need my pulmonologist. She is in the same practice as my PCP, so that is why he referred me to her. I've had enough though, so I have decided to drop her. If I need pulmonary care in the future, I'll just make the one-hour drive to Atlanta and go to Emory.

A BIG ThAnK YoU! to everyone who responded!

[chunkyfrog]

I've had to call my PCP a couple extra times, as they had forgotten about me.