Barriers to diagnosis

[rogerthat]

I am having some trouble convincing a good friend of mine at work to have a sleep study - he sleeps frequently at work and snores each time. Just wanted to reach out and get some information that I may be able to use to empathize with him - with the goal of eventually convincing him to undergo the study.

What barriers to diagnosis did you experience? Afraid of cost? Afraid of CPAP? Physician unavailable/scheduling? Afraid that the treatment wouldn't work for you?
Would knowing if other therapies worked before committing to a CPAP be useful?

[grayghost4]

All of the above

[Julie]

What has already been explained to him - the real risks of stroke, MI, diabetes, crashes that kill others, loss of employment, just plain misery because of being half asleep all day and missing half your life?

It would help to know some of that...

Plus the usual business of some people (trying hard not to genderfy this one ) just not liking to see their doctor, being half asleep on top of being hard headed is a challenge.

And so few other therapies have been shown to work, let alone consistently for indefinite times, that they're almost not worth mentioning... what is worth it would be to point out how disappointed others are to have discovered that.

[jnk...]

Often all we can do is to tell our own experience to those around us. Hopefully their later application of it to themselves will feel like their idea.

I make it a point to tell my story to everyone I meet from the medical fields in particular--nurses, doctors, techs, therapists, dentists, chiropractors, witch-doctors, magic-bean sellers, etc. If all they hear are the complaints of those who don't like CPAP, they will hesitate to offer it to patients or to talk about it. They need to hear our success stories.

Tell people how wonderful your life is with CPAP and they may be motivated to speak to their docs about it.

[rogerthat]

This is definitely helpful - why did you decide to get tested? Did someone encourage you?

[Sir NoddinOff]

None of the above. I'd have to say that everything was easy regarding my diagnosis and acceptance (by myself and my loved ones... who gives a flying you-know-what about co-workers or employers unless you've got DOT issues ). Implementation of my therapy is another long story for another day.

[chunkyfrog]

My experience with APAP has been so positive, I catch myself proselytizing to complete strangers,
sometimes until they exhibit signs of preparing for flight.

[palerider]

My experience with APAP has been so positive, I catch myself proselytizing to complete strangers,
sometimes until they exhibit signs of preparing for flight.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"er, hello?"

"down here... Sir, do you have a few moments to talk about CPAP therapy for CPAP?"

"OMG! A TALKING FROG!"

[kteague]

There is someone on here (Bill?) who frequently links to a video that explains sleep apnea. I know in my years before diagnosis and treatment, lack of knowledge allowed me to remain in oblivion and not more aggressively pursue diagnosis and treatment. I had no idea how serious its effects would end up being on my health and well being. It depends on the person how much you can say to them. I think the section at the top of this forum with success stories is a powerful motivator. I have been humbled in recent times to be forced to accept there is nothing I can say or do to convince a particular friend to get tested. I'm watching him struggle and fall apart in so many ways, but he has made it clear he doesn't want to hear any more about it. I have no doubt one day we will be having this discussion once he bottoms out. But there's little we can do when one has decided they will not hear you. Hopefully you can keep the lines of communications open with your coworker. If you push too hard the door might close.

[Guest]

...why did you decide to get tested? Did someone encourage you?

Yes my doctor. But the reason I went thru with it is I wanted to live long enuff to get a retirement check

[PlinkerCraig]

People kept telling me for the past 5 years that I had a problem and I knew I had sleep apnea. But I have always been a hyperchondriac (opposite of a hypochondriac). I call it the Little League syndrome - meaning you get hit by a line drive baseball off of the bat and coach says "shake it off". I've been shaking it off since I was the little tough man age of ten.

Motivation for me to get off the dime and see a sleep doctor was my wife threatening no end of punishment and abuse.

I suggest asking him for a referral to his general practitioner. Then dial the number and hand the phone to him and press him to get moving with a referral. That approach would have worked for me years ago if a pushy friend had helped me before my wife finally put the hammer down.

[Wulfman...]

I am having some trouble convincing a good friend of mine at work to have a sleep study - he sleeps frequently at work and snores each time. Just wanted to reach out and get some information that I may be able to use to empathize with him - with the goal of eventually convincing him to undergo the study.

What barriers to diagnosis did you experience? Afraid of cost? Afraid of CPAP? Physician unavailable/scheduling? Afraid that the treatment wouldn't work for you?
Would knowing if other therapies worked before committing to a CPAP be useful?

If he values his job, that should be a very strong motivator.......to keep it.

No "barriers" here. Went to see my GP about why I was so sleepy all the time and he recommended a sleep study. Sure enough, I had OSA ("severe" with an AHI of about 45). I was so damned glad to hear what it was and the treatment/therapy was going to be pretty easy. That was nine years ago in May and I haven't regretted anything........unless it would have been to get it checked a couple of years sooner.

OSA can lead to other health issues.....Diabetes being one of the major ones that affect many who have OSA. Heart attacks, strokes, and other things can also have a major impact.


Den

.

[mcpascalns]

[quote="Julie"]...crashes that kill others, loss of employment, just plain misery because of being half asleep all day...

Julie,

I can speak from a true personal experience. I get asleep while driving on three different occasions. I am so lucky to be alive. I would have died really in a horrible auto accident. This was before a diagnosis of sleep apnea. Thanks god, Iam now using a bipap machine and no longer falling asleep.

mcpascaln

[TyroneShoes]

Once I realized what I had been doing to myself "somewhat" unknowingly, the way I motivated myself was by telling myself:

"This could mean the difference between me making it to 70 and me making it to 90".

[DrDavidMichalak]

I have a dual perspective: I am a physician who see's hundreds of sleep patients per year, and most have some degree of OSA. I also have sleep apnea myself and use CPAP. Many of my patients come to my office at the behest of their wives. Some come because they are mandated due to their employment. Many come because their doctor told them that they should. And a few come because they recognize that they have a problem. Many people with sleep apnea want to minimize the problem, because they are afraid that they will end up using CPAP, not realizing the benefit. Some people do not understand how advanced this treatment has become; and, I believe they think of this treatment as being minimally less barbaric than tracheostomy.

I would say that a sleep test is the easiest test that they will ever take, and that it does not obligate any treatment; and, knowledge is power- to make informed decisions, even bad ones. Without this information they are giving up control of their health to "hope". A roll of the dice. Too expensive? Find an IDTF instead of a hospital, or discuss the merits of split-night studies. Perhaps a home based apnea screen, although limited, would pave the way to the realization that there is a problem, which is a major barrier with some. Lastly, I have known people with severe apnea that I can't drag into completing any type of test despite my best efforts. You've got to sometimes know what you can change, yet accept what you can't. But, keep trying.

Dr. David Michalak
Sleep diagnostics of Texas