Questions I should ask at 2 week follow up?

I've been trying to think of questions I have for the doc when I go today at 2 pm (cst) for my follow up, but so far all I can think of is to ask just how willing is he to be frank with me and work WITH me for my care.

And for a continued copy of all medical records/testing/prescriptions, etc. This is something I've done since I was in my early twenties - as I've moved A LOT and want the next doc to be fully informed.

Are there any questions that I should ask that I don't know to ask at this point?

Thanks!

quietmorning wrote: all I can think of is to ask just how willing is he to be frank with me and work WITH me for my care.

And for a continued copy of all medical records/testing/prescriptions, etc. This is something I've done since I was in my early twenties - as I've moved A LOT and want the next doc to be fully informed.

Those are two very good questions to ask.

As for others, start by asking yourself these questions, and there answers should prompt questions you need to ask the doc:

1) Do you have a copy of the sleep study report and condensed graphs? If so, do you understand the data? Are you still confused or concerned about what the data indicate about your condition? Is your OSA worse in some postions? Is it worse in REM? (Both are commonly true, but worth knowing.) Any concern over limb movements? What was the lowest the O2 saturation levels got to during the night? Are O2 desats or arousals or both major concerns?

2) Specifically request the doctor's office printout ALL the detailed data from EncorePro and not just the compliance data from your SD card. And ask the doctor whether he is happy with the data from the machine in terms of AHI, leak rate, and pressure range(s). If you see things in the data that you are concerned about (such as clusters of events), ask about them. If you have EncoreViewer yourself, consider printing out the Daily Data reports for the last seven days (the default) and bringing them with you. If you have particular concerns about your Daily Data reports, you could even bring the two full weeks worth of Daily Detailed Reports with you, but you won't have time to go over every one of them.

3) Think carefully about How are you feeling? because you will be asked this question. Be sure to think about how you feel when you first wake up for the morning as well as how you are feeling during the day. If you are NOT yet feeling any better, try to be specific in figuring out how you are not feeling any better. (For example: Trouble getting to sleep? Which leads to feeling like you didn't get enough rest? Which leads to being sleepy during the day?)

4) List all the problems or issues that have arisen so far in trying to get used to CPAP. Be as detailed as you can in describing the problems that you have NOT yet solved to your satisfaction. And then be sure to ask about those issues in particular. (For example: The FFM I'm using seems to be very difficult to seal properly and I'm getting a lot of leaks around my eyes and that bothers them. I know I'm a mouth breather, but the eyes are getting so dried out that I'm very worried about them. Any suggestions on whether I'd be better off trying a different mask style and trying a chin strap or taping my mouth? Or is there something else I could try?)

I would also get a feel on how much your doctor knows about sleep apnea in general. I don't know if you are going to see your primary care doctor or a sleep apnea doctor. I don't have a sleep apnea doctor and my primary doctor knows very little. Beware getting this knowledge without insulting him can be tricky. My last visit with my primary doctor, I was "coaching" him on not prescribing a machine (S8 Escape) that does not give data, and he became very frustrated. He finally said, "Ok, what do you want me to put on the prescription and what do I tell the insurance company?" I quickly told him, but now that I ponder the conversation, it appears that he was about to wack me on the side of my head. If your doctor doesn't know much about sleep apnea, it is difficult to have a medical conversation with him.

Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote:I would also get a feel on how much your doctor knows about sleep apnea in general. I don't know if you are going to see your primary care doctor or a sleep apnea doctor. I don't have a sleep apnea doctor and my primary doctor knows very little. Beware getting this knowledge without insulting him can be tricky. My last visit with my primary doctor, I was "coaching" him on not prescribing a machine (S8 Escape) that does not give data, and he became very frustrated. He finally said, "Ok, what do you want me to put on the prescription and what do I tell the insurance company?" I quickly told him, but now that I ponder the conversation, it appears that he was about to wack me on the side of my head. If your doctor doesn't know much about sleep apnea, it is difficult to have a medical conversation with him.

Sheriff

I'm very lucky. . .my doc / practice is the same as those that do the The Sleep Doctor Radio Show (http://sleepdoctorradio.com/radio-show. They are very knowledgeable. . .somewhat experimental (they do quite a bit of research) . . .so for me, it's a matter of what are their motives for treating me well. . . and if I am not a significant pay off for that motive, is my care going to reduce? Do I have a Doc House or do I have Marcus Welby? **laughing**

Thank you, Robysue! I'm going through these right now and writing them down.

robysue wrote:

quietmorning wrote: all I can think of is to ask just how willing is he to be frank with me and work WITH me for my care.

And for a continued copy of all medical records/testing/prescriptions, etc. This is something I've done since I was in my early twenties - as I've moved A LOT and want the next doc to be fully informed.

Those are two very good questions to ask.

As for others, start by asking yourself these questions, and there answers should prompt questions you need to ask the doc:

1) Do you have a copy of the sleep study report and condensed graphs? If so, do you understand the data? Are you still confused or concerned about what the data indicate about your condition? Is your OSA worse in some postions? Is it worse in REM? (Both are commonly true, but worth knowing.) Any concern over limb movements? What was the lowest the O2 saturation levels got to during the night? Are O2 desats or arousals or both major concerns?

2) Specifically request the doctor's office printout ALL the detailed data from EncorePro and not just the compliance data from your SD card. And ask the doctor whether he is happy with the data from the machine in terms of AHI, leak rate, and pressure range(s). If you see things in the data that you are concerned about (such as clusters of events), ask about them. If you have EncoreViewer yourself, consider printing out the Daily Data reports for the last seven days (the default) and bringing them with you. If you have particular concerns about your Daily Data reports, you could even bring the two full weeks worth of Daily Detailed Reports with you, but you won't have time to go over every one of them.

3) Think carefully about How are you feeling? because you will be asked this question. Be sure to think about how you feel when you first wake up for the morning as well as how you are feeling during the day. If you are NOT yet feeling any better, try to be specific in figuring out how you are not feeling any better. (For example: Trouble getting to sleep? Which leads to feeling like you didn't get enough rest? Which leads to being sleepy during the day?)

4) List all the problems or issues that have arisen so far in trying to get used to CPAP. Be as detailed as you can in describing the problems that you have NOT yet solved to your satisfaction. And then be sure to ask about those issues in particular. (For example: The FFM I'm using seems to be very difficult to seal properly and I'm getting a lot of leaks around my eyes and that bothers them. I know I'm a mouth breather, but the eyes are getting so dried out that I'm very worried about them. Any suggestions on whether I'd be better off trying a different mask style and trying a chin strap or taping my mouth? Or is there something else I could try?)