Appt with Pulmanologist

WELL!!!!!

Believe it or not, I finally got through to the VA to request an appointment with a Pulmanologist. I explained to my Primary Care Physician I'd been downloading all this data and wanted a qualified person to look at it and make learned recommendations. We'll see what happens and I'll revive this thread as I find information.

Sleepy-eyes wrote:WELL!!!!!

Believe it or not, I finally got through to the VA to request an appointment with a Pulmanologist. I explained to my Primary Care Physician I'd been downloading all this data and wanted a qualified person to look at it and make learned recommendations. We'll see what happens and I'll revive this thread as I find information.

Hi Chris -
Hopefully, your pulmonologist is very familiar with sleep medicine. I can tell you (partially from first hand experience), that the study of the lungs and their function does not necessarily include expertise in sleep medicine.
Thus far, as I have visited with an ENT, a DDS, a Pulmonologist, two Neurologists, and a Psychiatrist!
Believe if or not, the Psychiatrist was easily the most familiar with the topic. He is the founder of a very highly regarded sleep lab on the west coast (hint: near Palo Alto).

When you think about it, your lungs aren't the reason you're not getting adequate oxygenation. (it's further north . . .'')

Anyway, bottom line is that the pulm guy may or may not have the expertise you are seeking. If it is apparent that it is missing, then request (demand?) a referral to someone who is an acknowledged expert in sleep medicine.
FWIW.
drB

Well..........................

You're not going to believe this.

I just got off the phone with my Primary Care Physician at the VA. She wanted to know what I wanted to talk with a Pulmanologist concerning. I explained I'd given up on getting answers from her, so I'd gotten hold of these programs to download the data from my card each day. I now have all this daily data I'd like to discuss with someone who understands sleep disorders so I could get a prescription for setting my machine based on my data. She said she'd been in touch with Pulmanology and they couldn't help. She suggested I go to the DME. Ha Ha! They won't talk with patients, but refer them back to the PCP. She then suggested the Prosthetics Department from where the order was initiated for my machine. Same thing there..............they refer back to the PCP. Now get a load of this one: She suggested I contact the manufacturer of the equipment. Oh brother!!!!!! I asked if there were any way I could be referred to the off-campus, independent contractor, who performed my sleep study. Surely they could read and analyze my data. She said she'd check into it, but highly doubted that would be possible.

Ahhhhhhh.....................the fun of working with the VA as your health provider!

And the saga continues....................................................................