Sleep studies - as the fog begins to clear

Went to see Dr. Franco today. She is the pulmonologist in charge of the new Pulmonology Sleep Lab, and let me say that I was impressed.

She has me set up for a sleep study in September - using the new CO2 monitoring device AND.... (are you ready for this?).... using my OWN BiPAP machine!!!! Since their machines are not sensitive enough to have settings like mine, she said it would make sense to make me as comfortable as possible to see what happens when I am actually asleep! But the first part of the test will be done without the machine, just with the CO2 monitor.

Because we were so close to the date for my surgery (July 11), there was no time to squeeze in the sleep study beforehand (the earliest date they could give me was July 20), so she said she wanted to wait until I was completely healed, at least six weeks after the surgery. So we wait.

She had some interesting ideas I hadn't heard before. She said that polio has it's own unique variety of narcolepsy in the damage to the brain centers that controll our ability to stay awake or to stay asleep. She also asked me about trying Provigil and I relayed what I had learned here and what Dr. Bruno had said about it. She said that Provigil is about the mildest of any of the drugs that help people to stay awake and so far seems to have the least adverse side effects, although not all of the paperwork has yet been submitted or published.

She reiterated what Dr. Woodson had told me about being partly responsible for their acquisition of this CO2 monitor, myself and another patient of hers with much weaker breathing muscles due to a different disorder.

She was glad that I had brought along my sleep study records because her copies were incomplete (she had nothing about my first sleep study without the machine.) I gave her copies of some of our articles which she said she would add to her portfolio on polio.

When we talked about the muffed blood gasses study, she explained that CO2 levels change quite slowly and that they take as much as half an hour to change significantly after we wake up. I added that that would be after waking up from a sound sleep - which I had not reached in one hour. I once more explained that the theory is that when we sleep, we are not getting rid of enough CO2. When it builds to a certain level, we are roused just enough to shift position, encouraging the body to breathe more deeply and get rid of some of the CO2. This arousal is not enough that we are even aware of it, but it does prevent us from reaching a deeper level of sleep. She agreed that this was a theory worth looking into and ordered a new sleep study.

Then she asked about my upcoming surgery and wrote some directives that I am to pass on to my surgeon. She is also well acquainted with my other pulmonologist and suggested I find out whether he is connected with the hospital where I will be and might come over to check up on my progress and treatment!

Unfortunately, the closest follow-up appointment I could get with her after the next sleep study is in late October ... but she said I could call her if anything significant turned up in the mean time.

We shall see what comes of all of this. She seemed very sincere about wanting to learn and wanting to see about possibly improving my treatment (changing settings on my BiPAP).

- JB

[ Spellchecker has me in stitches again. It just told me to replace the word "Pulmonology" with "Paleontology"!!]

This is the posting that preceeded the preceeding post.

Fasten your seatbelts.

The Sleep Lab does not have the CO2 monitor. The Pulmonary Sleep Lab has it.

I found out that my last "sleep study" (ordered by Dr. Woodson) was done under the auspices of the Pulmonary Sleep Lab and a Dr. Franco.

This Dr. Franco, whom I have never met, spoken with, or very much heard of, was noted on Dr. Woodson's notes from the last time we spoke as the person with whom I would be following up on the ABG study. (He and Dr. Webb told me to contact them. I have no contact information for a Dr. Franco. I never heard of Dr. Franco until I went in for the study.)

Dr. Webb is no longer in Milwaukee. He was doing a sabbatical and has now left. The reason He said to call him on Friday was that it was his last day. Friday I was in surgery. <GRR> He didn't tell me that he was leaving. <<GRRRR>>

Dr. Woodson's nurse made some phone calls and got me an appointment to see Dr. Franco for tomorrow after I see Kacz for the casting for a new brace (at RDA/Hanger).

Any questions?

(Who's on First, btw.)

So it seems that Dr. Woodson, an Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist), is in charge of the sleep lab that is concerned with sleep disorders. Dr. Franco (a Pulmonologist?) is in charge of the new sleep lab that is concerned with pulmonary function. Why they need two separate sleep labs is beyond me. They are right down the hall from each other. Maybe they will be using the same sleeping rooms and monitoring equipment?

- JB

That's great, JB, I'm glad to read that things are looking good for you getting good treatment. I hope it continues! I bet it will. Good job being informed and proactive!