Post
by lovey » Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:48 pm
While I made progress today, I would like to scream a few choice words to my doctors. First, I went to the DME, across the state border in South Bend, IN. The respiratory therapist was great, and talked to me for over an hour. He said a pulse oximeter with an alarm wouldn't work, because I destaturated 40 times, so that would mean 40 alarms per night. He felt I needed oxygen through my full face mask until the sleep study was done. He gave me my 6 months supplies and he also checked the machine out and it worked fine. He spent a long time going over the oximetry reports, and concluded I was destating badly while sleeping, because my pulse would remain low. He looked at everything in that test, and was very interested. He also explained my options as far as apap, data capable machines, etc. in relation to my insurance and Medicaid.
Next, back over the state line to Michigan, and I stopped off at my family practice doctor to update him. Of course, he wasn't in. I wrote a note. The office was ignored me for minutes, and acted like I was a pain the whole time I was there. I wanted to scream at them that maybe some people around here have serious conditions that might need a doctor's attention, not their office staff knowledge. But I didn't. Heaven forbid, they would have to put another note on the doctor's desk.
I went next door to the bariatric surgeon's office. Good news--I lost 5 more lbs. Bad news, after telling the case manager, she was sure the bariatric surgeon and the anesthiologist would not want to do lap-band surgery with these oximetry results. They thought also I should have blood tests for such things as electrocytes. They are going to get back to me on that. They asked the sleep doctor to call them or send reports.
So, from there, I drive 130 miles up to Grand Rapids, MI to see the sleep doc's nurse practicioner. I told her about how I had been trying for a month to get their attention, but was always thwarted by medical assistants. She didn't apologize or anything. After looking at my oximetry test results, she decided to talk to the sleep doc. She was gone for less than 5 minutes. She came back and said that the doctor wanted me to know that he didn't take much stock in the overnight oximetry tests and he said that I should have a sleep study as soon as possible (I came all this way to hear that I need a sleep study...duh!). I told the nurse practitioner that it probably would be 3-4 weeks, and I was worried about destating until then, and that the respiratory therapist thought that I should have oxygen temporarily until them. The NP said "we don't want to get you on the road to being on oxygen yet". ???? I asked if I should change the pressures on the bipap and she said no, that I should do okay as they are. Then she took down the compliance data from my bipap, i.e. number of hours a day, etc. She listened to my chest and heart. Then she sent me off.
About 1/2 hour later, I am on the road back and my cell phone rings. It is the guy from the sleep lab in my town. There has been a cancellation for tonight, and was thinking he could put me in! We ended up though not doing it, because we are not sure if I need a pre-authorization with my insurance or Medicaid. We set up the sleep study for Nov. 10th.
From there, I drove an extra 20 miles out of my way to go to a Halloween party this evening. I won funniest costume for my scarecrow costume!!
I am glad the sleep center doc has "taken over", but his office should have done something a month ago when this all began. And I am not happy that I am just supposed to wait this out until the sleep study is done. Who knows how much damage is happening while doing so. I just want to scream!!!! Anyways, any helpful advice??? Thanks.
Highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity.Choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over popularity. Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.
