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DottyG wrote:Ok, now I'm kinda teary. Y'all DO understand. I've found people who understand where I'm coming from.

Oh yes, I think that many of us understand exactly what you've experienced, because we've lived it ourselves to one degree or another -- dealing with the effects of sleep apnea, living as an overweight person in this society, less-than-helpful doctors.

I've probably had sleep apnea for at least 15 years, and it took a toll on my body and my mind. I lived many years as a thin person and I've also been morbidly obese. Overweight people are often treated differently -- with less respect. I've had a few exceptional physicians, but many more that were a waste of my time and money.

It's good to know that we're not alone in our struggles as we take action to improve our lives and our health.

Me, I like physicians.

They are the best and brightest. (Not all, of course, but as a group, yup.)

My primary suspected OSA from an odd collection of symptoms (I'm of normal weight, so the initial tell wasn't there). I politely told him that I slept just fine, however he wasn't into "I told you so" later, when I independently concluded that he was likely right, and maybe an apt w the pulmonologist was in order after all.

My pulmologist takes time to listen (as a courtesy, I'm very brief and I have a written summary for him), and was impressed and supportive when I showed with a brief collection of Encore graphs just how successful I've been at adjusting my own pressures.

Even my experiences with the much-vilified Apria have been nothing but first-rate.

I wish everyone had my docs and my experiences. Of course, having a sense of humor and a positive outlook helps.


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Captain_Midnight wrote:(as a courtesy, I'm very brief and I have a written summary for him

I go into every doctor's appointment with a typed list of 1) items that I'm wanting to discuss and 2) things that I feel he/she needs to be aware of (anything from a medication change since I was there last to a symptom that I've noticed with as much identifying detail as possible as far as dates, foods eaten or whatever might be related to the particular symptom to something that's changed in my environment). I do this with any doctor I see - eye, general, whatever. I've always done this. I keep the list as short as possible, I organize it, I put it into bullets so it's easy to read and consult, AND I give them a copy of it. So, I don't feel that this is my problem. In all honesty, I hold the doctors' hands as much as humanly possible and feel that I cannot possibly do anything more for them to make my visit any easier on them. Short of writing my own precriptions and doing my own surgery, I cannot make the doctor's job any easier. Which is part of the reason that they infuriate me. They have a patient here who is willing to do everything possible to assist them, and they're acting like imbeciles and jerks.

Of course, having a sense of humor and a positive outlook helps.

I hope this isn't implying that I don't have a sense of humor or positive outlook. Because at this stage of the game, having dealt with far more than I feel is my share of rude and incompetent doctors, both are wearing thin.

I'm glad you've had a great experience with doctors. But, maybe your experience is the exception rather than the rule?

I have been fortunate to mostly have had what have seemed to be exceptionally good doctors over the years, but there have been exceptions. Three years ago I stopped going to a doctor who lied to me and couldn't seem to get anything that he did for me right. The new doctor I replaced him with is great. He is a good listener. He appreciates the fact that I try to pre-educate myself about issues I want to discuss, because it makes communication in both directions more efficient and meaningful. I have no complaints about him whatsoever.

Good doctors are out there, at least in large metropolitan areas, but the situation could be more-bleak in small communities where the selection is limited.

AirBreather wrote:Good doctors are out there, at least in large metropolitan areas, but the situation could be more-bleak in small communities where the selection is limited.

The thing is, the sleep doctor in question is in a smaller community.

However, I live in a big city. One where I should be able to find a good doctor that will listen to me and help me with my health. While I initially started this thread to talk about the sleep doctor, I do need to expand it to doctors in general. Because I've had some horrible experiences with many different types of them. At the moment, I'm trying to find just a good general doctor to go to. And, again, someone who can see beyond weight and actually see me as a HUMAN that might want a good doctor. My weight is not the only thing about me. Believe it or not, I'm actually a real person. A real person who (gasp) has health issues that might not even be related to weight (imagine that, stupid doctors). Someone needs to educate them on the fact that overweight people are not the only ones who get sick. And, not all illnesses are due to weight.

The story about the gallstones and the shingles in the eye that I related in an earlier post took place in Houston. I worked in the Texas Medical Center at the time, so finding a good doctor really should not have been the struggle that it was.

So, it's not actually true that "big city doctors are better" - right now, my view of them (big city or small town) is pretty dim.

Captain_Midnight wrote:My pulmologist takes time to listen (as a courtesy, I'm very brief and I have a written summary for him), and was impressed and supportive when I showed with a brief collection of Encore graphs just how successful I've been at adjusting my own pressures.

Even my experiences with the much-vilified Apria have been nothing but first-rate.

I wish everyone had my docs and my experiences. Of course, having a sense of humor and a positive outlook helps.

Captain_Midnight, I wish that everyone had the same positive experience with their doctor and DME as you've had!!! It sounds like you have a wonderful medical team. That's certainly the way it should be.

It is my hope that someone in DottyG's area of Texas will be able to pass along the name of a sleep specialist who will treat her with respect and help her to get the best results from her therapy. She deserves good treatment.

Well, I really lucked out because I have a Sleep Dr who has OSA himself and changed his specialty as a neurologist from MS to sleep disorders. but it was just luck. While I imagine that a given percentage of Sleep Drs must have sleep disorders, I don't think they advertise it. Might be a good idea though (as long as their therapy was successful)

Dotty, perhaps you should start a new post labeled something like "Any good docs in Houston to recommend?" or whatever. Also, did you check out sleepguide provider search?

I'm no longer in Houston (blessedly). I'm in Austin now.

Checked out the Sleepguide link, but very few doctors came up. And, the couple that did aren't in my area of the city.

Dotty,

I could have written most of what you put in your initial couple of posts.

I can recommend a book -- you'll have to get it second hand because it's out of print. Staying Well With the Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense by Suzette Haden Elgin. Tells how to handle people like the one who accused you of being on drugs. With I'd had it years ago.

{Hugs}

DottyG wrote:I'm no longer in Houston (blessedly). I'm in Austin now.

Checked out the Sleepguide link, but very few doctors came up. And, the couple that did aren't in my area of the city.

OK, so I'll revise my original post to state: Perhaps you should start a new post labeled something like "Any good docs in Austin to recommend?"

I have had many great experiences seeing not doctors with the MD letters, but a nurse practicioner or physician's assistant. they take more time to listen, make more helpful suggestions and generally think more before they speak find a good PA or NP for your primary care and then they will be your advocate when dealing with the specialists.

Dotty, I am so sorry!! (((hugs))) I've been fortunate to run into a couple of outstanding family doctors. Both had the nerve to die on me. So I had to go thru the "doctor shopping" phase twice. The first time wasn't too bad. But that was back in the late 70s. This most recent time around was at a critical time for me heatlhwise and I ran into some real SHEISTERS. I'm not a fan of today's medical profession. And trufhtfully never have been a fan of the medical profession. Back in the 60s and even the 70s HEAVEN FORBID you should accidentally see what the nurse wrote down for your BP, temp and HR. For some assinine reason back then the medical profession in its infinite wisdom (snort) didn't think a patient should know those things!! And heavens! DON'T let them catch you looking at your medical chart!!!!

I have finally found a GOOD medical team again recently - EXCEPT for a sleep doctor.

When I read of doctor visits like you just had it makes me see R-E-D !!! Good luck and God bless.