Will be seeing a sleep doctor...

...what should I have prepared before I see him.

I have never seen a sleep doctor at this point....but the CPAP hasn't cured all my sleep issues, in fact I think it has revealed issues that I used to have before, or other issues that were being masked by it. And, it hasn't really cured the specific issues that led to sleep study in the first place (though they aren't as bad now, and probably if I wasn't aware of all the things I might not notice or care so much).

It has been a struggle talking to my primary about my concerns and issues, once he went online during the appointment to google some stuff I had said....but didn't google other stuff and got it wrong. I had originally intended to arm myself with information for him to read at my next appointment (which was this morning). But, I didn't do that.

Instead, I kind of decided that I would throw out to him that I wanted to see a sleep disorder specialist. I had looked at my insurance site to see if there were providers in my city...and there's only one and he doesn't take new patients. So, I wasn't sure how I would proceed on finding one on my own....

So, as the appointment was wrapping up and he was rushing out the door to give my orders to his nurse and disappear...I threw it out there. So, he said okay...added that I wanted a referral to see that one doctor. So, now I have an appointment to see him on July 15th.

The Dreamer.

At most sleep centers you can be self referred. Find a close one and call them. Every sleep center has a medical director or sleep doctor. Good Luck!

Insurances don't always keep their websites up to date. CALL your insurance company and ask them what sleep specialists they are contracted with. Also ask them what sleep labs/centers they are contracted with and what local DME CPAP providers they are contracted with.

Then actually interview your sleep lab/center options and ask if their sleep specialist(s) ever see and consult w/the patients. Personally I consider it a crock of horsepuckies that some of these prima donna sleep "specialists" don't ever bother to consult w/the patients. They are the ones who jumped into sleep medicine as a "cash cow" sub-speciality that doesn't take up any of their "precious" time consulting w/patients. On the other hand, a lot of them that DO consult w/the patients are a waste of time for the patient because they are darn near useless.

In your case where you are an experienced PAP user I'd make it clear right up front that you don't intend to go 1 month, 3 months or 6 months w/a problem. Data from one week at new therapy settings is plenty for the experienced. I just finally talked some turkey w/a sleep doctor and told him just that. That I would FAX him a week's data at this new therapy setting and that I expected he would respond W/IN A WEEK w/any therapy changes he saw as necessary if I said things weren't going well. I have NO INTENTION of suffering w/incorrect therapy settings longer than the above mentioned 2 weeks. I mean you have to use some diplomacy and tact (which I am not good at) but still two weeks is maximum for an experienced PAP user w/comfortable mask. If not enough improvement its time for a therapy change.

I would provide this sleep doctor w/copies of previous in-lab sleep evaluation PSGs and previous in-lab or at-home auto titrations results and I mean the full scored data summary reports w/condensed graphs not just doctor dictation results. If your PAP is fully data capable I would provide a full printout of the current week or two week download. I'd want to see just how closely he looks at them and WHAT he looks at on them. Write down any questions you have and take them w/you.

Good luck!!!