Educating the doctors!

Well, there is at least one ENT doctor in town who is well-versed on CPAP now...my hubby!

He was just telling me about a patient who came in and was not tolerating her CPAP very well. The mask was so uncomfortable, she said. So he said back....have you tried the Activa? The Swift? The Aura? Nooo, she said. Her DME had only given her one mask to try and it hurt and it leaked and...he told her, you go back and demand to see other masks and if that doesn't work, you change DME's! And have you tried online??? lol, lol

And he was talking to some pulmonary docs today...two of them certified sleep doctors. And they had no idea about the different CPAP, APAP, software capabilities, etc., etc. And no idea how many different masks are out there. They knew NOTHING about the hands-on side of things. Hubby said they were just listening to him in amazement when he told them about CPAP.com and the other message forums available on the internet (all the stuff HE learned from ME, lol).

So, geez, I've been wondering why I don't even HAVE a sleep doctor---turns out that all he knows about the stuff is what he wrote on my sleep study. And I already have a copy of that, no need to see him in person. He couldn't answer my questions anyway.

But I just bet there are a few docs out there getting on the internet tonite and exploring after the conversation they had today, lol. And I think they understand a bit more why some of their patients have a hard time being compliant with treatment when their only introduction to CPAP is a fifteen minute meeting at their local DME and no ongoing support.

I'm sure glad this forum exists!

Jan in Colo.

Ahhh, the power of the internet. I agree that the sleep docs know how to get you there, but have no idea what is out there to keep you there, other that what the reps try and market to them. Since I have found this site and have been talking to co-workers, friends, and family, I have discovered that there are a LOT of people that have sleep apnea and for some reason it is a taboo subject for women. I guess that it interferes with their femininity, whicih is kind of how I felt in the beginning. No one wants to be associated with being attractive and having a hose hanging off of your snout, I guess.

The thing that I find most interesting is the fact that all of the people that I talk to only know what their DME's have told them. No one trys to educate themselves. They just accept what is given to them only to complain about it later. I always give them the name of this site and CPap.com to try and educate them on what are available options. What they do with it from there is up to them, but it's too bad the docs don't know more than what they do to further educate their patients.

Great story, Jan.

Does your husband have any ideas of how to spread the word to other "sleep docs"? This problem (their lack of "knowledge") seems to be so pervasive, that it boggles the mind. Between the (sleep) doctors, DME's and insurance providers this whole situation of having successful therapy leaves most of us feeling pretty depressed.

Thanks again,

Den

From the doctor's point of view, they read the sleep studies, they are experts about medications and how that affects us, they prescribe the pressure for CPAP.....and then it is in the hands of the DME's. What they didn't realize is how inept many of the DME's are.

But apparently they were pretty interested when my hubby told them about my experiences with the DME's, etc. I mean, no wonder people have a hard time being compliant with therapy when they've had no more than 15 minutes of instruction from every doctor or RT they've talked to since diagnosis!

Jan in Colo.

Colo Jan,
BRAVO!!!!!!! I'm glad that you are enlighting your ENT hubby and hope that he will take it a step further and maybe get some sleep docs, ect better educated!!!! He could use his influence to make a difference in this area of medicine!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!!!
Carolyn

.....and then it is in the hands of the DME's. What they didn't realize is how inept many of the DME's are.

Jan,

This is one thing the sleep docs need to be "educated" about. On the other hand, (and I'm speaking from a local experience), the DMEs are frustrated with some of the sleep docs........(I'd better not go any further on THAT one).

Thanks,

Den

Oh, come on, Den! Spill the beans! Tell us your story!

Jan in Colo.