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Dr. M is a pulmonologist, and Dr. W is a sleep specialist of some sort? If so, then ask M to refer you to W for help with your sleep problems. It's a perfectly reasonable request since that's her specialty. Asking a pulmonologist about your sleep is sort of like asking a plumber to put a new motherboard in your computer, or asking a computer tech to put in a new water line.

Now that you've read the report, you've got an answer for "What can the VA do for you?"

Otter wrote:Dr. M is a pulmonologist, and Dr. W is a sleep specialist of some sort? If so, then ask M to refer you to W for help with your sleep problems. It's a perfectly reasonable request since that's her specialty. Asking a pulmonologist about your sleep is sort of like asking a plumber to put a new motherboard in your computer, or asking a computer tech to put in a new water line.

Now that you've read the report, you've got an answer for "What can the VA do for you?"

I think you got that right...M is a pulmonologist and W is a sleep doc. Makes me wonder why they even have him there seeing SA patients when the guy doesn't know diddlysquat about the disease. Only the government would send out a plumber to put a new motherboard in your computer.

UPDATE:

So, I had a follow up today with Dr 'M' at the VA, the doctor I was formerly complaining about in the previous posts. I don't know what changed, maybe some others had complained about him and some higher ups had a word with him, because he was completely different than he was 4 months ago. He actually listened and seemed to take an interest. We had a good talk about my sleep. We discussed sleep issues, sleep hygiene, caffeine, ASV back rate, my lung condition (emphysematic changes) and I told him I bumped my IPAP from 5 to 7 and that my AHI's dropped after that change and he said ''good, if it's working then keep it there''. I'm glad he didn't want to cut my head off for adjusting my own pressures.

I explained that despite my drop in AHI, that I was still feeling sluggish, had memory problems and wasn't 'there' yet. And he ordered an oximeter for me to take home for a week to check my O2 levels and determine if I'll need some O2 during the night.

So, it was a good meeting and I'm more comfortable now with Dr M and hopefully he'll be able to help me find the missing piece to this puzzle.

Overall I'm quite impressed with the Denver VA and the Lakewood VA clinic. They're quite big on preventive care as I also had a mole removed this morning due to my family history with melanoma. They do have some things lacking which are quite typical for goverment institutions, but as for the care I've had, they've really done a great job.

Ken, I'm glad you got some help today. My brother is in the VA system so I've heard the good and the bad. The doctor sounds like a changed man - maybe he got some sleep apnea training!

Hi Ken,
I understand the VA system fairly well. My wife worked for a VA hospital for a few years, I did some of my training at a VA, and my Dad was a WWII vet who got all his health care from the VA. It's a system with some problems but does a lot of good work. Sleep apparently isn't one of their best areas, though.

If you're not getting what you need from them, go somewhere else. I know it's costly but it's your health which should be of the highest priority.

Living in/near Denver, you're fairly close to the Krakow clinic where they are expert at titrating ASV machines, and also are familiar with the difficulties of living at higher elevations. Save up, take a loan or whatever and go there and have them titrate you on your machine. That's what I think you should do. I know one other ASV user from this forum (from Denver) who does just that...drives to Albuquerque for her sleep care.

I have centrals and am using a BiPap ST on S/T mode with supplementary oxygen. It's working very nicely for me. Like Moresleep, I breathe slowly and have my Ti setting at 3 seconds and my BPM rate at 6. I started out at 10 and then 8 but it kept intervening with a timed breath too soon so now at 6...it's perfect. But my machine is a breeze to set up compared to an ASV.
Just an opinion,
Jamis