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moresleep wrote:Doctors who prescribe Cpap machines should know the name Sullivan. The other names may or may not be important; but, if a sleep doctor doesn't even know that basics about the history of the Cpap machine and its development, he/she shouldn't be prescribing Cpap therapy.

I understand what you're saying, but I don't agree. A "sleep" doctor could be an excellent diagnostician, excellent clinician, and be very well informed about all kinds of modern xpap machines, without ever having looked into the history of CPAP development and without knowing who Dr. Colin Sullivan (inventor of "cpap") is. I don't think being aware of Dr. Sullivan's name (or the early history of "CPAP") is any kind of indication about whether a doctor should be prescribing CPAP therapy.

I'd like to think that any doctor interested in adding "sleep" as a side specialty was interested enough in the subject to have looked into how cpap was invented. But more important to me would be that a "sleep doctor" be interested in educating himself thoroughly about diagnosing and treating Sleep Disordered Breathing today. And that he continue to study new information regarding all forms of sleep disordered breathing, and understand what every type of xpap machine is designed to be used for, could be used for, shouldn't be used for....and what the settings do on all modern xpap machines. That's a lot to ask of busy doctors. I'd also want the doctor to understand the importance of using cream of the crop, very experienced, very good RPSGT sleep techs for the sleep center's PSG studies.

I couldn't care less whether a sleep doctor recognized the name, "Dr. Sullivan." One that's as interested in educating himself/herself about sleep medicine as I described probably would, but recognition of that name would not be any kind of litmus test as far as I'm concerned.

moresleep wrote:As one doctor (not a sleep doctor) told me, the continuing eduction of most doctors consists mainly of reading the materials that accompany the free samples sent them by the drug companies. Probably not far from the truth, alas.

Now, that, I agree with. Absolutely.

Sad, but probably very true of most doctors.

Thanks for those particularly well-worded posts, Julie and Rested Gal.

I think Dr. K and Dr. P excel at drawing attention to an often-overlooked condition. They are known for helping patients understand things. And they are active in helping some who have not responded well to help from other doctors. They have even been willing to interact with patients in public forums, bless their brave hearts! I very much respect what they do, whether I agree with them 100% on everything they say or not.

HOWEVER, that said, I would actually be more than a little concerned if I found out my sleep doc was spending his precious evenings reading the books and listening to the seminars that were aimed squarely at the public, myself, even though I often reccomend to fellow patients that they do so.

But hey, that's just me.

You join Julie and RG in making yet another very good point, jnk. And I think the most likely reason their names aren't recognized by most "sleep specialists".

Dr. Sullivan wrote primarily for other doctors, not for lay persons, if that comforts anyone. So, your doctor can safely read his works without sullying the mind. But, as someone with advanced degrees, myself, who is, more importantly, finally old enough to know better, I know it is a mistake to bow down and worship some perceived expert doling out treatment just because of his degrees. I recognize that we all want to trust in our doctors--I too suffer from the Dr. Marcus Welby, MD syndrome--but it's a mistake not to apply some commonsensical tests.

Maybe it's just me, but as a patient I want a doctor with an enquiring mind who knows more about the science as well as the "nuts and bolts" of treatment in the field for which he/she is treating me than I already do myself. Any sleep apnea specialist who has not learned about the development of the device that is the "gold standard" for treatment of sleep apnea is, in my opinion, just plain ignorant, lazy, or worse. (I would say the same of a GP who failed to recognize the name "Dr. Pasteur".) In fact, I would say the question, "What do you think of Dr. Sullivan's ideas on the limitations of the AHI?," or similar, would be an excellent litmus test. If your doctor does not, at least, recognize the name, get a better educated doctor.

I have never heard of Dr. Sullivan.

I also can't tell you the name of the person who developed the dialysis machine.

I don't know who invented the electric toothbrush, and I'm about to use mine because I have a piece of popcorn stuck between my teeth, right around my bridge. And who invented false teeth anyway?!

SleepingUgly wrote:I have never heard of Dr. Sullivan.

I also can't tell you the name of the person who developed the dialysis machine.

I don't know who invented the electric toothbrush, and I'm about to use mine because I have a piece of popcorn stuck between my teeth, right around my bridge. And who invented false teeth anyway?!

Sorry then, even though you are no doubt a fine person, I probably would not want you as my sleep doctor

moresleep wrote:Sorry then, even though you are no doubt a fine person, I probably would not want you as my sleep doctor

Oh, come on, I can throw in a few names like that, and maybe a few quotes by Kirkegaard or whatever would impress a guy like you. Then once you think I'm really smart, I'll hit you with subpar treatment!

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SleepingUgly wrote:Mike, you love to argue, don't you?

Yes. Nurture or Nature, I don't know why. Click the link below, watch my family in action, then see what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8TSvMx2wPI

Love and לִברִיאוּת,

Mike



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SleepingUgly wrote:

moresleep wrote:Sorry then, even though you are no doubt a fine person, I probably would not want you as my sleep doctor

Oh, come on, I can throw in a few names like that, and maybe a few quotes by Kirkegaard or whatever would impress a guy like you. Then once you think I'm really smart, I'll hit you with subpar treatment!

Well, I'm a sucker for female doctors with blue skin and pretty yellow eyes, so it probably wouldn't be that hard...