Trouble Getting Polysomnogram from Hospital

Perhaps you need to take in a copy of somebody else's summary report and show it to them, and explain that you want the report that shows the summary data and the graphs similar to this one. You don't need all the raw data, but you would like the nice graphs that have great info. Let them know that you want to understand your sleep apnea better, and the visual graphs would help. Then, maybe they won't be so worried about reasons you want it, and they won't think you are asking for all the raw data.

I would be happy to email you a copy of mine. It is only 3 pages, but has the graphs. The sleep doctor showed me a larger, more detailed version of the graph when I was in his office, but the smaller graph shows enough of what I am curious about. Mine is definitely more detailed than the one my mom was given. She got one page each for the diagnosis and titration. Very little info. She did recently get a much more detailed copy as we went to her diabetes doctor a few days before her first appointment with my sleep doctor. Her diabetes doctor had a more detailed summary, so she made a copy so that we could take it to the sleep doctor. He based his prescription on the 2 year old sleep study and 2 days of data with my machine.

old64mb wrote:

MidnightOwl wrote:If nothing else we should have a right to take that raw data to someone else for a second opinion just like you do with an xray.

This actually gets to the problem I have with a patient insisting on the full PSG.

This isn't like bringing X-rays or an MRI or test results to another doctor. Interpreting a raw PSG is highly subjective and requires both skill and time and is one reason sleep studies are so expensive, since that work by an MD is built into the price you pay.

My impression is that interpreting the raw PSG is mostly done by techs. The MDs interpret those interpretations.

old64mb wrote: Basically, this would be something to get only if a sleep doctor at another clinic was really curious and interested in spending the time necessary to score the results, and I think that's extremely unlikely - I've yet to meet one who wouldn't rather just look at a few previous summaries, go "hmm, this is interesting, lets look for this and that," and then promptly proceed to order their own study.
.

Oh I agree this is how it would most likely happen. Still, it is my record and if I can find someone willing to be paid to reinterpret it I should have the right to do it. For that matter if I want to learn how to score it myself because I'm bored with online games I should be able to do that too. Or use it as computer wallpaper. Whatever.

I am having trouble getting my full report with graphs also. I asked my doctor for a copy of my report and all they had at the office was the two page summary. My DME asked me to get the full report because they needed it for insurance. To make a long story shorter, when I went into sleep center they refused to give me longer report. Said it was all in the computer and they couldn't get it out I think they are just stonewalling me because I am not using the affiliated DME and didn't roll over like a good little sheep and take whAt they wanted to give me. I'm going to have another go at them after I get. Little rest under my belt!

I never had trouble getting a copy of my polysomnogram from any sleep study I had. I would suggest filing a complaint against that physician who is withholding a copy of your sleep study to your state medical board. I suspect you will get it pronto after that.

Eric

Julie wrote:For what it's worth, it IS unusual for people to want the actual PSG (vs the report). I'm not sure I know anyone else who asked for one.

I disagree. I always wanted a copy of mine.

Eric

Medical board complaint against the physician you are having a problem with. Expect to pay a "reasonable" fee for the full sleep study, but thats ok. They can charge you for a full copy. At least they can in my state. You need to bypass the chain of command, that usually works.

Just keep in mind if you do that, you will not want to use that physician again, nor will they want to see you as a patient again. That is how it works. IMO modern day medicine is somewhat of an adversarial profession. Doctors against patients, patients against their health insurance company, doctors against YOUR health insurance company, doctors afraid of being sued all the time....lots of potential adversarial situation in modern medicine, unfortunately.

Eric

I plan on stopping by the hospital on the way home from work tomorrow. I have a Rx and some labs results to pick up at the hospital, so while I'm there, I'm going to go to records and check on the status of my request. When they figure out that I'm not going away, maybe they will provide the report just to get rid of me.

I'll keep everyone updated.

zoocrewphoto wrote:I would be happy to email you a copy of mine. It is only 3 pages, but has the graphs.

Thanks for the offer. Hopefully that won't be necessary, but again, I appreciate your offer.

UPDATE: The records department at the hospital came through for me. Today I picked up an excellent report that is both thorough and very informative. Thanks for everyone's input.

Not sure if anyone mentioned, but if you were titrated between 5 and 12 cm, with centrals beginning to manifest at 12,
Why did they recommend you use cpap at 13 cm?

brucifer wrote:UPDATE: The records department at the hospital came through for me. Today I picked up an excellent report that is both thorough and very informative. Thanks for everyone's input.

That's great!

chunkyfrog wrote:Not sure if anyone mentioned, but if you were titrated between 5 and 12 cm, with centrals beginning to manifest at 12,
Why did they recommend you use cpap at 13 cm?

Chunky, I couldn't figure that out either. While I was perusing the report today, I came across the table below. It shows my OSA events that correspond to five CPAP pressure settings during titration as well as corresponding oximetry readings. At 11 cm my OAs disappear, and at 12 cm Centrals start showing up, yet my Rx called for straight 13 cm. I was left scratching my head a bit upon seeing this. Maybe the doctor Rx'd the higher pressure because my oxygen-saturation-percentage (SPO2%) level improved at 12 cm? I dunno. Maybe someone with more experience can comment.

I absolutely love entire report though. I'm so glad I persevered.

brucifer wrote:UPDATE: The records department at the hospital came through for me. Today I picked up an excellent report that is both thorough and very informative. Thanks for everyone's input.

Glad to hear you were successful!

He put you at 12 or 13 because your oxygen % dropped to 85 at the pressure of 11.

Also, you had hypopneas at <= 11 so that is saying you're having some obstructive issues at that pressure or lower even if they're not apneas.

brucifer wrote:Maybe someone with more experience can comment.

Would be useful to see the rest of the report to be able to do so, since maybe there was other stuff going on.

Bruce, I am on the S9 Autoset in APAP mode with pressures like your:




My treatment looks OK, but it does not eliminate the Residual Excessive Sleepiness in the mornings till noons. I am annoyed with my sleep doc and the clinic that he "controls" for not counting my total arousals (besides those for RLS) and also for not checking for UARs (=Flow Limitation). I plan to give him "hell" (as you do) for that when I see him in two weeks.

p.s. notice that in your titration you got rid of the 2 obstructive from 9 cm but in return you got 2 centrals at 12 cm.