Choosing a Sleep Medicine Doctor, An Update

I wanted to update everyone because you have been so helpful.

To recap, my primary care physician referred me to a sleep medicine practice where they can't see me until the beginning of October (nearly three months after the referral was sent). The doctor (Doctor A) is certified in sleep medicine and psychiatry. And who knows how long until a sleep study.

Update: I found another sleep medicine practice in town that has sleep medicine doctors and have an appointment on August 21. The doctor (Doctor B) is certified in sleep medicine, pulmonology and critical care.

But a new twist--My neurologist is leaving for another practice in Seattle in October. She referred me to another neurologist in her current practice. Turns out he (Doctor C) is certified in neurology and sleep medicine. I had no idea that my neurology clinic offered sleep medicine as well. So I made an appointment with him for August 25. It is a "meet and greet" since he will probably be my new neurologist.

Doctor A uses a sleep lab in a hospital. Doctors B and C both use a sleep lab in a converted hotel. (This is where hubby had his done and it was a split study). They all prefer the same DME.

I made the appointment with Doctor C because I think it might be good to have my neurological and sleep problems treated by the same doctor. But I don't want to lose my spot in Dr. B's schedule because I've been sick with apnea for at least six months, maybe longer.

Without this board I would not have kept digging into this and looking for other options. So thank you.

I would call my insurance company, and check several of the web sites that allow patients to post reviews, and see what they say. I would also ask my PCP if they had an opinion on B versus C, given the long delay with A.

By the way, if you think you have only had sleep apnea for a few months, you are lucky! I probably had it in my childhood/teens, and I was only diagnosed in my late 50s!

Good luck with finding an answer to this. Maybe someone in your area can provide some guidance on which to choose!