New Dx, 4 sleep studies in 3 weeks, feel left hanging with questions

[emmylouwho]

Thanks so much! The machine did that pressure boost a few times during my study so thank you for sharing how to correct it. 


I kept my consult appt yesterday with another doctor. I am switching my care to him. The difference was night and day. Small clinic, see him every appointment, etc vs. where I was going which felt like they’re trying to make money by herding people in and out, people only seeing NPs and PAs & never the doctors. 

He basically said I ended up where I needed to be although the route they took was way too long to get me here. He could not believe they’ve put me through so many sleep studies. He said with clinics like that who have tons of techs, often people fall through the cracks and I was one of them. He believes also a lot of it can go back to the tech especially when they dont talk with the docs enough b/c they have so many of them which is true of that office b/c the docs don’t work in the office. So any contact is on phone which I found out from my tech during my study. 
He said he couldn’t guarantee that doesn’t happen in his office but he finds out much sooner because he uses only one tech who is constantly going through training & has been in the field a long time.

[Sleeprider]

If your new doctor agrees with us, he is a good one.

[SarcasticDave94]

OK sounds like great things are going on there. Congrats. Replacing bad doc with good is always a nice change.

[Sleeprider]

Emmylouwho, another member on the forum is going through your same journey and is currently on ST therapy. Maybe you could help them along with insights from your own experience? http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...pap-device? The best expert is the one who has been there before. Thanks

[emmylouwho]

Sleeprider- of course! I’m more than happy to pay it forward.

[emmylouwho]

Everything was going smoothly until today. I met with the doc a week and a half ago for my study results with the ResMed ASV. The last 2 hours I had zero events. The biggest news for me which is like a miracle- I HAD ZERO BRAIN AROUSALS ALL NIGHT LONG. I couldn’t believe it especially during the study. My AHI was under 2.

I went to pick up the machine today at the DME. I walk in and there sits a Phillips. They showed me the order and the office wrote a Phillips machine. I am beyond frustrated with that office and glad I am switching doctors.

I told them I do not want the machine. Dude said he’d contact the office today and get the script rewritten. Then I have to wait for them to order it.

[Sleeprider]

Sorry about the set-back. Here is a thread for you to read to keep your inspiration strong http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...ded--31185 A member that has been unsuccessful with Philips ASV for years, and at the end of this thread he has obtained a Resmed. We're looking forward to seeing improved results. We see this problem repeatedly with the Philips, and you are to be commended for standing up for your rights.

[SarcasticDave94]

Glad you stood your ground. You will see the benefit once you get the ASV from ResMed. And no I'm not too surprised. Respironics or ResMed to them, it's the same therapy they say, more important is they get paid X for either, but Respironics costs them less, not you and insurance though. What happens to the difference between less expensive Philips and more expensive ResMed? DME pockets it.

[emmylouwho]

Happy new year! I finally got my ResMed ASV on Tuesday! (They had it since Christmas but no one called to tell me it was in. They did same with the BiPAP).

Ive used it since Tuesday night and I have slept incredibly well. My AHI has been less than 1!!! I honestly feel like if I didn’t set my alarm I could sleep 12 hours haha.

[Sleeprider]

Great news Emmylou. It will be interesting to do a before/after comparison on your charts. To bad you waited unnecessarily.