(12-29-2016, 11:06 AM)Cranberry Ray Wrote: I'm roughly 5 weeks into CPAP therapy and have my first follow-up visit tomorrow. I have a feeling it's more of an insurance compliance verification (I have been 100%) rather than a "how can we help you" session.
Was wondering what questions I should be asking.
One, you are probably right about the visit to validate compliance for insurance.
Two, the tone you set will now govern the rest of your relationship.
Three, what the doctor usually looks at is a summary of the compliance data and most never look at the underlying data.
Four, I take my laptop to show how my sleep progresses throughout the night. I have pre-selected several areas where I have a higher AHI and am showing apneas and hypopneas.
I also print off relevant charts where I circle areas that are of concern to me.
I expect an answer to my questions: what does this graph tell you about the quality of my sleep and the progress of my therapy. If I want to try an experiment, like raising the pressure, I ask him what increments I should use, over what time intervals, and what are the signs I should discontinue the pressure increase and return to a previous value. I also ask him about the conditions which would mandate a call and/or a visit outside of the normally scheduled appointments.
Five, as mentioned by other users, I would ask about the use of my APAP to self-titrate the pressure and then use those settings with his knowledge and permission. Remember, it is better to ask for permission than appear to go rogue. Of course, if your doctor is a schmuck -- you need to go rogue or change doctors.
Six, I am privileged to have a physician who is the department head of a world-class hospital and who is willing to discuss specifics rather than generalities. Not all physicians are willing to discuss details with laypeople -- unless they educate themselves using resources such as this forum.
Hope this helps. Best of luck with your therapy and continued progress.
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius