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Sleep Doctor Says No Adjustments Are Needed - Bubba45 - 07-05-2019
Had my bi-yearly check up few days ago. I'm a little bothered that my doctor doesn't look at the data on my sd card. This time I went in there with printed reports from ResScan.
I asked him about my machine settings, since they have not changed since my initial prescription five years ago. He said no adjustments are normally necessary, without even looking at the data. To be fair, I'm feeling fine and my AHI for the last year has been around 3.0 and I told him that.
I'm on the fence about changing doctors. I get annoyed when I go in there and he checks a few things, asks a few questions, refills my prescriptions and then bills my insurance a few hundred bucks.
RE: Sleep Doctor Says No Adjustments Are Needed - OpalRose - 07-05-2019
(07-05-2019, 04:55 AM)Bubba45 Wrote: Had my bi-yearly check up few days ago. I'm a little bothered that my doctor doesn't look at the data on my sd card. This time I went in there with printed reports from ResScan.
I asked him about my machine settings, since they have not changed since my initial prescription five years ago. He said no adjustments are normally necessary, without even looking at the data. To be fair, I'm feeling fine and my AHI for the last year has been around 3.0 and I told him that.
I'm on the fence about changing doctors. I get annoyed when I go in there and he checks a few things, asks a few questions, refills my prescriptions and then bills my insurance a few hundred bucks.
This is all quite normal and is what a lot of us encounter when dealing with our sleep doctors. My doc told me most of his patients have average AHI’s of 10+.
I only deal with him once a year, just so I don’t run into issues with insurance when I need a script from him.
You learn early on not to depend on them to treat you or make adjustments to your therapy. You can do that yourself! Most of these specialists are just too laid back and don’t look past the AHI number.
RE: Sleep Doctor Says No Adjustments Are Needed - Sleeprider - 07-05-2019
Many primary care doctors have no problem managing your CPAP care, and can refer you to the specialist if a problem arises. There really is no need to see a sleep doctor specialist year after year for stable treated obstructive sleep apnea.
RE: Sleep Doctor Says No Adjustments Are Needed - Mosquitobait - 07-05-2019
Not looking at your data is a good reason to find a new doc. Why are you going twice yearly? Once a year is enough especially since he won't look at the data. Most GPs will write scripts for supplies. My GP will not write a script for a new machine, but my bro's internist will for his machine. Neither of us have actual apnea.
RE: Sleep Doctor Says No Adjustments Are Needed - PaulaO2 - 07-05-2019
I've not been to my alleged sleep doc in many years. My GP writes my scripts and I tell her how well I'm doing. She said she expects me to tell her if there are problems. She knows just enough to get the terminology. She knows the AHI should be below 5. She's more concerned about me actually sleeping (insomnia).
One of these days, when I get a better printer, I'll print her off some stuff and give it to her. She'll love it. She likes it when I bring in reports from the various things. Like my migraine app. My blood sugar app. Etc.
RE: Sleep Doctor Says No Adjustments Are Needed - sheepless - 07-05-2019
PaulaO2, your gp sounds like a gem. I have yet to see a doc, any kind of doc, that'll look at anything I take to appointments. my sleep doc had no interest in prior sleep studies and current SH data. a very nice young guy, but he waived off the sleep test summaries and studiously looked away when I checked SH data on my laptop to answer his questions.
RE: Sleep Doctor Says No Adjustments Are Needed - Hydrangea - 07-05-2019
I have yet to meet a doctor who is more helpful (WRT SA) than this message board.
I'm just happy to have a medical professional who will keep my CPAP Rx current.
RE: Sleep Doctor Says No Adjustments Are Needed - StevesSp - 07-06-2019
I haven't seen a sleep doctor since I was given my machine some years ago and, over a few subsequent weeks, the settings fiddled with. They only looked at AHI and compliance - no other questions were asked. 'Success' to them was getting me to buy one of their machines, getting my AHI below 5.0, then holding the door open for me ...
Since then, the only people I have talked to regarding my OSA is my doctor and my cardiologist, neither of whom are 'fans' of CPAP. My cardiologist is especially scathing and has said the 'apnea industry' is full of snake oil salesmen.