I'm hoping I can seek the advice of some of the Aussies on this board regarding the diagnosis procedure and process for sleep apnea.
Background
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I arrived here through my dentist. My new dentist here in Sydney, Several months ago he recommended that I undergo small operation on my tongue (tongue tie, nothing serious). During this consultation, he happened to ask me about my quality of sleep. Apparently, this tongue tie thing can be a factor related to poor quality sleep.
I told him frankly, "look, I feel like I haven't slept well since I was a kid - I suppose that is normal and part of being an adult."
He nodded. I realised that nobody had ever asked me about the quality of my sleep apart from my employers over the years, to whom I had always said "no problem", but who suspected something from my chronic early morning drowsiness.
This time, an honest question deserved an honest answer.
- People that I know think that I sleep all the time. Personally, I never feel like I have slept and I always feel tired.
- I rarely have dreams while I sleep, if at all - it is only in the last hour of sleep on my regular 12hr sleep marathons on the weekend - if that. I just "blackout".
- Apparently, I snore like a chainsaw that has an occasional clogged fuel line. (Update: I checked with my iPhone app, "Snore Lab" which rates my snore as "Epic", and calculates my snore level as being worse than 96% of its users. Consistently)
- I wake up each morning feeling like I have a hangover. As if in a physical stupor - I have to just sit down in a chair and try and remember what and where I am.
- I can easily "sleep" 11 hours - known as the 'sleepyhead' of my family, but I myself rarely feel rested.
- I drink coffee regularly to 'perk me up'. By this, I mean I am a serious coffee hound with a daily habit, grinder, machine etc. Funny thing is that I don't particularly mind coffee, I just seem to need it to be at a level with everyone else.
- My "sleep" problem has caused me problems with school, university and work my whole life.
After saying all of this - it dawned on me that I actually had a huge problem that was continuing to negatively affect my life. I couldn't believe it.
My dentist obviously agreed, since he:
1) referred me to a sleep doctor in the city, and (2) called me the next month, checking up on me to make sure I booked a diagnosis with a sleep doctor.
So, I have booked to see a renown Sleep Dr at a 'Sleep Centre in Sydney' - and this impending appointment has prompted me to research sleep problems - which made me wonder if I have sleep apnea. Now, I am thinking that it is somewhat likely ... with the obvious caveat that this is just a strong hunch.
At this point I agree that only a proper medical practitioner can (or is allowed to) accurately diagnose and prescribe sleep apnea but ...
I have a sinking feeling that I have sleep apnea and that I am going to need a CPAP machine. So ... Could I ask the more experienced Aussies here?
1) I have to wait almost a month to see my sleep specialist Dr, in the city (Sydney). Is this too long to wait? - Am I doing the right thing by seeing a "high street Doctor"? or should I just find a local sleep centre affiliated with one of those medical companies?
2) I am concerned this will be very very expensive. I have Medicare and a Private Health fund and I will research more, but it seems that these only cover the initial visit. Does this mean that I have to pay for my entire sleep study, and then I have to see my doctor again and pay for him to look at the chart?
3) I am concerned that this Specialist has a company that sells machines as well - I would rather order from overseas - would I be obligated to buy a machine from this Doctor as well?
4) Even if I wait a month for this appointment, it might take me another month to get a Sleep Lab Appointment (I'm just guessing here), then I might have to wait a month for my Doctor to see me to discuss my results, then I will have to hire a machine for a month from the sleep centre, after which I am obligated to buy from them.
Put another way, I am really am concerned that from right now - I will have to wait an entire month to see a Doctor to tell me that I have an obvious sleep problem, so effectively two months from now to get physically tested in a study, then effectively three months from now for that Doctor to look at the graph and give me a PAP machine prescription.
... Can I fast-track this somehow by just going to one of those all-in-one retailer/clinic/franchise mobs? Or am I just being impatient? Is this a normal thing?
-Sigh-
I am so frustrated that I have finally found a possible solution to my sleep problem but restful sleep must follow a process that will take months to resolve.
I'm sorry about all these questions - I would be glad for any and all advice here from those wiser, more experienced, and sleeping well. Thank you if you have read all the above.