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Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
#1
Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
Went to my six-month follow-up visit with my sleep Doctor last week.  

Got my new Resmed A11 about two weeks ago (which same doctor ordered six months ago), and I brought him some fresh OSCAR data to review.  

He was interested in looking at the graphs, reviewed all the numbers, and discussed them with me; confirming that the advice I have received on this forum has resulted in effective pressure settings and successful therapy. 

Here's an excerpt of the note he sent to my primary care doc: 

Quote:He is being treated through XXXXXX DME with auto CPAP and has just acquired a new ResMed AirSense 11 AutoSet device.
 
He has empirically derived his own pressures of 8.6 up to 16 cm of water over the last several years, and I will send a new prescription to his XXXXXXX  DME for these settings.  His download from the "OSCAR" software program that he uses shows 100% adherence to treatment, consistently more than 4 hours per night, with a residual apnea-hypopnea index of less than 4.  Most nights his apnea-hypopnea index residual is less than 1.

This doc is interested in the detail data and doesn't mind that it came from OSCAR. 

His nurse mentioned that my DME had "squealed on me" for changing my own settings.  They also failed to connect my Doc's office to my new machine. So I gave her the serial number from my OSCAR printout, which she appreciated.  

Discussed with the Doc how I had told the DME if they do it again I would fire them.  That I buy stuff from them and that's all I expect from them.  Therapy settings are between me and my doc.  He smiled and said he would send them a note to leave me alone.   mwa ha ha.  

Gotta love this doctor.

Saldus Miegas
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#2
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
That's a great response from your sleep doc.

Most are not so lucky.

My sleep NP noticed I had adjusted my settings. Told me it was "incredibly dangerous". She refused to look at my OSCAR reports. Then she fired me.
On the hunt for a good one.
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#3
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
I have a similar relationship with my doctor, except that she gets the compliance data from ResMed either remotely, using the card, or just viewing the display screen on my machine.
Sleepster

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#4
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
You are very fortunate to have an actual 'sleep doctor'.  My PCP deferred to the DME for my care and the DME doesn't care on bit about my journey.  Had video call with the DME respiratory therapist a week ago to see if he finally got my sleep study from my PCP - he hadn't.  Being a video call I could plainly see by his body language that he was unhappy and would not talk to me because he didn't have the prescription from the PCP based on the sleep study from 9/1.  When I told him about OSCAR he said he never heard of it.  When I told that I was able to reduce/eliminate Large Leaks using OSCAR he didn't say a word.  His only comment was "Oh I see you changed the settings on the machine."!  Of course I did because you nor the PCP have done anything after my having the machine almost two months.

So, I'm done with the PCP and DME and will continue on my journey with apnea using OSCAR and the apneaboard site.

Thanks to all.
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#5
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
In my case the sleep NP told me how impressed she was by what I’d learned and how she had no problem at all with me managing my settings. In addition she commented how she wished more of her patients educated themselves as there is a lot learn.
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#6
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
(11-07-2022, 12:18 PM)YipeekiOH Wrote: In my case the sleep NP told me how impressed she was by what I’d learned and how she had no problem at all with me managing my settings. In addition she commented how she wished more of her patients educated themselves as there is a lot learn.

In my case, the NP told me that my new machine would be setup correctly by the DME and I was not to touch it!  Of course it wasn't setup correctly because the NP didn't send the sleep study to the DME.  In addition, I told the DME RT before I received the new machine that I had a sleep study and of course when he setup the new machine he just used the 7 year old fixed pressure setting without requesting the sleep study.  Neither the NP or the RT were the least bit impressed or interested in what I had learned and implemented.
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#7
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
Withtao…that is positively dreadful! I’ve been so lucky with both the CPAP supplier (not a DME per se but a very small two store business specialize strictly in CPAP) and the NP at the sleep institute where I go. Sadly, I’ve read more stories similar to your own more time than I can count.
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#8
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
Update - Saw my PCP (NP) for scheduled checkup.  Recounted my experience with DME and that I've changed the settings to reflect the sleep study and not relying on DME for any help.  She understands and supports that decision.  They too have issues with DMEs. So, my journey continues.
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#9
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
Woot!  

Happy for you withtao. 

Saldus Miegas
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#10
RE: Gotta love my Sleep Doctor
Thank goodness Withtao. Having a PCP/NP supporting you is huge. Congrats!
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