Old hose-heads: How Often?

[PollCat]

As I sat here reading all the newbie postings, I got to wondering about how often long-time xPAP users see their sleep docs/specialists.

So, in order to keep my certification as the polling administrator , here's the latest: Let's find out whether there a correlation between the frequency of doc visits and the length of time a member has been receiving therapy for OSA.

I last saw my sleep doc when I needed a new machine, in 2011.

[SuperSleeper]

Saw my sleep doctor (when I was diagnosed with OSA) a few months before Apnea Board was started. That was 2004. Haven't been to a sleep doc since.

[GrammaBear]

In order for Medicare and my Primary insurance to cover my cpap supplies, I am required to see my sleep doctor at least once every year. I had to call in April of this year for an appointment in September of the same year. By his own admission to me at my last appointment, he said "I am busier than I want to be." He is very good at listening to any of my concerns regarding cpap therapy and he doesn't seem to practice "assembly line medicine" so often seen in other departments of medicine. I actually look forward to my appointment with him and his nurse.

[OpalRose]

Well, I'm not exactly a newbie, almost 8 months now, and not an oldie "yet".
My vote was for less than a year ago.

I plan on seeing him in October (not sure why) because he thinks all is well if my AHI is under that magic number of <5. I'll humor him anyway.

I will probably have to see him at least once a year in order for insurance to pay for supplies.

[PaulaO2]

Imagine having diabetes. Every day, before meals, you give yourself an injection or you take a pill. Doesn't matter what you eat or how much you eat, you do it. You test your blood but you don't see the results. It only notes that you tested it because you are required to do so X times a day. Once a year you go see a specialist who does nothing more than ask how you are feeling, confirms on your meter than you did indeed test enough times per day, and then he sends you home. No changes are made unless you are feeling bad too often or whatever.

Sounds ridiculous, right? But that is how the "sleep specialists" treats those of us with sleep apnea. And that is how the vast majority of people with sleep apnea believe is perfectly fine to be treated.

It is not acceptable. And it should not be.

It is not like we are the only patients with a self-treatable disorder. People with diabetes self-treat themselves all over the world. And that is a disease where screwing it up can be deadly. So why are we considered criminals? We are guilty until proven innocent. The ONLY thing they care about in the beginning is compliance. How many hours on average did we use the machine. Nothing else. Why can't we be educated and taught how to treat ourselves just like people with diabetes are? Sleep apnea can be just as deadly, affects just as many systems, etc. Left untreated because the patient was not educated, it can even be the cause of diabetes! Now the patient is educated. The barn door is closed after the cows got out. It is like bailing out the boat without finding out where the water is coming from. Or knowing where it is but not bother to patch it.

Even within our own community we are criminalizing each other. Other forums attack members for even mentioning getting into the clinician menu.

[trish6hundred]

I never saw a sleep specialist.

[OpalRose]

PaulaO2,
I always enjoy your analogies!

Agreed, it is not acceptable the way most (not all) sleep doctors and DME's treat their patients.
The first time I saw my sleep specialist, I thought he seemed somewhat irritated with me because
I was asking a lot of questions. I think it boils down to the almighty dollar; if you know too much, they feel as if they are losing control. If I had a doctor that appreciated me as far as taking an interested in my therapy opposed to just doing what he tells me, I would see him more often, not less.

I have relatives that are diabetic, and I get what you are saying.

Yes, there are other forums, one in particular, where the members attack new folk and old. I believe these are adults who should know better; but yet they act like they are in a high school clique. Glad I found this forum.

[Ailu]

Yes, there are other forums, one in particular, where the members attack new folk and old. I believe these are adults who should know better; but yet they act like they are in a high school clique. Glad I found this forum.

Would someone be so kind as to PM me the name of this forum so I make sure to steer clear of it?

[bwexler]

Yes, there are other forums, one in particular, where the members attack new folk and old. I believe these are adults who should know better; but yet they act like they are in a high school clique. Glad I found this forum.

Would someone be so kind as to PM me the name of this forum so I make sure to steer clear of it?

Me too!

I was first diagnosed by my PCP who sent me to the sleep lab for a split night study.
I picked up my sleep study report on my way out of town. I never saw that PCP again. I did not see a sleep doc. I did go to a personal friend who happens to be an MD and a hose head. He wrote my prescription and sent me to his dME.

About a year and a half later I saw my first sleep doc. He printed out my data looked at it and asked me if I had any questions. He did answer what I asked.

Next sleep doc about three years in printed out my data we talked about my centrals and he sent me for an ASV titration then ordered my new 960.

About a year later I tried to make a follow up appointment and he refused since he was out of network with my insurance.

So I found another sleep doc who looked at the data I brought him since I had been informed he could not access data cards. We went over everything he answered my questions and made recommendations for some adjustments. His recommendation lasted one day after which I made the opposite adjustment and saw some benefits.

I am now very anxious for my next appointment in 10-15 years. Since my PCP must be the one who actually submits the RX for approval even if I see a sleep doc, why bother.

[PsychoMike]

It kinda depends. My GP isn't a specialist, but she and I are tight when it comes to managing my therapy and my RT (now that I have a good DME) is the same. I voted "less than a year" because I see both of those two regularly. If it were just the sleep doc, it would have been "2-3 years ago" as I only dealt with them for the diagnosis.