Questions to Ask
Question:
"Charles Perrin" <c.l.perrin…@att.net> wrote in message
news:2hr9gvgc7hs6v76jmunefpomt9qirrhgen@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 19:39:42 -0400, "Terry Stone" > <tstone8…@comcast.net> wrote: > >I am Terry and I had my study a week ago. I was told by next week my > >doctor will have the results of the study. What should I ask him about the > >study? What are the major areas of concern? > Well, #1 is definitely #1… but the other ones may actually have > different priorities: > #1 – AHI (number of breathing disturbances per hour). > #2 – Lowest level of oxygen saturation > #3 – Amount of PLMS (leg movement) > #4 – Percentage of Stage 3/4 (deep) sleep > #5 – Percentage of REM (usually dreaming) sleep
You could ask him to go over the results and explain all the measurements but it would probably work out best to request a copy of the study summary and conclusion to take with you. It takes a while to understand what the measurements are and what they mean. You can do that here looking through the archives. *If* you are diagnosed with OSA and the doc is going to prescribe CPAP try your best to ensure that he also prescribes the heated humidifier that will work with your machine. In the mean time you might browse looking at the various masks/interfaces. Sites like www.cpapman.com carry all of the common ones with tips and descriptions. Then if you go for a machine and to be fitted for a mask/interface you will have some idea what to expect and know what’s available if you have options. -Quick
Response:
Terry Please note that Anna’s advice is assuming you have OSA and therefore you will need CPAP…. As Norm points out, there are over 40 sleep disorders. Guess your questions will depend on which disorder the study indicates you have. Check out the links on Tal’s website – maybe this will be of some help for you. http://www.talhost.net/sleep/sleepstudy.htm Good luck for your appointment. Kit — To reply replace nospam with kamuzz "Anna LeBlanc" <lebla…@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:BB2AD2C1.E22F%leblancr@qwest.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> in article chqdnXfVK8ldI5miU-K…@comcast.com, Terry Stone at > tstone8…@comcast.net wrote on 7/3/2003 4:39 PM: > > Hi, > > I am Terry and I had my study a week ago. I was told by next week my > > doctor will have the results of the study. What should I ask him about the > > study? What are the major areas of concern? > > Thanks > Terry, > In addition to all the medical questions that have been suggested, I > recommend you ask how the fitting for machine and mask will work. What you > want is the greatest range of options to find a mask that fits your face and > suits your own sensibility about CPAP. We had a poster recently whose doctor > prescribed a particular mask. Therefore when she met with the DME (Durable > medical equipment supplier), the folks who could have tried a number of > different types of interfaces for fit, they were limited to the one the > doctor specified. At least that’s what they told her. So when you meet with > your doctor tell him/her you would like to have the greatest number of > options. If you live in an area with choices express that you would like to > work with the DME that has the best reputation for patient service. > Also ask if he will prescribe a machine with a heated humidifier. Not > everyone benefits from one, but a lot of us do. It puts water vapor into the > air you breath, and can make it a lot more comfortable for your nasal > passages. I live in Arizona where the humiditity is generally low, so I > really value having that extra moisture. > Some researchers report that having a heated humidifier increases what they > call "compliance." That means that you overcome obstacles and use your > treatment as directed. Your doctor should be interested in increasing your > compliance. Your insurance will be. I am looking at buying Long Term Care > Insurance. The guidelines say that if I have Sleep Apnea, and have been > using CPAP for less than 6 months, I am a greater risk than if I have been > treated for more than 6 months. This is entirely a matter of compliance. > If you travel a lot there are some models of CPAP that are a lot more > compact. These are options that you can’t get without your doctor’s > prescription. > Anna
Response:
Thanks to all for your thoughts and questions. NormC I had a full night polysonogram. Terry
Response:
in article chqdnXfVK8ldI5miU-K…@comcast.com, Terry Stone at tstone8…@comcast.net wrote on 7/3/2003 4:39 PM: > Hi, > I am Terry and I had my study a week ago. I was told by next week my > doctor will have the results of the study. What should I ask him about the > study? What are the major areas of concern? > Thanks
Terry, In addition to all the medical questions that have been suggested, I recommend you ask how the fitting for machine and mask will work. What you want is the greatest range of options to find a mask that fits your face and suits your own sensibility about CPAP. We had a poster recently whose doctor prescribed a particular mask. Therefore when she met with the DME (Durable medical equipment supplier), the folks who could have tried a number of different types of interfaces for fit, they were limited to the one the doctor specified. At least that’s what they told her. So when you meet with your doctor tell him/her you would like to have the greatest number of options. If you live in an area with choices express that you would like to work with the DME that has the best reputation for patient service. Also ask if he will prescribe a machine with a heated humidifier. Not everyone benefits from one, but a lot of us do. It puts water vapor into the air you breath, and can make it a lot more comfortable for your nasal passages. I live in Arizona where the humiditity is generally low, so I really value having that extra moisture. Some researchers report that having a heated humidifier increases what they call "compliance." That means that you overcome obstacles and use your treatment as directed. Your doctor should be interested in increasing your compliance. Your insurance will be. I am looking at buying Long Term Care Insurance. The guidelines say that if I have Sleep Apnea, and have been using CPAP for less than 6 months, I am a greater risk than if I have been treated for more than 6 months. This is entirely a matter of compliance. If you travel a lot there are some models of CPAP that are a lot more compact. These are options that you can’t get without your doctor’s prescription. Anna
Response:
Hi, I am Terry and I had my study a week ago. I was told by next week my doctor will have the results of the study. What should I ask him about the study? What are the major areas of concern? Thanks
Response:
0) If you have proposed treatment, what is it? Please explain. 1) What is my AHI (aka RDI) and does it merit treatment? If the answer is > 5.0 and no, challenge this. 2) What is my nadir O2 sat when not on treatment. If it is too low (Norm, chime in here as you are the most recent O2 sat guru!) and the doc offers no treatment, challenge this. 3) If Apneas are present and many are central, insist upon ‘BiPAP ST’ treatment. This is fairly rare. 4) If you get no results from 0-3, ask doc specifically in plain English ‘what is wrong and how do we fix it?’ Do not leave the doc until you get an answer. If doc refuses to answer, file complaint with your insurer and all available medical certification agences. Consider finding an attorney. regards, eric pearson db2e…@nospammindspring.com On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 19:39:42 -0400, "Terry Stone" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<tstone8…@comcast.net> wrote: >Hi, > I am Terry and I had my study a week ago. I was told by next week my >doctor will have the results of the study. What should I ask him about the >study? What are the major areas of concern? >Thanks
Response:
On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 19:39:42 -0400, "Terry Stone" <tstone8…@comcast.net> wrote: >I am Terry and I had my study a week ago. I was told by next week my >doctor will have the results of the study. What should I ask him about the >study? What are the major areas of concern?
Well, #1 is definitely #1… but the other ones may actually have different priorities: #1 – AHI (number of breathing disturbances per hour). #2 – Lowest level of oxygen saturation #3 – Amount of PLMS (leg movement) #4 – Percentage of Stage 3/4 (deep) sleep #5 – Percentage of REM (usually dreaming) sleep
Response:
Terry Stone wrote: > Hi, > I am Terry and I had my study a week ago. I was told by next week my > doctor will have the results of the study. What should I ask him about the > study?
This is difficult to answer, because there are more than 40 sleep disorders. Has anyone given you any clues as to which one, or more, you might have? In addition, it depends on what you define as a sleep study. Did you have a full night’s polysomnogram? A full night of titration? An evalation report, of your PSG and titration, should have been written by a diplomated sleep doctor. In addition there should be traces/curves/charts of specific important parameters. So the absolutely most important thing you should ask him is, "Where is my copy of the (1) PSG evaluation and (2) titration study?" If everything goes well for you, you may not need them, but if it doesn’t, you will have to take your healthcare into your own hands, like many of us, with sleep disorders, have had to do. Many (most?) of us have had to make use of a diplomated sleep doc. What doctor are you meeting with? Your GP/PCP or a diplomated sleep doctor who evaluated your PSG and titration? > What are the major areas of concern?
IMHO, the major areas of concern are whether you had any central apneas (which are not readily treatable), what your blood oxygen saturation was before you fell asleep, and a profile of your oxy sats while you slept, especially the amount of time you spent at the lowest saturation. Eric and Charlie have provided some specific suggestions that I totally agree with. HTH – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks
