Sleep Apnea Blog

Late last year I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, both Obstructive and Central. I was prescribed a VPAP, which was not in any way better than nothing.

I lost sleep for a month, and often woke up unable to breath. The last time I used it, I woke up gasping, disoriented, and with a severe headache, all of which went away after two hours of NOT USING the VPAP.

In general, I sleep fine (As fine as the father of seven month old twins can sleep!) I only went for the sleep study as a ten year follow up. Ten years ago they coached me on changing sleep positions and losing weight.

Now I’m trapped. As a CDL holder, this diagnosis affects my ability to work. I’m sure it will affect my ability to get insurance in the future. And once again, I don’t think it’s accurate.

As a Patient, is there anything I can do to challenge this diagnosis?
I went to the Second sleep study as a follow up to my sleep study from ten years ago, which was a positive experience after the coaching in sleep position and weight loss.

And my regular doctor suggested I do a follow up study. If I had it to do over again, I would refuse. But now that the damage is done, and the treatments being recommended are both expensive and ineffectual, and with serious long term consequences toward my job.

With all that in mind, how is the best way to challenge this diagnosis and/or method of treatment.

You sound like all of this is being done by your private doctor. Do you not have a pulmonologist’s consultation on this? They are the experts on sleep apnea of all types. He/she would be the one to bring this issue up with. If the sleep apnea test showed you have it I’m afraid they’ll just have to find a different way to help you. That’s why they give him/her the "big bucks", ya know? I know there are pulmonologist’s out there that order a sleep apnea tests for virtually everybody and then set them up with CPAP. And everybody makes money, except you. My pulmonologist looked almost disappointed when my test was normal. But he recovered fast and smiled. I won’t see him again. Had the feeling of being cattle being herded. Never again.
Any time for any reason you disagree with a doctor talk to him/her. They don’t bite. And they should take the time to explain everything to you. If they just hurry you in and out like cattle find another doctor. Really.
God bless.

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