Last night I had my first sleep study.   The test was ordered by my primary care doc.  My question is - do I need to see a specialist?  If so what kind?  This is all very new to me.  I have suspected that I have sleep apnea for about 10 years - never could get a doc to do anything.  Finally someone ordered the study.  About 3 AM the tec put the CPAP on - so I guess I was right.  

I am so glad I found this forum.

Pat- Momof2inMO

I had my ENT doctor do it.  I think the specialists do a more complete analysis.  Any doctor you use will just tell you to do whatever the sleep study recommends, but my doctor did tell me about some over the counter medications that I take occassionally that really help quite a bit. I've heard that Pulmonary doctors are the way to go, but the ENT worked out pretty well.  Plus, my internist and the GP's that I've seen really don't have the scopes and equipment that the ENTs have for a thorough analysis of air passage ways.

Steve

Pat-Momof2inMO wrote:

Last night I had my first sleep study.   The test was ordered by my primary care doc.  My question is - do I need to see a specialist?  If so what kind?  This is all very new to me.  I have suspected that I have sleep apnea for about 10 years - never could get a doc to do anything.  Finally someone ordered the study.  About 3 AM the tec put the CPAP on - so I guess I was right.  

I am so glad I found this forum.

Pat- Momof2inMO

Hi Pat,

Firstly, I believe that you had a 'split study'. In layman's terms as soon as they could see that you had apnoea they started the titration study.

I am assuming your primary care doc, is in fact your GP. If so I think it would be best to see a sleep doc. They are usually respiratory/pulmonary physicians (because OSA is a respiratory sleep disorder), in some cases ENT or neurologists. In all cases they should have additional qualifications in sleep medicine.

This advice is purely on 'precautionery' basis, as I believe you should see the best qualified person to deal with the problem.

Keep us up to date

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

to pat
if you dont hear from the sleep study place, get back to your doc and ask about the results which should be sent to him

I heard back from the sleep lab on Friday (4:30 PM) that the DR told them to start me on the CPAP theraphy.  They are contacting a home health care equipment company (I got the name and # of them and have already left a message).  It was too late on Friday to do anything and they are closed on Sat.  I got the guy at the sleep lab to send me a copy of the test results, since he suggested a follow-up with the DR in 3-4 weeks - I wasn't waiting that long to get more info.  He did tell me I have "Moderate Sleep Apnea"  I had aprox. 19 events an hour.  Oxygen level got at 87% at the lowest during one of the events.   I asked specifiacally whether I has strictly OSA or not - he didn't seem to be able to answer that.  Talked about something else (I think, totally new at this - all I have learned is from here).   Next week should be really exciting.  I can't wait to get my CPAP and SLEEP!!!!!

Thanks for all the input.
Pat-Momof2inMO

Pat, mine was a 2 night sleep study, which personally I believe is the best kind.  It really takes one full night to properly diagnose all the subtleties of this condition, and another full night to arrive at the correct titration.  Just a thought in case you ever need a repeat.

My personal physician set up the Sleep Study, and a follow-up appointment with a Pulmonary specialist who interpreted the results.  I strongly recommend that you see a specialist for the interpretation rather than relying on a home health care equipment company.  Their only job is to see that you're fitted properly with the device (and its settings) ordered by the specialist.

Good luck, but stay in control.