Do you still visit your Dr. every year?

[RogerSC]

Yes, I still see my sleep doctor every year. He's a very knowledgeable and personable guy, good to talk with about sleep apnea therapy. And my DME tells me that I need to see him once a year to keep Medicare paying for my supplies. Not sure how it works for people that use Medicare and don't see their sleep doctor once a year, but it doesn't bother me to check in with him. My DME might be lying to me about needing to hear from my sleep doctor, but like I said, doesn't bother me, I enjoy the visit.

[Lou Cypher]

Not since I had my sleep apnea test in 1998.

My current PCP write a script if I need one.... and he says after asking me if I use the machine and does it work for me he says "what do you want me to say" ...

This forum is my sleep doctor only no one here can write my script.....ROFL

[chunkyfrog]

My sleep doc is a "local business", and I try to support what I can.
Especially when Medicare foots the bill.
One look at my premiums, and you would understand.
I deserve everything I pay for.

[TASmart]

Mine will only write the prescription for 1 year, so I have to visit annually to keep the prescription current. While I understand the argument that we need to be checked periodically, seems more like a guaranteed business stream than a health concern to me.

[amenite]

Try your dentist maybe?

[msla]

I haven't seen mine for several years because I don't know where he retired to.

[TedVPAP]

My cardiologist tells me that I no longer need to see him unless there is a reason. My sleep apnea doctor tells me that I need to see him every 6 month or he won't renew my script even though my AHI is consistently below 1. I bought my last machine and mask without a script.
My friend's sleep doctor tells him that he is doing great after a year of APAP since his AHI is only 9 (I have since gotten his AHI down to 2.3).
I continue to have confidence in the medical profession; except for sleep doctors.

[Bill44133]

I've been at this 10+ years now and over that period over 98% compliant. Leaks appear ok ( if I get a smiling face on my machine I call it good ) and AHI 2.5 or less. If things are worse than that I load up sleepyhead. We moved a few years ago and I had to change suppliers and they wanted a new prescription so I found a new Dr. that took my insurance and made an appt. updated my script and moved on. Now its been one year and they keep calling, usually when I'm golfing so I don't answer.

Do you guys still go to the Dr. very year if you are not having issues?

I go every year except last year.. I was supposed to go in December and the doctor canceled my appointment..
i called back and they re-scheduled me for April I got a call last Friday and the doctor canceled my appointment for April; when i called back
they want to schedule me in August

For some reason I think the Doctor is avoiding me.

[Cathyann]

I was dx by my ENT dr. He considers it a life-long condition. It's been over a decade since I've seen him. Whenever I buy from a place online that requires an rx, he emails one over to me or will fax the company directly.

I do have an actual (undated) script in an email somewhere, but it's way way way burried under tons of spam and I'd never find it.

[jennmary]

Nope. In the 12 years since diagnosis I have seen him once, like 7 years ago.

[klm49]

I've been at this 10+ years now and over that period over 98% compliant. Leaks appear ok ( if I get a smiling face on my machine I call it good ) and AHI 2.5 or less. If things are worse than that I load up sleepyhead. We moved a few years ago and I had to change suppliers and they wanted a new prescription so I found a new Dr. that took my insurance and made an appt. updated my script and moved on. Now its been one year and they keep calling, usually when I'm golfing so I don't answer.

Do you guys still go to the Dr. very year if you are not having issues?

I'm pn Medicare and DME insists on a new Prescrip. every year.

[PaulKTF]

Yes. It's an insurance coverage requirement.

[SewTired]

Haven't seen my sleep doctor since the first visit. I got palmed off on to PA and NP. After the 1st year visit, I asked my primary, who I see every 6 months anyway, if he would take over for scripts for supplies and he was fine on that (he has no knowledge of sleep medicine). He will be retired before I'm eligible for another machine, so that's fine. DME requires an updated script annually - they don't accept 99 year or lifetime scripts (not sure if that is our state or Medicare requirement).

Honestly, I wouldn't MIND being palmed off to the PA or the NP. That would leave the doc's time to more patients who actually need the time. But they don't or can't answer my questions (or get an answer and call me back).

Completely different experience with my oncologist's PA and NP who bend over backwards to get answers to the things they don't know.

[booksfan]

[/quote]
I go every year except last year.. I was supposed to go in December and the doctor canceled my appointment..
i called back and they re-scheduled me for April I got a call last Friday and the doctor canceled my appointment for April; when i called back
they want to schedule me in August

For some reason I think the Doctor is avoiding me.
[/quote]

May be time to find a new doctor!