My sleep doc fired me today...LOL

[elg5cats]

After I called them and asked if the card in my "new" machine showed them any data or just compliance. Of course, it's just compliance and I ask then how are you going to know what is going on with me? Wrong question. I also pointed out that it seemed like all they were interested in was getting paid and not my health.A couple of hours later the Sleep Doc himself called and said he didn't appreciate that I was saying he was hooked up with the DME he sent me to and that he was going to get in touch with my GP AND RECOMMEND THAT I SEE A PSYCHIATRIST!Can you believe this guy!!!???? My "new" stripped down apap is going back to the DME on Monday.JeffH

Good for you for planning to return your machine......go to the psychiatrist and explain you were traumatized by a sleep MD and have a report of your psychiatric complaint sent to the sleep doc!!!!! Too bad when patient inquiry and desire to participate in/receive quality care is met with such inferior response......there's better out there even if hard to find. Hang in there with the urologist. Wear an "undie liner" know as panty liner to women, to protect those rarely worn shorts after you next visit. Hopefully, you'll get an answer for frequent urination.
elg5cats

[JohnBFisher]

Did he actually quit on you, or is he willing to continue to see you? Not that you'd want to see him, but I'm curious if he truly abandoned you (which is not ethical).

Nope, it appears his doctor did what all incompetent doctors / consultants / engineers do when faced with a thorny problem - Blame the patient! That's exaclty what a doctor says when they tell you "it's all in your head":

the Sleep Doc himself called and said he didn't appreciate that I was saying he was hooked up with the DME he sent me to and that he was going to get in touch with my GP AND RECOMMEND THAT I SEE A PSYCHIATRIST!

JeffH, you have my empathy. I've heard the same thing in the past. I usually just make it very clear that just because the doctor lacks the diagnostic insight into my problem does not mean it does not exist. Of course, I then fire them and find another specialist who can help. I've even gone back to some of these doctors after I've received a diagnosis and made it very clear that more capable doctors could find the problem. Who knows? It might help the next patient in a similar situation.

[Muse-Inc]

...

What dunces! Bet they threw the sample out too.

[jnk]

Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe the sleep doc had a particular psychiatrist in mind--maybe one with sleep apnea who the sleep doc couldn't help because the sleep doc didn't make sure the psychiatrist got a full-data machine. And maybe the psychiatrist would benefit from consulting with an educated PAP patient. Who knows?!



Some of my most interesting discussions have been with psychiatrists, so I don't knock it. If I ever need one, I hope my doc refers me. The old noggin seems to be working fairly well since starting PAP therapy, though. My brain and I seem to be getting along fine these days. Probably wouldn't hurt for me to take it into the dealership to get the oil checked and the tires rotated once in a while either way.

[SleepingUgly]

Some psychiatrists specialize in sleep medicine.

[jnk]

Some psychiatrists specialize in sleep medicine.

Very good point.

What about it, JeffH? Any chance you could play along and kill both birds with one stone--find a sleep doc and psychiatrist all rolled into one who understands the need for home-machine data?

Seriously.

[sleepsalot]

Solid red blood leaking from your penis will do a number on your head...LOL.


JeffH

Oh wow see needing a catheter is probably my biggest fear because it seems so wrong. But dark blood, now that is a frightening thought. Is the whole process painful? I don't mean to ask strange questions I just never knew that could happen. Yikes! Good luck with everything by the way!

[RN Ricky]

I cannot believe this happened to you! This doc is unbelievable. So many problems come with a patient's Non-compliance than anything else.

Just remember that the "better than everyone, because I have more education than the rest of you" docs
put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of US.

Talk about unprofessional -- I am sure the state board of professional licensing would be interested in this fall out...

[sleepsalot]

I agree with RN Ricky,
That "specialist" is anything but professional. That whole process of dealing with a person like that seems very stressful!

[socknitster]

Wow, very interesting that they would treat a man this way. Jeff, you are getting a TASTE of what it is like to be a WOMAN with a medical problem and be told that you are a.) hysterical or b.) too pushy or c.) all your problems are in your head or d.) blame it on female hormones. I've been referred to psychs more than I would care to admit because of the above. When you won't lay down and take their word as FREAKIN GOSPEL, they don't want anything to do with you, much less help you!

You see, I don't even think celebrities are worth worshiping, much less doctors, presidents or anyone else that walks on this earth. We are all just human after all. None of us are infallible. Doctors tend to forget that. Thinking all that expensive education and work put them one step above the rest of us. Get someone with a little knowledge in the same area and they get threatened. Yes, you hit a nerve.

[SleepingUgly]

It quit pretty quickly, but I ruined a pair of drawers! Oh well, only wear them when I go see Doc's anyway.

If they were your absolute favorites, and you really want to keep them, you may be able to salvage them. Put hydrogen peroxide on the blood. It will immediately turn white and bubble. Then wash.

[JRI]

I also pointed out that it seemed like all they were interested in was getting paid and not my health.

JeffH

I would imagine that once you said that everything thing else you said was blocked out by the red flags of possible litigation.

It seems impossible anymore to be able to have a conversation without the doctor/nurse/technician falling back on the company line of CYA.

2+2=4 but try to have them agree that 3+1=4 and all they do is keep repeating that 2+2=4 like anything else is a trick question.

[JeffH]

It quit pretty quickly, but I ruined a pair of drawers! Oh well, only wear them when I go see Doc's anyway.

If they were your absolute favorites, and you really want to keep them, you may be able to salvage them. Put hydrogen peroxide on the blood. It will immediately turn white and bubble. Then wash.

Did that, but I guess it had dried too much. They made the trash...LOL.

[grady61]

Make sure you get a copy of your sleep study.......
(you paid for it and it's yours)

Sorry to hear things didn't work out well with that one. It seems that there are too many of those types of sleep doctors out there......these pages are littered with them. If he's actually the one that prescribed that specific machine, then he's really as worthless as the data that would have come out of the machine.

If you DO get a copy of your sleep study, maybe you can take it to someone who's competent.

When are you supposed to hear back from the urologist?


Den

I went to the urologist this morning. First he did a voiding study and I did OK on that, then he did the flex cysto. He had me look at the monitor as he was going in and suddenly there were two tubes he could go down. He said, now that's interesting...

Turns out that one of the times I was catheterized they missed and poked this hole in me. It was the larger of the two so he went in there but hit a dead end. My urethra was too small to get his camera into my bladder, so he is going to stretch it out next week. I'll have to wear a catheter over night but then things should be good. Hopefully he'll look in my bladder while I'm knocked out.

Solid red blood leaking from your penis will do a number on your head...LOL.


JeffH

Lody,I had a knock down drag out fight with a kidney stone years ago. I ended up in the hospital on the 4th day doc tells me hes gonna roto rooter me which just scared the pjeezes outta me. Next morning nurse comes in and offers me something to relax me but never comes back to give me the meds. She shows up to transport me down to the OR I ask wheres the relaxing medicine. She told me to stop whining and called me a sissy ! I get thru with the surgery and next day I returned home and about 3 weeks go buy and Im still passing blood. So I called the doc and he tells me he put a stent in my bladder and I was supposed to come back to get it removed a week after I left the hospital. Which amounts to getting roto rootered yet again

[rosiefrosie]

JeffH[/quote]
Lody,I had a knock down drag out fight with a kidney stone years ago. I ended up in the hospital on the 4th day doc tells me hes gonna roto rooter me which just scared the pjeezes outta me. Next morning nurse comes in and offers me something to relax me but never comes back to give me the meds. She shows up to transport me down to the OR I ask wheres the relaxing medicine. She told me to stop whining and called me a sissy ! I get thru with the surgery and next day I returned home and about 3 weeks go buy and Im still passing blood. So I called the doc and he tells me he put a stent in my bladder and I was supposed to come back to get it removed a week after I left the hospital. Which amounts to getting roto rootered yet again[/quote]


Ouch!!! Hmmmmm! Me thinks you need a new urologist. I would have made the nurse give me the med and had a little chat with her supervisor. Geez, that's degrading! The second time should be free.

rosie