Best US Sleep apnea treatment centers

If I don't find some answers for my sleep apnea issues soon in Canada I am going to consider going to the US for help. Things just take forever here and I can't suffer much longer. (As most of you know CPAP isn't working for me any more due to sevre nasal sweeling issues)

What are the best centers for sleep apnea treament in US? I'm looking for the every best treatment centers that are on the leading edge of _effective_ treatments.

I have an apointment with a Resperologist here In Canada on Tuesday and after that I'm going to consider looking in the US. There seems like only a couple of surgal options that really might work long term so I want to find the best team of drs that can get to the root of the problem (if it comes to that)

James, I don't know, but just want to ask if you are doing any better? Has the infection/fungus cleared up? Are you back home again? And good to see you.

Sorry, just saw your earlier post. Still nice to see you.

I don't know that they are the BEST for sleep apnea/nasal problems but you might want to give serious consideration to contacting Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and at least discussing your issues w/them and where they would refer you. I know they've done "some" research as I've read one or two abstracts coming out of Mayo. I sure had been hoping for some good news from you, James. I'm sorry you aren't getting the relief you need yet.

James,

We are rooting for you!!! I agree, the Mayo clinic is probably the best hospital in the United States, however I don't know about their reputation with sleep apnea.

Hopefully you find exactly what you need!!!


Kent

James, it seems to me that this has gone way beyond sleep apnea. US News & World Report has been rating the top 50 teaching hospitals in the US for years now. I just checked out the current rankings for ENT departments.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/bes ... hqotol.htm

They are ranking Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD as the #1 ENT department, followed by:
2. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
3. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston
4. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
5. University of Michigan Hospitals and Health System, Ann Arbor
6. Barnes - Jewish Hospital/Washington University, St. Louis
7. Cleveland Clinic
8. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

I didn't bother with the rankings below Mayo as the next two were way west.

I'd say Mayo... you're more likely to find whatever it is that is the problem there.

I also have no idea where they rate for apnea specifically, but regarding Mayo Clinic - a young man at our church did (or perhaps is still doing) his residency there. Talking with his dad, who is an R.N., one of the most impressive aspects of Mayo is that you have a number of specialists who examine you and then confer directly with each other, oftentimes right in your room. They're also reputed to be quite efficient with timeliness of tests. (Contrast this to many hospitals, where physicians will sometimes write orders which run counterpurpose one to another.) Don't know of many other places where you can receive that kind of service.

Hi J I know how you canooks love florida in the winter. I have a wonderful sleep doc, from one of the best sleep clinics in the us; the only place I've been that had c paps on display in the office, and where the docs really seemed to have a handle on the range of sleep disorders and treatments. I dont need to see them regularly anymore, but it was worth every penny of the initial consultation and follow up that I had.

It is Dr Cherniak and Dr Esparis (the associate who is wonderful) at the Miami Sleep Disorder Center. Look up the name Cherniak and Miami on the web and youll find more info.

Come on down before hurricane season starts! Good luck, it really does help to have some expert guidance. But warning: this crew will not automatically recommend surgery unless they really think it will work.

awaken

My family has been going to Mayo Clinic for over 40 years and its a 6 to 12 hour drive for us (12 for hubby and I, 6 for most of the family). I've also been to Cleveland Clinic (5 hour drive) and U of MI (2 hour drive) and I can tell you that Mayo Clinic is THE EPITOME of EFFICIENCY!!! The absolute EPITOME!

If your initial appointment is anytime before late afternoon you are started on testing yet the same day. Your head will be spinning moving from appointment to appointment, test to test. They waste NO time at all! I've had treatments started as late as 6:30 in the evening. As much as possible is done Outpatient and if you DO require hospitalization you are in your PJs almost before you leave the Clinic office!!! If you need surgery once you agree there's never been more than a 1-2 day delay that we've ever experienced in all these years. It can be a real whirlwind experience but man, these doctors are THOROUGH and some of the best in the world!! I LOVE Mayo Clinic and swear by them.

jskinner wrote:There seems like only a couple of surgal options that really might work long term

If you're contemplating MMA-GA for OSA, I'd be considering Stanford in California. Specifically, the Dr. Kasey Li that billinseattle mentions in his posts under the links about UPPP, MMA etc. in the bottom third of the page here:

Clickable LINKS to surgery, turbinates, Pillar, TAP experiences
viewtopic.php?t=2836

If it were me, I'd go nowhere other than the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, or Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. I also used to work very closely with the Sleep Disorders Center at Gaylord Hospital in Connecticut, and they were one of the first and VERY good. I think that Yale has absorbed them, and I have not kept current on their progress after I left Yale and New Haven.

I do wish you the very best of luck in finding a solution for your malady.

Chuck

As much as I love Mayo Clinic, Rochester, and even being in Michigan, I'd be inclined to head for Johns Hopkins given their USN&WR ranking for their ENT department based on the symptoms you've been describing to us. And Goofy's recommendation would seal the deal if it were me.

Hiya James,

I had a CT-Scan and the report said my sinuses were immature, so my Internist is sending me to an ENT Dr. that he says is great and I also developed a goiter or an enlarged thyroid in which this Dr. is also a specialist.

Check this out: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/bes ... hqotol.htm. Johns Hopkins, The Mayo Clinic, and the Cleveland Clinic always seem to be at the top.

Good Luck,

Allen

I was previously married to a Rochester, MN Mayo employee so got all of my medical care there, including a sleep study (my ex had one there as well). I was very happy with my care at Mayo with the exception of my sleep study and related doctor appointments. This was a few years ago and may not be typical of other people's experiences there, but it was not a good experience for me.

"Your mileage may vary."

Hospital rankings have no bearing on what kind of treatment you may get for a particular disorder. I would go where they specialize in Sleep Medicine and the latest techniques. It doesn't cost any more money than it does your regular doctor in many cases you get treatment for less. If you have insurance they will bill for the procedures but if you do not have insurance they can explain the alternatives.

You may be seen by a 3rd or 4th year Student Doctor, absolutely nothing wrong with that, in fact I'd prefer that because the Student Doctor has to go down medical protocol dotting all their i's and crossing all their t's. Their work is constantly being reviewed by some of the best Sleep Specialists in the country.

If it were me, I'd go to Stanford University, without a doubt they are the most thorough in the Nation and many of the procedures and protocols developed there such as the MMA and GA procedures are teaching tools for other hospitals and universities. They also have some of the best surgeons around should you need one.

http://med.stanford.edu/school/psychiatry/coe/

To see them you need:

1. A referral from your GP doctor in Canada (he just needs to put down on a script referral to Standford Sleep Center).
2. Put together all your medical history file (they may have one you can download and fill out then email/fax it to them). This would include any past PSG studies you have completed.
3. Request an appointment (be patient, could take you 3 months to get one).

OR your Doctor in Canada can set up the appointment directly:

http://www.stanfordhospital.com/forPhys ... LiaisonShc

I have seen your POST reports WITH cpap therapy, you should have made that appointment 6 months ago. Your AHI is worse with cpap therapy than many I've seen here without. That is not right, and explains to me the major change seen in your appearance.

Besides the weather at Standford and Palo Alto area is much nicer than all that snow back east. Don't know if you are in Toronto or Montreal but the flight is not that bad from either local.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, AHI

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, AHI