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visit with sleep doc
I've been on CPAP since last April, but I only just saw my sleep doctor in November. Unfortunately, I absolutely hated him. I found him to be a know-it-all with a set speech he wanted to make about sleep apnea (questions clearly irritated him) and a completely made up mind about the condition. He told me that my sleep apnea was caused by my "morbid obesity" and he looked me up and down obviously and with contempt and said, "I'm surprised it's not worse than it is." He told me all sleep apnea is caused by obesity, unless it's a birth defect (and he gave me 10 minutes on the various birth defects that can cause it) and losing weight will cure it. He said it was ridiculous to think that my grandfather dying in his sleep at age 52 had anything to do with sleep apnea, and that no one ever died of sleep apnea. It’s also not genetic, according to him, so my father and two brothers who have it “must also be obese.” He seemed disappointed when I told him I was doing well on CPAP and had not missed one night, and told me that most people go through 2-3 masks before they get well adjusted. He also treated me to 10 minutes on the evils of insurance companies and how they make him assess people when it's not needed (he didn't want to listen to my lungs) and how the really good treatment for sleep apnea is too expensive and insurance won't pay. (My appointment lasted well over 1.5 hours. I almost got up and walked out several times, but my innate courtesy prevented me.)
Since I saw him I’ve been so discouraged. Now my CPAP, which used to be my friend, is a symbol of morbid obesity. In our large household it’s pretty well impossible to get a nap without someone walking in on you (my washer and dryer are accessed through my bedroom) and I am always afraid someone will see me with my CPAP on. I’ve taken two naps since the doctor’s appointment, both without CPAP. Someone might see. I didn’t care before this. I wake up with a bad headache each time; so no more naps. Nighttime I put it on as late as possible and take it off by first morning light. Needless to say, my sleep is suffering.
I am so discouraged. He made me feel very ashamed of my condition.
I need to find another sleep doctor, but it’s not an easy specialist to find. And what if I encounter the same contempt again? I am not sure I am ready for that at all.
Since I saw him I’ve been so discouraged. Now my CPAP, which used to be my friend, is a symbol of morbid obesity. In our large household it’s pretty well impossible to get a nap without someone walking in on you (my washer and dryer are accessed through my bedroom) and I am always afraid someone will see me with my CPAP on. I’ve taken two naps since the doctor’s appointment, both without CPAP. Someone might see. I didn’t care before this. I wake up with a bad headache each time; so no more naps. Nighttime I put it on as late as possible and take it off by first morning light. Needless to say, my sleep is suffering.
I am so discouraged. He made me feel very ashamed of my condition.
I need to find another sleep doctor, but it’s not an easy specialist to find. And what if I encounter the same contempt again? I am not sure I am ready for that at all.
Views: 135
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by 99 on
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hi you need to ignore this contemptable doc and look for one that treats you as a human
mike has a new site you can black list him there i think as ones to avoid
the doc may be correct but that is not the loving thing to do and it is not as simplistic as that
we have celebrities with apnea infact all apneans are celebrities including you
do not be proud of your condidtion but donot be ashamed of it ether
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i like the part of you being complient keep it up and move on do not let him pull you down you have a condition you do not want but you have to live with it and your cpap
think about terminating his 2010 contract
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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There are all kinds of jerks out there!!!
I have encountered them, just as you have. Weight can be a factor, but there lots of skinny people with sleep apnea, so it isn't all weight for many of us. I am sure I had sleep apnea in my skinny days as I was tired and miserable back then as well.
If you had cancer, diabetes, or a host of other major illnesses would you still be ashamed? The doctor is a first class jerk and probably is one of the "holier than thou" people that will get their just pay back at some point in time.
Try to let it go and know that you have a life threatening condition that is easily treated and can lead to a better life that does not need intrusive treatment to treat it. In my mind, I would much rather have sleep apnea than many of the diseases that have to be treated more aggressively.
Do not be embarrassed nor ashamed. Know that weight alone may not be the sole cause of your sleep apnea.
Keep plugging away, not for the doctor, but for yourself. Do something nice for yourself for a change, take a bubble bath, watch your favorite tv show, pop in a movie, read a good book, take care of yourself. You only have one body and it will thank you.
If nothing else take your pillow and punch it and pretend it is your sleep doctor. Several years ago, I had a run in with a principal and he made me sooooo mad. I had a parent threaten me, on more than one occasion the parent would walk in front of the school -- but not on school property, waiting for me. The principal shrugged it off and would just tell me "to wait it out til they gave up and left". At the time I was going to water aerobics and loved it. One day after class, I waited till the pool was empty and then took a pool noodle and beat the living day lights out of the water with the pool noodle and under my breathe told him what I thought of him. I felt much better after that.
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
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It only takes 10 pounds of excessive weight to start apnea....and it also can happen if you are under-weight. being underweight can cause a flap in tissue giving the same OSA. Some people need to relearn bedside manner.
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