Okay, I'm over it

[billeyler]

There was a message on the machine when we got back late late Sunday night...from Friday, when the sleep center called to schedule a study report. Of course, I wouldn't be in town when the call came.

As of today, I'm officially convinced that this whole 'sleep study' industry is a total racket, with absolutely zero concern for the patient and 100% concern for the corporate bottom line. How CAN I be an accountant and not think that.

The first clue was a rare thing. Last week, I got the bill for the overnight sleep study. $2,350. Amazing. That's twice what I paid WITHOUT insurance for a 1979 4-cyst removal surgery that corrected a serious problem I'd had for years that I was starting to think was cancer. That's 80% of what I paid WITHOUT insurance for orthodontics and braces in 1985-1987. That's the ONLY bill I've ever gotten in the past few years for a hospital visit. The others have just been totally invisible behind a small co-pay.

So today, I go to my 3pm appointment to see my sleep doc about the results of the December 28 study. Mind you, I made this appointment 23 hours before at 4pm yesterday when I returned the call. And before that it took a full six weeks before I could get my INITIAL appointment. I don't get it.

So I get the results. In a nutshell, I have 'mild' obstructive sleep apnea. In reading over the 10 points of the summary, I've decided the results were mostly made up and unprovable, unless I were able to be smart enought to read the results and see the video and sound portion of the study. The big lie was that it said I slept 71% of the 463 minutes of the full study. That is a downright fabrication. It's impossible that I slept more than 60 minutes, if that. My 'oxygenation' was lowest at 87% with 98% of the study of 90%, which I assume is good, but what does that prove, since I never really slept. "1 apnea, 16 hypopnea events" Big whoop.

The end result is that the doctor asked what I wanted to do, after giving me two options. The CPAP was the lesser of the recommendations; the recommended one was a "Herbst Appliance" which is apparently only available from one person in all of metro Albuquerque. Hmm, I thinks. The doctor was unsure about what kind of cost was involved with this mouth sleeping device, and if insurance would cover the appliance AND the CPAP if the appliance didn't do any good. This appliance would likely cost about $1500 for what appears to simply be a retainer with hinges. Confidence level dropping quickly on my part, considering they put through at least six sleep subject studies a day for five days a week.

But actually, for a good bit of the visit, the doctor talks to me about Popejoy Hall, and Musical Theatre Southwest, where I used to work (I was still wearing my Popejoy badge from work).

One irking bit, was that this doctor visit cost ANOTHER co-pay of $35, with the same mindless taking of the weight, the temperature, blood pressure, etc etc etc that eats up insurance. Why wouldn't a simple discussion of results be included in that hugely inflated overnight stay cost, I wonder.

Anyway, I'm thinking that I'm going to just let this apnea bit drop. Danny as well as other people encouraged me to do this. I have, and it's done.

Now tomorrow morning, I'm going for another worthless test, the Stress Echocardiogram, as part of this a-fib deal, to see if my body will tolerate some of the preventative drugs for a-fib. I guess it's just another way to pass the time and keep the machinery of the medical industry going. Sorry, fuzzygruf, my respect for the medical field is WAY low right now, at least this portion of it.

Comments

[fuzzygruf.livejournal.com]

I had a doctor fondle my cock today, so my opinion differs, LOL.

It really does sound like a racket. If your insurance pays for part of this, you may want to air your complaints to them. Not sure that would do any good, but ya never know.

When I checked oxygen saturation levels for patients, I was told that the "normal" level was 95% or higher.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

You might consider renting a CPAP machine for a month, and see if it makes a perceptible difference. If not, throw it back at the rental agency. If so, look into buying one. Most health insurance policies classify CPAPs as "Durable Medical Equipment" and pay for most of the cost.

However ... I agree that the sleep center doctors you worked with sound as if they may not be the sharpest tools in the shed.

[sfbearhoney.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you for feeling aggravated and I agree it is a racket. I'm still glad David did the process (less painful than yours, but still a real painful process with everything). His CPAP was a rent-to-own deal.


(I did have to laugh at "The big lie was that it said I slept 71% of the 463 minutes of the full study. That is a downright fabrication. It's impossible that I slept more than 60 minutes, if that."

[rifesterich.livejournal.com]

From my somewhat obscure and twisted vantage point, I believe that this whole sleep apnea thing is a trend in medicine for adults that just keeps the $$$ rolling along.

My father snored like a drugged hog and stopped breathing for a few seconds regularly while he was sleeping.

I ask honestly: do any of us know anyone who died because of sleep apnea?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

this whole 'sleep study' industry is a total racket

Do any of us know anyone who's gone through a sleep study and NOT been diagnosed with sleep apnea?

Not that I think sleep apnea is entirely made up. Rob says the CPAP machine completely changed his life, and I believe him -- and he had only hypopnea events, not apnea events, if I recall correctly. And yeah, oxygenation below 95% is not good. I echo allanh's suggestion to try a CPAP. It might be exactly what you need.

But every patient that comes in? Yeah. Racket.

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that this happened to you, especially given the fabulous results that allanh and others have had with their sleep apnea therapy. It's apparent to me that some sleep studies are legitimate while others are not. But you've reminded me that some things that look on the surface to be sleep problems may be caused by something completely different. A-fib and sleep issues -- chicken or egg? Who knows.

Best of luck getting it sorted out!

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

It's just being cranked through a medical system you don't trust that does it. I'll probably do something...Allan mentioned RENTING a CPAP for a while...that WASN'T an option the doctor even mentioned!

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

Death isn't the real issue here, but rather quality of life. allanh has real results to share about his sleep apnea therapy, including increased productivity, improved moods, and better health in general. But, as with any other legitimate branch of medical science, there are going to be those who jump on the bandwagon to sell snake oil. It's too bad, really, since that undermines the public's trust in the whole medical community, serious scientists and quacks alike.

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

I bet it's an easier option to explore in the Bay Area than in ABQ. Is your insurance going to keep all this from ruining you financially?

[rifesterich.livejournal.com]

Really? I had no idea! I'm very glad that it has helped allanh - sweet bitter queen that he is (smile!). You're right about the band wagon. :) Thanks for letting me know it has real and positive results. Who knew?