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The Medical Profession And Testing

Posted by michaelnewman at 03:28 PM on January 15, 2010

I went to see a new pulmonologist today, and he has a partner in his group that only does sleep studies. Immediately after he saw me he ordered a O2 saturation test done overnight at home. The other shoe will drop, and I'm sure he will order a sleep study to be done, and that is not necessay since I do very well at night with O2. The problem is that these days doctors drop you from their practice like crazy, and in a very small community your options are very limited. You have to play nice, and pretend that you are hanging on their every word. As most everyone knows most large practices are nothing more than money making machines. If you want to remain in control of what they do just put them off for as long as possible.

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11 Comments

Reply Miriam

11:12 PM on January 17, 2010

Hi Michael,
While it is true that sometimes doctors order unnecessary tests, I think that starting with an oxygen saturation test is not a bad place to start. It's a non-invasive collection of data. Even if you sleep okay at night, if your oxygen rate drops you run the risk of cardiac events if you have any heart problems (and many dialyzors do.) Many people with CKD5 also have sleep apnea.

If you are consulting a doctor you are going to him for his expertise, an expertise you presumably don't have, and it is important to take that into account. You still don't have to do something you don't want to but it is true that if you don't cooperate then you might as well not be there, and the doctor may be concerned that he/she may be blamed and or sued if you have bad consequences from not allowing him to get clinical information with which to evaluate your condition.

I hope all goes well and that the doctor has some helpful advice to render.

Best wishes,
Miriam

Reply michaelnewman

08:55 AM on January 18, 2010

Miriam says...
Hi Michael,
While it is true that sometimes doctors order unnecessary tests, I think that starting with an oxygen saturation test is not a bad place to start. It's a non-invasive collection of data. Even if you sleep okay at night, if your oxygen rate drops you run the risk of cardiac events if you have any heart problems (and many dialyzors do.) Many people with CKD5 also have sleep apnea.

If you are consulting a doctor you are going to him for his expertise, an expertise you presumably don't have, and it is important to take that into account. You still don't have to do something you don't want to but it is true that if you don't cooperate then you might as well not be there, and the doctor may be concerned that he/she may be blamed and or sued if you have bad consequences from not allowing him to get clinical information with which to evaluate your condition.

I hope all goes well and that the doctor has some helpful advice to render.

Best wishes,
Miriam

One of the primary things this doctor does is sleep study's. I had the O2 saturation test done last year hence the need for O2 at night when I sleep. Unfortunately it has now become more complicated with the spots on my lung, and what will follow. Both the O2 saturation test, and sleep study will tell him nothing at this point, and both of those tests have been put on hold for now. I'll keep you informed.

Michael

Reply michaelnewman

05:38 PM on January 20, 2010

I have decided to do the O2 this weekend. Thanks for you little push Miriam. In my heart I knew you were right. Friday is my CT scan, and I'm very nervous abot it. I keep thinking lung cancer. At any rate I will soon know. Have a good weekend Miriam!

Reply Miriam

05:41 PM on January 21, 2010

michaelnewman says...
I have decided to do the O2 this weekend. Thanks for you little push Miriam. In my heart I knew you were right. Friday is my CT scan, and I'm very nervous abot it. I keep thinking lung cancer. At any rate I will soon know. Have a good weekend Miriam!

I hope that all goes with all the tests. I'm sending good karma your way.

Best wishes,
Miriam

Reply michaelnewman

10:05 AM on January 24, 2010

Monday will be a big day for me as hopefully I will get the results of the CT scan I had this past Friday. Needless to say I am very nervous about the results. The prednisone I premedicated with on Friday seems to have given me relief from my breathing problem. The residual effects are still with me today. Tonight I do a O2 saturation level, and if the prednisone still is in my body the results will be skewed to say the least.

Reply michaelnewman

09:57 AM on January 25, 2010

It appears that my O2 saturation level never went below 95% last night. It is interesting to note that ever since I pre-medicated with prednisone last Friday I haven't had any breathing problems. I was sure that dialysis on Saturday would have washed out any prednisone left in my system. I will just have to wait and see what happens over the next few days, and what my CT scan said.

Reply michaelnewman

11:09 AM on January 27, 2010

It is interesting to note that I have been calling my pulmonologist's off ice since Monday to get the results of my CT scan. I have been put off time after time by nurses telling me that the doctor has not yet looked at it yet. Patients get very anxious when they don't get answers. It causes them much anxiety, and stress unecessarily. I find that when you challenge a doctor they simply drop you from their practice. It has become a sad state of affairs when the patient has no right to be in control of his/her medical treatment.

Reply Miriam

09:40 PM on January 27, 2010

michaelnewman says...
It is interesting to note that I have been calling my pulmonologist's off ice since Monday to get the results of my CT scan. I have been put off time after time by nurses telling me that the doctor has not yet looked at it yet. Patients get very anxious when they don't get answers. It causes them much anxiety, and stress unecessarily. I find that when you challenge a doctor they simply drop you from their practice. It has become a sad state of affairs when the patient has no right to be in control of his/her medical treatment.

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. You have to keep on asking though because you can't assume that no news is good news. I hope that all works out well and that your doctor gets back to you soon.

Reply michaelnewman

04:00 PM on January 28, 2010

Miriam says...
I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. You have to keep on asking though because you can't assume that no news is good news. I hope that all works out well and that your doctor gets back to you soon.

I finally heard from the doctor, and it appears that the spot on my lung actually shrunk. Why I have shortness of breadth is still a mystery to them, and not heart related. Next week I have a breathing test, and then I'll see the nurse practicioner. My guess is that they will have me on some sort of inhaler. The O2 saturation test went fine, and remained at 98% all night.

Reply Miriam

06:31 PM on January 29, 2010

michaelnewman says...
I finally heard from the doctor, and it appears that the spot on my lung actually shrunk. Why I have shortness of breadth is still a mystery to them, and not heart related. Next week I have a breathing test, and then I'll see the nurse practicioner. My guess is that they will have me on some sort of inhaler. The O2 saturation test went fine, and remained at 98% all night.

Well, at least it didn't turn out to be what you were most worried about. Maybe you have s little asthma kinda thing and an inhaler will help. I hope things improve.

Best wishes,
Miriam

Reply michaelnewman

11:22 AM on February 01, 2010

Today I go for a breathing test, and my guess is that it will be just fine. I do think that somehow I have aquired asthma late in life, and that a rescue inhaler is in my near future.