Do I really need a sleep study?

[rnkaty 0]

:help:The pulmonoligist I visited as a pre-op requirement (all patients must do this before the surgery and his name was given to me by the surgeon I'm seeing) insists I do a sleep study even though I do not snore, sleep great, am always alert, and scored perfect on the written apnea test. He states he tests all patients and they all fail the sleep study, have sleep apnea, and need c-pap. Sounds like a racket to me since the sleep lab is next to his office. Did all of your surgeons require a sleep test or only if you or they suspected sleep apnea?

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

:help:The pulmonoligist I visited as a pre-op requirement (all patients must do this before the surgery and his name was given to me by the surgeon I'm seeing) insists I do a sleep study even though I do not snore, sleep great, am always alert, and scored perfect on the written apnea test. He states he tests all patients and they all fail the sleep study, have sleep apnea, and need c-pap. Sounds like a racket to me since the sleep lab is next to his office. Did all of your surgeons require a sleep test or only if you or they suspected sleep apnea?

HA! Sounds like he has a good thing going and I doubt he'll let you mess up his profitable track record of making sure you too, have sleep apnea.

Just remember, the more issues you have today the more you can be denied for later in life with a different insurance company. What if you don't have sleep apnea today but 10 years from now you get it and you have a new insurance company. Will you be covered when you actually DO get sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is just an example.

I'd be looking for a new doctor.

[lisah25 3]

Mine only does if there is reason to suspect it. I had to, because I snore and my DH reported that I stopped breathing at times at night. He didn't because he didn't have symptoms. So this sounds odd, esp. if all his patients somehow have sleep apnea.

I'd look for a new doctor as well.

[rnkaty 0]

Thank you for your replies! I am looking for a new doctor and am considering going to Houston to Dr. Spivak. Have any of you traveled a long way for your surgery and what do you do if you have complications and are far away?

[Daisalana 33]

Not sure about what to do for complications really.. My doctor is 3 hours away.. my local bariatric surgeons will not fill other patients, so.. I figured I'd just be going down there! I did worry I had blood clots post-op, and I just went to the local ER, then called my doctor next day to see if I should come in (I didn't)

As for the apnea.. that's crazy... My doctor only does it if they think you have sleep apnea.. I'm like you, I don't snore, I sleep fine.. I wouldn't have gotten one.. and bubble makes a great point about later with insurance. Run!

[juliegeraci 7]

Mine did only if he thought you had problems. With that being said, I didn't have to have one and I was able to have the surgery.

[Jeni 85 0]

i was required to have one... it helps in the insurance process to get the surgery because sleep apnea can improve with wieght los and that can be a reason they give to them and why you need this surgery... I was like you thought i slept great didnt snore but when i went for the sleep study they found that i have a minor case of sleep apnea... they gave me a c-pap (which i never use) supposedly if you have sleep apnea it is harder to lose weight.