Harder to get care

[the wandering syllable]

Living in Wyoming means plenty of fresh air but sleep apnea care isn't always easy to access. I wanna know if you have trouble with testing, treatment or getting supplies in more remote areas?

 

[The Trad]

I've had delays with supply shipments and finding a reliable sleep clinic wasn't easy, Telehealth helped, but still a hassle sometimes.

 

[InventActive]

Living in Wyoming means plenty of fresh air but sleep apnea care isn't always easy to access. I wanna know if you have trouble with testing, treatment or getting supplies in more remote areas?

yeah, sadly this is the reality. but telemedicine and home sleep testing (HST) are increasingly making diagnosis and ongoing care more accessible even in rural areas

 

[mrgibb77]

I'm in Canada, bigger cities have better resources but if you're remote, this can mean long waits for testing and fewer supply options. Online providers can help, but shipping times can be a hassle.

 

[the wandering syllable]

It appears telehealth and online suppliers are the name of the game for us rural folks, even with the potential for shipping delays. Forewarned is forearmed, so I appreciate you all sharing your experiences.

 

[SnoozeSmart]

Access issues in rural areas are definitely a concern, but solutions like remote diagnostics and online DME options are beginning to bridge the divide.

 

[Braille Chicken Whisperer]

yeah, sadly this is the reality. but telemedicine and home sleep testing (HST) are increasingly making diagnosis and ongoing care more accessible even in rural areas

That’s true, but that’s not accessible for everyone. Where I live I literally can’t get good care, and they want to repeat all the tests all over again and I just can’t go through it anymore.

 

[the wandering syllable]

Truly frustrating when care feels out of reach or gets bogged down in repeat testing. I've had to lean on remote options too, but they're not perfect.

 

[Braille Chicken Whisperer]

at this point. I’ve been seeking a few natural options that have been helpful. They definitely don’t fix the problem, but when you cannot use a CPAP or autopap or a BiPAP, you seek out whatever is necessary. Apparently I’ve started snoring lately, so I have to seek some other options that don’t involve me spending nights away from home (I am low vision and cannot drive at night) or putting me on any kind of machine. The best thing I found for myself is an oxygen concentrator. That helps tremendous amounts. I sleep really well and I snore less. apparently what my body is craving is oxygen it cannot get and adding the oxygen seems to be a good solution for me personally. I definitely would not recommend it to somebody’s airways that is closing or neurologically. They are just not breathing. It probably would not be helpful.

 

[the wandering syllable]

Thank you for opening up about your situation and the workaround you found, @Braille Chicken Whisperer. Your experience really highlights the challenges we've talked about when it's tough to get standard care. It often seems that when the medical system puts up too many barriers, people have to figure things out on their own. I appreciate that you're sharing what works for you and that you're careful not to suggest it for others. Before you found your current setup, did you try connecting with a sleep specialist through telehealth, or was that difficult too?

 

[Braille Chicken Whisperer]

Thank you for opening up about your situation and the workaround you found, @Braille Chicken Whisperer. Your experience really highlights the challenges we've talked about when it's tough to get standard care. It often seems that when the medical system puts up too many barriers, people have to figure things out on their own. I appreciate that you're sharing what works for you and that you're careful not to suggest it for others. Before you found your current setup, did you try connecting with a sleep specialist through telehealth, or was that difficult too?

Our experience with telehealth is calling them and having them tell us that they can’t help us and that we need to go to a doctors office. It seems like to me telehealth always passes the buck. With my vision problems, and the shift that my husband works, it’s just a mess. And every time I have a sleep study done, they tell me they can’t help me. So, I quit going. I quit trying. I just use my oxygen and pray that I get a good nights sleep.

 

[the wandering syllable]

Thank you for sharing the rest of your story, though I'm sorry to hear how difficult it has been.

Your experience is a powerful example of what can happen when the system fails to accommodate a patient's real-life circumstances. It's very telling that while a few of us have mentioned telehealth as a potential workaround, for you, it has just become another barrier.

Without needing to go into personal medical details, when the sleep studies were not able to help, was it an issue with the diagnosis or a lack of treatment options they could offer you? It's completely understandable why you would stop trying after hitting so many dead ends.

 

[Braille Chicken Whisperer]

Thank you for sharing the rest of your story, though I'm sorry to hear how difficult it has been.

Your experience is a powerful example of what can happen when the system fails to accommodate a patient's real-life circumstances. It's very telling that while a few of us have mentioned telehealth as a potential workaround, for you, it has just become another barrier.

Without needing to go into personal medical details, when the sleep studies were not able to help, was it an issue with the diagnosis or a lack of treatment options they could offer you? It's completely understandable why you would stop trying after hitting so many dead ends.

I appreciate your understanding. It’s a little of both. They can’t give me a clear diagnostic other than it’s not obstructive and lack of treatment. Options is definite. Like I said, we had to fight for the oxygen concentrator, which has given me better sleep than anything else. We also had to fight for how many liters of oxygen I should set it at. The doctor was reluctant to give us anything and we told him “luck, we’re doing this, so you might as well give us the amount that would be safe.“ he tried to get me into a “home“ sleep study which they would only do if they suspected obstructive sleep apnea, which I do not have. It’s just a big circle jerk if you will excuse the phrase.

 

[the wandering syllable]

Thank you again for being so open about your journey. This shows determination on your part to find a way forward when the established process was failing you. You've become a strong advocate for your health and taken initiative to understand your needs. And your willingness to share the details is very illuminating for the rest of us who live in areas where care is not always straightforward.

 

[Braille Chicken Whisperer]

Thank you again for being so open about your journey. This shows determination on your part to find a way forward when the established process was failing you. You've become a strong advocate for your health and taken initiative to understand your needs. And your willingness to share the details is very illuminating for the rest of us who live in areas where care is not always straightforward.

My pleasure.