My son had his first sleep study almost two weeks ago. They said it would be two weeks or less for the results. Now the ENT's office is saying it could be 4-6 weeks. AARRRGGG! Every night that I watch him struggle for breath is torture.  

Has anyone else been told it takes that long for results?

No, although it does take the DR's their sweet time. Hannah had her first sleep study in December, she was not able to start CPAP until May.It drives me crazy especially when you are dealing with our kids health. It took about 2 1/2 weeks for our results to come in.


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Heather-Mom to Hannah(8-hose head) and Logan(4), wife to Paul (also a hose head)

Well, some sleep labs and even doctor's offices and imaging centers send their dictation out for transcription which could explain some of the delay.

And some doctors are almost paranoid that their patients NOT get any results UNTIL the doctor can see the patient IN PERSON during an appointment and THAT can really take some time getting the appointment.

And some sleep labs even send the data out for scoring!! Or do the scoring and then send it out to a sleep specialist for reading and dictating and then send the dictated report to the referring doctor.

My sleep lab has their own transcriptionist. The results are scored the day of the previous night's study. The doctor dictates the results yet that day or the next and the transcriptionist does that day's dictation the same day or the next at the latest.

I can pick up the results and dictated report w/in 3-4 days. Of course, I discussed this w/them ahead of time that I would want a copy of the results and report to look over so that I had my questions ready when I saw the doctor for my follow-up appointment.

They were ready to FAX the DME I preferred later the same day of my titration! I refused and told them I wanted some say in what equipment was ordered for me so would wait until I could see the doctor w/my questions and we could then discuss what equipment I was interested in and the doctor and I could mutually agree upon.

Then it depends on the DME. If they don't have the exact machine scripted they may offer an xPAP to use UNTIL the ordered machine arrives. They may let you cool your heels until the ordered machine comes in. They may have the ordered machine and call you to deliver it the same day they receive the order. Or they may make you cool your heels until their RT has the time to see you in their office to get you set up. Some even have regular classes for patients to come in as a group to be set up w/their equipment and you don't get in until the next class.

There's just no hard and fast rules w/in the sleep profession. Or the medical profession as a whole on how they handle things like test results, scripted therapy, etc.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
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It totally drives me nuts that patients get jerked around this way.  My sleep studies have to be scored by the techs before they leave work in the morning so that my doc can see the results when he comes in.  My doc. runs his own sleep lab.  And, granted, I am a long-time patient and my doc. knows me well, but he called me 30 minutes after I got home from my study to go over my results.  I just wish everyone got that kind of care.

I'd call the ENT and ask specifically why it is being delayed, if the process can be expedited and if your son can be put on a cancellation list.  I'd also say what you said here that "Every night that I watch him struggle for breath is torture." and that you have done as much as you can and now, they are responsible for his physical well-being.

Arrrgggg!  Let us knows how it goes!!

Vicki


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Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

The nurse called today and said that the results were back! We have an appointment to go over everything this Wednesday. Next Monday we have him set up for his hearing test (adenoids possibly blocking ear canal and not allowing airflow in and out of his ears.)

I'm going to loose my mind before then. When you don't know something, you (maybe it's just me) tend to blow it up in your mind.

Thanks for all the help. You guys are great.

Note to Vicki: I took your tip about using that particular wording-and it must have Worked!
----Thanks so much-----

My son had his hearing tested before his surgery and he had some definate hearing loss, but when the ent took out his adenoids he said that they were so big that they were pressing on his eustachian tubes.  So when we go back on Monday he wants to do another hearing test because the ent is sure that it was a major factor in his hearing loss. And all this time I just thought my son was ignoring me. lol.  Anyway hope all goes well for you guys.