Moved areas and new hospital refusing me treatment (UK)
Hi
I have been successfully using a CPAP machine for 6 years. The original diagnosis wasn’t conclusive as I didn’t really sleep. They tried me on the treatment anyway, and my snoring, regular waking, morning headaches all stopped. The machine’s data varies from 1 apnoea per hour + 2 hypopneas up to about three or four times that.
On moving areas, the new hospital did a test where I slept a bit but say I don’t meet the criterion for treatment. I asked for a retest as I hadn’t slept much and the same (though slep a little more). They haven’t given me the data and won’t give me an appointment to discuss it. I’ve tried sleeping without the machine and all the old problems are back, plus I have a partner now and he can’t sleep. We live on a narrowboat so there isn’t another room for me to sleep in.
Has anyone any experience or ideas? Noting I am in the UK so this is with the NHS. I don’t have money to go private or buy my own machine. The hospital said they had contacted the previous hospital but not got a response after trying 8 times. I will try again to get them to respond but the new hospital have already signed me off, uninterested.
Thank you
Thank you so much. Will read through and yes, I’ll continue trying to obtain my old records. The NHS in England is on its knees and it’s so difficult even to speak with someone over the phone.
How horrible,
. It must be such a helpless feeling to be shut down like that. Can you continue to reach out to the previous hospital on your own for your old records? If you can get them, maybe you will find a more compassionate doctor the next time you have an appointment who will be willing to advocate for you. In the meantime, here is an article about some lifestyle changes that might at least ease your symptoms some: https://sleepapnea.sleep-disorders.net/lifestyle-changes. I hope this helps and that you are able to get some relief. Gentle hugs. - Lori (Team Member)
