Recently, a friend of mine was experiencing unusual significant fatigue. Several things had been ruled out through testing. She was being very persistent with the doctor on this, and I suggested she take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale so that she would have a way to document her level of sleepiness. Later, she shared with me that when she reported on her fatigue, the doctor said, “I am tired too.” And then he went on to say that recently he had been diagnosed with a sleep disorder and promptly referred her for a sleep study. (By the way, that doctor is thin as a rail and so is my friend).

Like many “newer”, less understood diagnoses, until a doctor has some personal experience with it, either through a family member, friend, a patient who struggles and finally gets diagnosed and properly treated, or experiences specific education, sleep apnea will likely continue to fall under the radar.

I’ve experienced this too many times in my own health. Even I’ve been susceptible to it, before my own “paradigm shift”. Despite lots of indications (numerous visits for stubborn, continual ailments or issues), my doctors have missed my hyperglycemia, hypothyroidism, pelvic organ prolapse, possibly apnea, and other conditions) because it’s too easy to dismiss as a side effect of BC pills, common allergies, age (too young or too old), not overweight enough, etc. They religiously check labs, but they don’t compared lab trends over time, or the lab reference range is out of date, etc.

The main problem is that early detection and effective prevention isn’t really what most of our doctors do (nor is it what most patients want, either). Doctors aren’t trained to do it and they aren’t rewarded to do it, with few exceptions. Treatment is nearly always to simply suppress symptoms with the smallest amount of time and expense for the patient and the insurance company. Further investigation or treatment that actually heals the issue (like physical therapy) is only attempted when repeated attempts at symptom suppression don’t work (or the patient is shuffled off to a specialist with a new bag of symptom suppression tricks).

I know that sounds so pessimistic, but that is what I have experienced over and over. I am very encouraged to read your blog posts and book because you “get it” and are frustrated too. It’s just time consuming, expensive, and discouraging to seek out doctors who understand the need for that paradigm shift, while avoid the majority that are still fumbling around blindly in the dark ages.

BTW, love the comment email followup checkbox. Thanks!