Work related help needed!

[chattabob]

Hi all,

I'm getting pretty desperate for help.

I've been off work for to long now trying to get my sleep issues sorted as I just cannot function or concerntrate in work and always feel tired.

My Girlfriend told me I stopped breathing when I was asleep so I've had sleep studies done for SA... this is the confusing part... I paid privately for my results as I could not wait until next year for Aintree to see me. The consultant now wants to send me for further tests... The multi latency and PSG despite my results stating I have "Mild Apnoea" but has not offered any treatment for this as he is not convinced this is the reason for my tiredness.

Now my time is almost out and I'm going to have to return to work in this state or risk no pay or be fired. Am I covered by the DDA as my documentation confirms mild apnoea or does this not apply as the consultant doesnt believe this is the issue??

If I'm not covered I understand work does not have to find me another position (In the short term) where as if I am then they do have to (My union confirmed this to be the case)

My job involves long days, driving, climbing, working underground so requires my constant attention. I was messing up badly at work because of my concerntration hense why I had to go off.

On top of this I work in London which is quite a distance from Liverpool where I use to live... and coping with this without family and friends is very hard but work will not move me back.

I also suffer from Anxiety but I do push myself and did push myself to move down to London which was maybe to big of a move while having anxiety, although I do feel my anxiety stems from being tired. I've read on direct.gov that anxiety is classed as a disability so wonder where I stand with work if I persued this route instead of SA?

My union said they will step in if they are unable to find me another position however, it seems the power is not in my hands or the unions to insist on this.

All I want is to feel better and live a normal life like everyone else but right now I feel like I'm either going to sink or swim.

I've also sent work a letter from my consultant recommending they find me alternative work and will be going to see the Occupational health shortly.

work are currently telling me they have no other positions available just yet which I find hard to beleive being a huge national company.

Getting desperate now so any guidance would be much appreciated

[symmit]

Hi - sorry to hear about your problems, you sound like you're where I was about a year ago.

Can you just clarify what tests have been done so far?

[chattabob]

Hi - sorry to hear about your problems, you sound like you're where I was about a year ago.

Can you just clarify what tests have been done so far?

Thanks for the quick reply,

I've done the Oximeter test which came back fine and then the next one was where I had wires attached to the back of my hand, on my leg, pipes up my nose to measure oxygen, chest all attached to a pack on my stomach. I've got a copy of the results but it doesnt seem to say what the test was?

It measured my sleep stages, oxygen, heart rate, sleep position, snoring, leg movement

[Richard]

You don't say how long this has gone on for, or how old you are, but whatever, you do need to take command of the situation; I am sure you feel that, too.

Firstly, it's not helpful to be living in London and, I am guessing here, having your GP in Liverpool. That's stressful in itself.

Either you move back to Liverpool and continue with your present consultant, or you find a GP closer to where you live, who will be able to refer you to a number of sleep-clinics nearer to where you live.

You say you have already been diagnosed with mild Sleep Apnoea. If the situation you find yourself in is threatening your career, can I suggest you try this:

Intus, the people who run this site offer a very quick turn round on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea diagnosis and will supply an overnight sleep-study with follow-up of CPAP-Therapy, the gold standard in OSA treatment. Within a couple of weeks you could be getting the treatment for your sleep apnoea. Once you're on the CPAP-Therapy, you will most likely feel very much better and your tiredness will have disappeared.

Go to www.sleep-study.co.uk and find out more about this.

Now, your consultant is saying there may be some other disorder in addition to your SA. Whether you're in Liverpool or London, you will have some idea from speaking to him/her what they mean: is it a respiratory problem (breathing) or a cardiological problem (your heart)?

The NHS have a series of new websites with the address www.chooseandbook.nhs.co.uk. Using this, you will be able to find the hospital with the shortest waiting-time that is close to where you live. Tell your GP which one you want and ask for a referral there.

If you follow these steps, you will get treatment for your sleep apnoea very quickly, and then the extra investigations can take their time without you feeling so wretched about feeling tired and losing your job, etc.

Bear in mind, if you are diagnosed with sleep apnoea, you are required to surrender your driving-licence to the DVLA until you can prove you are no longer driving while tired. Phone the DVLA if you haven't done so already.

All the best.

Richard

[chattabob]

You don't say how long this has gone on for, or how old you are, but whatever, you do need to take command of the situation; I am sure you feel that, too.

I'm 30 years old and I've been like this for the last 14 years or so


You say you have already been diagnosed with mild Sleep Apnoea. If the situation you find yourself in is threatening your career, can I suggest you try this:

It says Mild sleep apnea on my ducmentation although my consultant didnt mention it

Intus, the people who run this site offer a very quick turn round on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea diagnosis and will supply an overnight sleep-study with follow-up of CPAP-Therapy, the gold standard in OSA treatment. Within a couple of weeks you could be getting the treatment for your sleep apnoea. Once you're on the CPAP-Therapy, you will most likely feel very much better and your tiredness will have disappeared.

I've arranged to rent a CPAP or APAP tomorrow, my additional worry is my girlfriend has now told me I no longer stop breathing in my sleep

Go to www.sleep-study.co.uk and find out more about this.

Now, your consultant is saying there may be some other disorder in addition to your SA. Whether you're in Liverpool or London, you will have some idea from speaking to him/her what they mean: is it a respiratory problem (breathing) or a cardiological problem (your heart)?

He wants to rule out Narcolepsy?? I dont have those symptoms though and also IH as I do need 12 hours sleep or more to even half function during the day and still find myself tired

The NHS have a series of new websites with the address www.chooseandbook.nhs.co.uk. Using this, you will be able to find the hospital with the shortest waiting-time that is close to where you live. Tell your GP which one you want and ask for a referral there.

Already done this mate, phoned half the country to find out there waiting lists, some couldnt tell me, some wouldnt, some were too long to wait and others wanted me to be referred first. I've sent my Doctors an email with a list of all these places to see which one is quickest

If you follow these steps, you will get treatment for your sleep apnoea very quickly, and then the extra investigations can take their time without you feeling so wretched about feeling tired and losing your job, etc.

I hope so

Bear in mind, if you are diagnosed with sleep apnoea, you are required to surrender your driving-licence to the DVLA until you can prove you are no longer driving while tired. Phone the DVLA if you haven't done so already.

My consultant never told me to thell the DVLA as investigations were still ongoing

All the best.

Richard[/QUOTE]

[Grumpy]

get a confirmed diagnosis asap

I was originally diagnosed as having sleep problems due to work related stress and anxiety. Lack of sleep then leading to depression.
So they treated the depression.

I ended up cabbage-like and had to leave my highly paid job.

If only they had diagnosed the real cause earlier I would be in a much better position.

My advice is to get properly tested asap; even if you have to borrow the money to pay for it.

[chattabob]

I was originally diagnosed as having sleep problems due to work related stress and anxiety. Lack of sleep then leading to depression.
So they treated the depression.

I ended up cabbage-like and had to leave my highly paid job.

If only they had diagnosed the real cause earlier I would be in a much better position.

My advice is to get properly tested asap; even if you have to borrow the money to pay for it.

This is the point where I am unfortunatly and it's a catch 22 situation. Do I spend £1000 for the PSG test and risk not being given a diagnosis followed by having to leave my job or do I take the risk and hope for the best.

I've written to a few consultants asking to be seen earlier and I'm going to see my MP next week as 7 months and still no diagnosis is not good enough. Would have been longer if I hadn't paid privately to speed things up previously.

[symmit]

This is the point where I am unfortunatly and it's a catch 22 situation. Do I spend £1000 for the PSG test and risk not being given a diagnosis followed by having to leave my job or do I take the risk and hope for the best.

I've written to a few consultants asking to be seen earlier and I'm going to see my MP next week as 7 months and still no diagnosis is not good enough. Would have been longer if I hadn't paid privately to speed things up previously.

I've lost track a bit here - why not (if you can afford £1000) get a quick overnight test from intus or elsewhere and if that comes back as you being a CPAP candidate by an Auto CPAP, the whole thing should take under a week and if it works for you will be a revelation.

It was money well spent for me!

[chattabob]

I've lost track a bit here - why not (if you can afford £1000) get a quick overnight test from intus or elsewhere and if that comes back as you being a CPAP candidate by an Auto CPAP, the whole thing should take under a week and if it works for you will be a revelation.

It was money well spent for me!

Fear I guess,

I can only afford to do it if I know it's going to resolve this for me and get me back to work. if not then I dont fancy getting in debt just to try it and see what the outcome is.

[Richard]

How important is your health to you?

You say you are 30 years old and have had this condition for 14 years, yet only now are you getting around to doing something about it. Eh?

Is it more important to play one consultant against another than take the most straightforward path and ask your GP for a referral? Getting a diagnosis is a little more serious than choosing what you want from the sweetie jar.

And who told you an over-night sleep-study from Intus would set you back £1,000.00? Come on!

Richard

[symmit]

Fear I guess,

I can only afford to do it if I know it's going to resolve this for me and get me back to work. if not then I dont fancy getting in debt just to try it and see what the outcome is.

Seriously, you need to make a decision to get this resolved as otherwise you'll end up in a spiral of decline.

You can always sell on a lightly used cpap kit and someone will buy it, so the cost of failure isn't the total cost of trying, £100 for the test, £500 for a machine , £100 for a mask, you'll get 200-400 back if you don't get on with it, or you'll get your life back if you do.

Otherwise just push your GP for a referral as others have said.

[chattabob]

How important is your health to you?

You say you are 30 years old and have had this condition for 14 years, yet only now are you getting around to doing something about it. Eh?

Is it more important to play one consultant against another than take the most straightforward path and ask your GP for a referral? Getting a diagnosis is a little more serious than choosing what you want from the sweetie jar.

And who told you an over-night sleep-study from Intus would set you back £1,000.00? Come on!

Richard

I have had sleep issues for the last 14 years.. it's not about getting round to it as I started the process when I was a teenager,unfortunatly being a teenager I never pushed for an answer or expressed that what the Dr had told me was wrong as I put my trust in them plus I never knew what i knew now and didnt have the use of forums gor guidance

I'm harldy playing one consultant off the other I'm merely asking if there is a way I can be seen sooner (If you don't ask you don't get)

i'll ring Intus but the quote was from Papworth sleep lab in cambridge so assumedpriceswouldbe around that mark every where else

[chattabob]

Seriously, you need to make a decision to get this resolved as otherwise you'll end up in a spiral of decline.

You can always sell on a lightly used cpap kit and someone will buy it, so the cost of failure isn't the total cost of trying, £100 for the test, £500 for a machine , £100 for a mask, you'll get 200-400 back if you don't get on with it, or you'll get your life back if you do.

Otherwise just push your GP for a referral as others have said.

I loaned a Auto CPAP a few weeks ago but didnt notice any difference (I' know this can take tme though but I only had it for a week)

I've also just called Intus and they don't do the PSG or multi latency test

[verytired]

hi Chattabob.
Having read this thread i don't think you will find better advice elsewhere!!
However there are a couple of reasons to go for the additional tests your consultant has suggested.
1) Your girlfriend has said you don't appear to stop breathing in your sleep anymore! (although I'm on CPAP my wife cant say the same to me)
2) You have tried using a Auto CPAP and felt no difference. although a week is not a long period of time you would have noticed a small difference when you stopped using it.
If I were in your shoes mate I would pay for the tests! If the "£1000" saves your job fantastic if not it may put you 1 step closer to SLEEP!
Regards
VTIRED