I OWE MY LIFE TO 3 PHYSICIANS, 1 OF WHOM IS DR. BANDLA…read more
*************
This is not an average review, as I am not an average patient. Perhaps by sharing my story, such as it is, others will see the value in Sleep Care & Medicine so that they might seek help sooner --not later-- and perhaps place that care in the capable hands of Dr. Bandla.
*************************
-A BIT OF BACKGROUND-
I lost years of my life to "Sleep Apnea": due to the poor health it caused --unnecessarily so-- because I ignored my doctors' suggestions to see a "Sleep Specialist" for a "Sleep Study" (I heard these words within quotations VERY often, and maybe you have as well: from a concerned spouse, friend, or doctor?). When it was suggested to me, I not so much as 'decided' a Sleep Specialist wasn't a priority, but I let time pass without pursuing it: ie, I did not MAKE it a priority. But trust me, IT SHOULD BE.
Because of that, let me tell you what my future became: my untreated & disordered sleep would be THE contributing factor to my deteriorating health for those two years. I've only now learned that those symptoms are scientifically documented consequences due to chronically poor sleep or chronic lack of it.
BELOW: some of said symptoms:
Severe fatigue & sleepiness, lassitude, swings between insomnia to severe over-sleeping; memory loss, thought disorganization, cognitive impairment incl. word-finding, forgetfulness; emotional dysregulation, impatience, depression w/suicidal ideation; heart palpitations, body temperature irregularity, weight gain & muscle loss; severe nerve pain, esp. the extremities; headaches, light sensitivity, hearing changes/loss + sensitivity. & more minor symptoms.
Finally I'd had enough and lined up any specialist I could think of: (literally) Endocrinology, Hematology, Neurology, Neurovascular, Audiology + ENT, Pain MGMT, and even Gynocology! All were "fine" and said "see a SLEEP SPECIALIST & do a Sleep Study!!!". I finally got the hint and out of sheer luck, my doc was Dr. Bandla.
***************
-THE DOCTOR-
At my initial apt, Dr. Bandla asked a few questions to prompt me, then carefully listened to my confused babble about my symptoms, and somehow he understood, never getting frustrated nor short. Once he got the necessary information, he explained everything very carefully until I understood every detail: what my diagnosis likely is, why he believes that is, and then what the next steps will be from there. (And he was right about all his predictions, by the way).
A Sleep Study was next, and he made sure every single detail was taken care of: for ex, he made sure a special Mouth-Breathing Sensor would be available for my study after I mentioned having chronic sinus issues. The help & time he spent with me is incredibly rare in today's medical system, and thanks to Swedish for accommodating that kind of care (too often time & money outweigh care. That was n not my experience here).
****************************
-ABOVE & BEYOND-
Any time I have called or emailed, Dr. Bandla would respond immediately, and he himself would respond personally most often (that is VERY rare these days). The most significant gesture was during my second Sleep Study where I would be "test-driving" a special C-PAP. That Friday night, as my tech helped me get situated, she explained how she'll call the doctor once I'm asleep. I asked what she meant and turns out, he was at home and was staying up late on his Friday night, waiting, just to hear how I was doing. I'm a well spoken person, but I struggle to adequately describe how touched I was from such a gesture.
*********************
-CONCLUSION-
I was eventually diagnosed and have been using the treatment machine, worn at night, for nearly a month. My body and my life is changing rapidly (It's the best diet & religion rolled into one: HEALED all while you sleep!). I have a rarer type of apnea called Central Sleep Apnea caused by my brain, not the throat like most folks. At night my brain stops telling my lungs to breathe, and my breathing literally stops, as if I've died. With treatment via the machine, my prognosis is very good.
So, if you're in the Pacific Northwest, I highly recommend Swedish Sleep Medicine (Redmond or Seattle). There's a reason I drive 4hrs round-trip to be a Swedish patient, time and again. I am and always will be eternally grateful to Preetam Bandla and to his family for allowing us -his patients- to borrow him from you so that we may return to ours.
-A.