4 replies to this topic

[Shooze]

Did you visit several doctors before getting diagnosed? Or get the WRONG diagnosis over and over? Or spend many years telling your doctor(s) about your sleepiness but didn't get their attention?

I'm collecting specific quotes to use in a letter campaign to physicians in my area....and maybe beyond. Please help me by sending me your completion of the following statement:

If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have________________________

This is how I will use your sentence:

I want doctors to start asking patients about sleep. This is talked about at the national level - has been talked about for quite a few years, but it seems that all the boards, committees and agencies want to either set policy, legislate or fund formal programs to get across a rather uncomplicated and simple message: Doctors...Ask your patients about their sleep!

So...I'm starting my own campaign by drafting a "Dear Doctor" letter. In it I will simply and plainly explain why I believe all doctors should ask patients about the quality of their sleep. "Hey...if we can get an entire nation to STOP Smoking...we can get an entire nation to START sleeping!" -- quote, Ann Austin

Every payday, I will buy one book of stamps and dedicate it to mailing 20 letters to doctors in my area. I'll start with the general family practice docs and work into the specialties. If this catches on...if you like the idea, I will send you the letter to send to doctors in your area!

This is how I need your help: To accompany the letter, I will include a sheet of statements from YOU - those who submit. The statements may be something like:

Examples:
If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have finished my Ph.D. -- Ann, Narcolepsy, Symptom Onset: age 8, Diagnosed: Age 37

If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have been able to keep my job. -- Jack, Obstructed Sleep Apnea, Symptom Onset: age 36, Diagnosed: Age 47

If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have remembered to turn the stove off and prevented the fire that destroyed half my home. -- Laurie, Insomnia, Symptom Onset: age 27, Diagnosed:Age 34

If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have laughed at my children's jokes and cried at my daughter's wedding...without falling down. -- Ruth, Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, Symptom Onset: age 17, Diagnosed: Age 48

PLEASE SEND:

Your quote/sentence completion
Your first name ONLY...or a fake first name
Your diagnosis
Age of symptom onset
Age of diagnosis

And finally...I'm turning to the Narcolepsy community to help find ALL sleep disordered people. Everyone with Narcolepsy knows several people with other sleep disorders. Please ask your family and friends to particpate so that the Dear Doctor letter can represent all sleep disorders.

Thanks!! Ann Austin

[Diane in North Carolina]

If had been diagnosed earlier, I would have saved me and the insurance company alot of money on wasted tests.

Diane

[Julie]

Did you visit several doctors before getting diagnosed? Or get the WRONG diagnosis over and over? Or spend many years telling your doctor(s) about your sleepiness but didn't get their attention?

I'm collecting specific quotes to use in a letter campaign to physicians in my area....and maybe beyond. Please help me by sending me your completion of the following statement:

If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have________________________

This is how I will use your sentence:

I want doctors to start asking patients about sleep. This is talked about at the national level - has been talked about for quite a few years, but it seems that all the boards, committees and agencies want to either set policy, legislate or fund formal programs to get across a rather uncomplicated and simple message: Doctors...Ask your patients about their sleep!

So...I'm starting my own campaign by drafting a "Dear Doctor" letter. In it I will simply and plainly explain why I believe all doctors should ask patients about the quality of their sleep. "Hey...if we can get an entire nation to STOP Smoking...we can get an entire nation to START sleeping!" -- quote, Ann Austin

Every payday, I will buy one book of stamps and dedicate it to mailing 20 letters to doctors in my area. I'll start with the general family practice docs and work into the specialties. If this catches on...if you like the idea, I will send you the letter to send to doctors in your area!

This is how I need your help: To accompany the letter, I will include a sheet of statements from YOU - those who submit. The statements may be something like:

Examples:
If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have finished my Ph.D. -- Ann, Narcolepsy, Symptom Onset: age 8, Diagnosed: Age 37

If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have been able to keep my job. -- Jack, Obstructed Sleep Apnea, Symptom Onset: age 36, Diagnosed: Age 47

If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have remembered to turn the stove off and prevented the fire that destroyed half my home. -- Laurie, Insomnia, Symptom Onset: age 27, Diagnosed:Age 34

If I had been diagnosed earlier, I would have laughed at my children's jokes and cried at my daughter's wedding...without falling down. -- Ruth, Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, Symptom Onset: age 17, Diagnosed: Age 48

PLEASE SEND:

Your quote/sentence completion
Your first name ONLY...or a fake first name
Your diagnosis
Age of symptom onset
Age of diagnosis

And finally...I'm turning to the Narcolepsy community to help find ALL sleep disordered people. Everyone with Narcolepsy knows several people with other sleep disorders. Please ask your family and friends to particpate so that the Dear Doctor letter can represent all sleep disorders.

Thanks!! Ann Austin

[Julie]

If my son had been diagnosed earlier he would have not failed the 9th grade. He would
not have felt he was a slow learner his whole life. Julie

Jared diagnosed sleep anpea and PLM on April 17 2008 and narcolepsy on May 27 2008
Age of onset 3 years old
Age of diagnosis 16 years old

[Snoreasaur]

If I had been diagnosed with narcolepsy sooner: I wouldn't have spent my undergraduate feeling as though I was a manic depressive failure who's mind was failing her.--- Emily, narcolepsy with violent sleep patterns, Onset 7, Diagnosis 24

OR

If I had been diagnosed with narcolepsy sooner: I would have not been so afraid to love someone and let them sleep the night beside me.