After your initial consultation you will be scheduled for a follow-up visit. The purpose of this visit is to discuss the results of any testing and/or to monitor your response to treatment. If testing has been done, your doctor will review the studies with you. The data from testing will be used to make decisions about the diagnosis and its treatment.
Sleep Apnea Patients
If you have been started on treatment with CPAP, please bring your machine with you. You do not have to bring the humidifier (water container) unit. If your machine has a data card, you can pop it out from the back of the machine and bring the card to your appointment instead of the CPAP unit.
The data card contains important information about your use of the device and how effectively it controls your sleep apnea. Medicare and many insurance companies require a review of these data.
After your visit is complete, another visit will be scheduled so that your further progress can be reviewed. The frequency of follow-up visits decreases with time, and for stable patients this usually is once or twice a year, depending on your sleep problem. For patients treated with medication, we usually see you back every six months.
Patients With Other Sleep Disorders
In addition to sleep apnea, follow-up visits deal with the large number of other sleep problems that are treated at the UT Sleep Disorders Center.
All patients will receive an automated phone call to remind you of your visit. When you arrive at the clinic, you will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire. Or if you prefer, please complete this follow-up questionnaire and this sleepiness scale before your follow-up appointment. Your sleep physician will review this at your appointment.