Sleep study for sleep apnea in Thailand / Bangkok

[ayahuasca]

This may be relevant to anyone seeking out a sleep study in Thailand:

 

Here are suggested improvements for the sleep study process at [most expensive hospital in Bangkok]

 

First, hygiene standards need improvement—currently, about 20% of hospital staff at the Hospital don't properly wash their hands before patient contact, potentially spreading pathogens.

 

Second, there should be a thorough intake process to document patients' sleep habits: their preferred sleeping position, whether they need or use elevation, what type of bed they use, and other relevant factors.

 

Third, mask fitting procedures need improvement, especially for elderly patients. Both nose masks and face masks should be tested, as elderly patients often have lower adaptation rates and may do better with face masks. ResMed offers different styles, including memory foam and silicone versions for example. ResMed’s memory foam masks are reportedly more comfortable, but we received a large silicone mask (alone with the C-PAP we ordered) before proper face measurement, resulting in an incorrect size, and waste of money. During the study, the patient was only tested with a nose mask with a chin strap.

 

After completing the study, we pursued CPAP treatment as recommended and was told we could order a CPAP from [most expensive hospital in Bangkok]. However, the medical records department took an unusually long time (6 days) to respond to simple questions from the insurance company.

 

The eventual CPAP delivery was problematic—the device was simply dropped off unconfigured. Configuration guidance and at least 2 follow-up sessions should be included in or at least offered as part of the CPAP purchase cost.

 

We requested the same equipment used during the sleep study—specifically the head strap and nose mask—not realizing a face mask would probably have been better for an extremely elderly person. We were told later that the study's particular head strap wasn't available in Thailand, and they provided an alternative which was of a different style. And, as mentioned, while both face and nose masks were included with the CPAP, the face mask was the wrong size. We later found out that one can download a guide from ResMed to figure out what size mask is appropriate.

 

To summarize the needed improvements:

1. Better sanitary conditions
2. Proper patient intake procedures
3. Availability of study equipment for purchase (for example the same type of chin strap)
4. Testing of both nose and face masks for elderly patients, and types.
5. Proper face measurements and mask sizing
6. Clear information about available mask styles
7. Proper CPAP configuration upon delivery based on sleep study results.