What's the medical term for a sleep doctor?

a believe it is a “sleep doctor” or “sleep disorder doctor”.

Some pulmonologists (lung doctors) or internists specialize in sleep medicine. I don’t believe there is a specific term (like cardiologist, for example) for sleep medicine doctors, at least not one I’ve come across in >10 years of clinical practice.

Thanks, Shilolo.

:-)

Somnologist?

Like Shilolo said, the field is just called “sleep medicine”. Sleep specialists may be pulmonologists, neurologists, internists, psychiatrists, or even psychologists, according to the American Board of Sleep Medicine.

Most I know are pulmonologists, but then, I work at a major academic medical center, and pulmonologists have snagged that turf as their own (there is lots of money in sleep medicine). Mainly, it is because at the end of the day, a common diagnosis is sleep apnea for which CPAP is the mainstay of therapy. Since CPAP is a form of ventilation, that is closest to what lung doctors do, and so they have appropriated sleep medicine into their fold.

Chronobiologist?

@brownlemur – that’s a really cool article, I didn’t even know that that field existed!
but all the people it mentions are like, botanists and biologists and stuff, not medical doctors…

At the sleep clinic in Philly, we just call them sleep doctors. I just started on CPAP a few weeks ago, and am tolerating the equipment very well. Though while it hasn’t really improved my sleep, like they said it would, my wife is sleeping so much better! (No snoring)

@daloon As they probably explained to you, the CPAP treatment for sleep apnea isn’t just for the sleep component (which will improve eventually once you get used to the machine), but also for the medical component (to prevent the long term consequences of sleep apnea, such as pulmonary hypertension).

@shilolo: Yes. That’s how they sold it to me—to reduce my risk of hypertension, and several other things. However, they also said I would start feeling more refreshed, and I would sleep better, and neither of those two are true. My sleep is just as disturbed as it was before, and I wake up sleepier than before. Although that may also have to do with finally getting my bipolar stabilized.

@daloon. Yes, it seems you have a complex set of issues that cannot be directly tied to one problem or another. If the CPAP isn’t working out for you as you had hoped, I suggest you make a follow-up appointment to perhaps make modifications. Maybe the mask could fit you better? Maybe you need the CPAP titrated a bit more? Maybe one of your medications is causing insomnia? Lots of possibilities to explore, but, I am willing to bet that you will feel better soon.

@shilolo I did have a follow-up. The mask is working fine. In fact, they said I was doing beautifully (they showed me the data printout). So the CPAP is right. They said I was on the borderline of needing the device, so that it could take a while for me to see the difference. They know all about the meds, but didn’t say anything about that, other then I should discuss it with my shrink. Which I have yet to do. Anyway, they seem as confident as you do.

P.S. I’ve heard you’re in the medical profession, but what are you, exactly, and what is your expertise?

Board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, with a minor in Fluther.

P.S. Confidence is infectious.

P.P.S. I’m actually originally from Philly. Still visit multiple times per year.

The doc at my sleep clinic is a neurologist. I always thought that most of the researchers in the field of what happens in our brains during sleep are neurologists. Now, the guys who study what keeps us from sleeping, or from sleeping well, I understand could be from any discipline (internist, ENT, etc.).

Of course I bow to @shilolo on this.

“With a minor in Fluther.”
Haha!