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Letters From Patients
Dear Dr. Park,
Lately I had enough experience with doctors to appreciate the difference. Most doctors are totally impersonal and make you feel that time is money. That is why I learned not to take anything for granted, and wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your generousness and personal attention. You were most helpful to me.
Kindest Regards,
Harriet Appleman
For many years I have struggled with recurring sinus problems. I seemed plagued by constant congestion and sinus infections. Imagine my surprise when, after recently seeking your help for my problem, you indicated my trouble might be associated with acid reflux and sleep apnea? I must say there was a measure of disbelief, but for a long time it seemed that no matter how many hours of sleep I got, I was always tired. Exhausted in fact. I had grown accustomed to getting little of no sleep and functioning while tired. So I went for the sleep study you recommended and discovered you were 100% accurate. I did have sleep apnea, and, in fact, was waking up 45 times an hour! My body was never getting rest. I now realize that issues I have been dealing with for years were related to my sleep apnea. In over 10 years, no other doctor caught this – but you did. I’ve only just begun CPAP treatment and I already see a marked difference in my health, rest and ability to focus and function at work and home. It is no exaggeration to say that your diagnosis and skill have changed, and perhaps saved, my life. Thank you.
Michael O’Neill
Dear Dr. Park and Team,
Thank you so much for seeing me on such last minute notice last week. I’m not sure how you fit me in but I am very grateful. I went from being in severe discomfort to feeling fine in a matter of minutes! Thank you for making time for me and for you excellent care when I was far from home.
Sincerely,
Maria W.
Good Afternoon,
I was in need of medical attention for an ear ache, and I called Dr. Park’s office. Having never been to an otolaryngologist. I was not quite sure who to call. I was quite pleased with the kindness of the staff to first fit me in to the schedule in the same day, and second e-mail me the new patient registration forms upon my request to save me time.
My first thought when I entered the office was that it looked very clean. My wait time was extremely minimal, and I was quickly brought into an examining room. The kind nurse/assistant seated me in an examining room, made sure I was comfortable, and explained to me how the massage chair worked. I could not believe it! I was so comfortable, I could have sat there all day! Dr Park did not seem rushed like U have seen other doctors appear, and took the time to educate me on what the problem in my ear was. He was an absolute pleasure to speak to. My overall experience for this first visit, was favorable, speedy, efficient and pleasant. If I ever need to see an otolgarygologist again, there is no doubt in my mind that it will be Dr. Park. I would recommend him to anyone. Thank again Dr. Park!
Jamie B.
Dr. Park,
Well, it's been about a year and a half now since my Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. As you likely recall, I was anxious for treatment, only after my fiance encouraged and pushed me to go see a Dr. about my snoring.
I really hated that feeling of waking up alone to find her in the living room sleeping on the couch night after night. Worse of all, Janet expressed concern over my apparent breathing patterns, in which I would stop breathing in my sleep. She would lay there awake, worrying that I was not breathing. I never knew any of this and would have never come in to find out what could be done, had it not been for her. As well, I realized the constant feeling of being tired and having the ability to fall asleep anywhere at anytime.
Of course I just blamed that on myself, finding excuses as to why I was tired. I never stopped to think about the oddity in a 29 year old feeling the need for a nap every afternoon. As I am an unusual sleep apnea case, I am at ideal body weight and spend about 2 hours per day at the gym. The common cause, obesity, left us with one less choice - I could not lose weight for improvement or cure and this was something I would therefore have to deal with for a lifetime. The permanent and more drastic measure of the surgery was therefore my first choice and fortunately for me you were willing to offer me this option.
As I work in the medical field, I am very familiar with the fact that not nearly all physicians are familiar with the most recent advances in treatment options & therefore they do NOT even offer these options to the patients. I am thankful that you have taken a keen interest in diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea, allowing your patients a much greater chance at achieving a cure or treatment he/she can comply with and be happy about.
My particular treatment was the surgical procedure I listed at the top, and even better, you effectively carried out this procedure with the Coblation technique. I have discussed this with many physicians in the NY area and it is not rare for many to ask what that is!
I had the surgery at about noon on a Wednesday and walked out of the hospital the very next morning at 7:30 AM. I was doing my work from home for the rest of that week and back to work 100% the next week! Pain was not an issue at all, much less any significant discomfort. I did however hate eating all that ice cream and soft stuff, but you did cut out quite a bit of tissue. If that was the worst of it, who would say no to such a life altering procedure? Also, my fiance loved the peace and quiet around the apartment! Following a few weeks of healing and the swelling was eliminated, I began to feel an immediate difference in my energy levels and wakefulness.
I slept for less than 7 hours and felt wide awake when I got up. Compare this to the 8 to 10 hours I could lay down for, previous to the surgery, and then I would force myself from bed feeling exhausted. I no longer felt/feel exhausted halfway through the day and needing a nap right after lunch. Within a few months of the surgery, it seemed that 5 or 6 hours was enough and I wake up automatically (wide awake) and feel like I just ate a bowl of sugar! It did feel a little different and take some getting used to, not having all that tissue anymore, but eating and swallowing is natural and no problem. Nobody knows anything unless I tell them too. Also, I can't make a snoring noise even if I try! Basically, I feel better than I can remember.
Looking back, I cannot pinpoint when my sleep apnea started to catch up with my wakefulness and feeling of being awake or tired. It seems to me that 3 to 6 years is an accurate window of this problem worsening, but you just don't notice it! And when it is full blown, as in my case, you still do not realize it, because the problem was brought on so very gradually over such a long period of time! I can definitely pinpoint a difference after treatment and see how horrible a problem I had. If I remember correctly, the sleep testing results showed me to stop breathing approximately 40 times per hour with me stopping breathing for up to 2 or 3 minutes at one point. My 02 was desaturating to dangerous levels as well, demonstrating that my problem was not just a lot of noise that kept my fiance awake, or something that made me feel tired. This is a serious problem that would have definitely had major effects on my health over time!
I have encouraged many friends and family to search out diagnosis and treatment when I have recognized the obvious symptoms in discussion, or if I observed those symptoms while they are/were sleeping. I thank you immensely for having cured me of this potentially debilitating problem and encourage you to continue you're focus on this severely under-managed problem. I hope that patient and public awareness can soon be brought to the masses, so many more people can benefit from a good nights sleep. Forever in your debt,
A.D. 3/7/05
Dear Dr. Park,
I just wanted to take a moment to let you know about the great experience I had when I visited your office on April 13th.
Your staff is very impressive! They are courteous, prompt, professional and your phone has never rung past the first ring before it is picked up by one of them asking how they can help.
I also like the environment when I entered your office: very well laid-out, modern and upbeat.
You yourself are an outstanding doctor. I did not have to wait one minute past my appointment time. When you first met me you listened attentively to all my symptoms, read over my paperwork and informed me about the next steps before you initiated treatment. I found you to be very informative and that you gave excellent, skillful care.
I sincerely appreciate the great service I received from you and your staff. I would happily recommend your office to anyone needing an exceptional ENT!
Sincerely,
Adrienne Carson
10/10/04
Dear Dr Park,
A few words of gratitude for the medical care I have received from you since May of this year. First of all you were the first Doctor to examine me and accurately identify the combined problems that acid reflux and obstructive sleep apnea had been giving me. Your initial expectations were born out by several sleep studies at NYU and the course of action determined.
Throughout the experience I have enjoyed your enthusiasm and evident satisfaction at solving my medical problem. Furthermore, I have enjoyed being part of the solution rather than part of the problem; a subtle distinction that belies an important clinical skill. The potential for nervousness at having surgery was replaced by confidence in a practitioner and support staff that run like clockwork. Last but not least I appreciate being treated by a leader rather than a follower in his chosen field and I wish you every success in your career. In retrospect after having three surgical procedures I know that my confidence is well founded.
The recovery from surgery each time was very fast. I sleep like a log, as well as I did using a CPAP machine but free of it. My wife sleeps like a log as the snoring is gone. Stay tuned for longer term benefits.
I count myself fortunate to have been treated by Westside ENT and as you know have already referred a friend to your practice. I will continue to recommend you and Westside ENT to people I know and will be happy to relate my experiences to prospective patients for the procedures I have had.
A big thank you also to Kathy Shin for handling the health insurance company. What a breath of fresh air to be dealing with someone who has so much integrity.
Many Thanks, Dr. Park
Michael Killick
Hi Dr. Park:
I apologize for taking such a long time to write to you, but wanted you to know a few things about my experience with West Side ENT.
First and foremost, your staff is the most professional and efficient I have ever encountered. I mentioned this fact to Adrienne after my second appointment - that your office could and should be held up as the standard by which all other medical offices are judged. The staff is kind, courteous, helpful and patient when explaining everything from the office procedures to calling with results to answering specific questions about my own surgery. Many thanks for this, and I hope you realize how much this meant and means to me, and again, I would like to single out Adrienne as a very special asset.
Secondly, I am thrilled with the outcome of my two procedures - especially since it was such a surprise to begin with! My whole life I had taken as normal the constant 'nasal drip' and feeling of fullness in the right side of my nose. After coming to you for a completely different problem (pool water in my ear), I learned I had a bone spur. When you told me I would need surgery, I thought let's do it - and I will be forever thankful for your recommendation.
I can now, for the first time in my life probably, breathe through both sides of my nose. It was such an amazing success that I tell everyone who asks about my experience. I had a reaction to the anesthesia from the surgery, but very little discomfort from the surgery itself, and of course, no one could tell I had any surgery at all: no swelling, very little drip (just a day or two). The ear tube is helping and is still working through its process, and afterward I'm sure it will be the same success story as the nasal surgery.
Lastly, Dr. Park, I would like to thank you personally for your efforts. Immediately after my surgery, you wanted to check in on me, but you needed to attend to another patient and we missed each other. That evening, after what I'm sure was a full and exhausting day of surgery for you - I know I was exhausted! - you took the time to call to see how I was. My husband and I were so pleasantly surprised - and I noticed that you were calling from your home. What a special touch to make sure your patient was comfortable.
I look forward to seeing you in a few months about my ear tube, and I wish you a long and successful practice in helping people just as you helped me. It is not overstating to say that what you have done has really changed my life - I can breathe!!!
With my best regards to you and your staff,
Sherry & Bruce Laue
When I read the article "Tired of Being Tired" in Dr. Park's January 2006 newsletter, I felt like the article was written about me. Two years ago, I went to Dr. Park with chronic throat pain and having suffered through multiple respiratory infections that year. I had expected that I would require a tonsillectomy, but to my surprise, Dr. Park was scheduling a sleep study.
Dr. Park suggested that my chronic throat pain (due to acid reflux during sleep) was only one of many symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Although I was a young, thin, fit female (having run a marathon that year), I was constantly fatigued, suffered from throat pain/stomach problems, and mild depression. I have a very stressful job, which is how I explained away all my aches and pains. Little did I know that I had a potentially life threatening condition that had been ignored for years by other doctors.
Over the course of that year, I tried various non-surgical options for my OSA (CPAP, facial exercises, a dental instrument. etc.) with little relief. It was determined that I would require a number of procedures to correct how my airway collapsed and obstructed my ability to breathe. I had such faith in Dr. Park, that despite the number of procedures I was going to undergo, I truly believed I was in good hands.
My surgery was done at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and required a three-day hospital stay. Dr. Park and his staff took excellent care of me during that time. Shortly after surgery, I developed an infection in one of my incision sites. Even though the office was closed, Dr. Park saw me immediately to care for it.
This surgery was life changing. Amazing how 20+ years of sleep deprivation can impact you. Dr. Park and his staff gave me a new lease life. I no longer suffer from the multitude of health problems I used to. I no longer struggle to focus and have clarity in thought. I have an incredible amount of energy and don't miss those days where I felt I could fall asleep right where I stood at the time. Even my relationships with my family, friends, coworkers, etc. have improved because I am no longer constantly exhausted and irritable.
I thank Dr. Park and his team for all of their work and continued efforts to raise awareness of sleep apnea. They are truly lifesavers.
Helju Nommik, May 2006
Dear Dr. Park,
I am writing to tell you that my Social Security Disability case has been decided in my favor. Accordingly, thank you so much for your most helpful input in the case for my lawyer and the Judge.
You came to my aid when I urgently needed you. You gave me a generous amount of your time. You prepared a most thorough report for my case for a reasonable fee and in such short time!
In all, you have shown yourself to be a most caring doctor, as well as a brilliant one. I will never forget what you have done for me, and I will never cease to be grateful.
Nancy Taylor
Are You A Sleep Sufferer?
I have no idea who's going to be reading this, but if you are
you can't feel like bliss
For when you just can't get any sleep, you can feel like
you're lost and want to weep
You don't have the energy to shout, and you feel like
there's no way out
The fact that you're sleep deprived, just simply cannot be denied
And it's even hard to use your keen wit, because you really do –
feel like sh--
Getting anything done becomes an arduous task,
much more than anyone has a right to ask
No one knows what you must daily endure, and you wonder if
there will ever be – a cure
You really do feel all alone, sometimes it's even hard just to
Pick up the phone
But if you're reading this, help is on the way and yes you can
look forward to – a much brighter day
So while what you're going through is not a day in the park,
Take heed in knowing that you can trust Dr. Park
Dr. Park is knowledgeable, skillful and he really does care,
plus he's willing to accept most insurance's fare
He returns calls within a reasonable time and I'm not only
saying that cause it's easy to rhyme
He's not in it for the buck, nor does he ever rely on luck
For each patient he designs a plan,
which is why he is such a special man
No longer should you worry if your soul will rust,
because he really is one Dr. you can trust
So now you can worry much less about your fate, because
he'll tell you the research and he's up-to-date
And believe me he will not fail, to explain it all, in exhaustive detail
Take a deep breath and relax a bit,
cause you're on your way to feeling fit!
And no longer will you feel like you'll want to weep,
because you're finally on your way to getting sleep!
Michael Wallach 2/23/05
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