Vienna: How a Second Medical Opinion Changed My Life

Vienna’s Story.

“I’d been diagnosed with severe sleep apnoea in February 2024, and the NHS put me on a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine). But something in me didn’t sit right. I am young, I drive for a living, and being permanently tied to a sleep machine didn’t feel like the only way forward. I started asking more questions. The hospital suggested surgery—tonsils, adenoids, nasal reconstruction, the works. But it all felt like too much, too soon. I was overwhelmed and anxious, especially when no one could clearly say if it would actually fix the issue.

That’s when I turned to Teladoc Health’s Second Medical Opinion service. I was allocated a GP case manager, and they listened to my full story. They then selected a specialist from their database and sent them a report along with my NHS health records. The Consultant’s review and subsequent report back was very thorough. He recommended medication (omeprazole and a nasal steroid spray), advised weight loss, and said only to consider surgery if those didn’t work. His approach felt calm, measured, and reassuring.

I followed the plan—meds, diet, and eventually I decided to have a tonsillectomy. My sleep apnoea score dropped from 17 (severe) to 5 (mild) in just nine months. Today, I no longer need a CPAP machine. The NHS had said there was nothing else I could do—this service proved otherwise.

The process was quick and hassle-free. Everyone I spoke to was kind, relaxed, and professional. They took time to understand me, not just my symptoms.”

For anyone unsure, I’d say this: get your records from your GP, use the service, and take back control of your health. It changed my life.