Brilliant specialist. Wonderful person. I have been his patient for more than 25 years.

Submitted July 21, 2023

Dr. Pawluk changed my life. When I was first recomended to Dr. Pawluk for a sleep study I was not in a good place. I had little to no uninterrupted sleep. I struggled with vivid and random nightmares from childhood. I'd learned to wake myself up from my sleep state during nightmares but once they became so persistent I'd wake up gasping many times a night, and I couldn't stay awake during the day continuing the pattern of little sleep shocking wake up. My nightmares had turned into "daymares" that played even when my eyes were open and I was awake even while I was actively cooking or walking my dog. My boyfriend (now husband DH) was loosing sleep afraid that I wouldn't wake up. When I received the news that my sleep study indicated nothing was wrong I was devistated. But Dr Pawluk did not give up on me. He believed that what I was experiencing was very real. To his credit he sent me home with a medication to try. I drove home still devistated. I was at my limit and afraid of what I could do to myself. My DH and I talked and agreed I'd try the medication and if it didn't work I was going to get myself admitted to the centennial centre in hopes something could be done.
I the first night I took the medication we knew it had helped. I was on it for many years and Dr Pawluk eventually added another medication while I was dealing with the loss of a family member, a major illness and the eventual estrangement from my family. I worked hard with my DH and a therapist in these years and eventually felt like it was time to try to stop taking the medicines. Dr Pawluk listened when I told him since my major illness I was super sensitive to medication changes. He allowed me the time I needed to slowly come off the second medication by prescribing a suspended solution rather than pill form. He trusted me to check in with him and to listen to my body through the almost 2 year process. After being off of that medication we turned to the first medication he'd put me on and I slowly stopped taking it. It didn't require the suspended solution and took maybe 2 months. Still Dr Pawluk faithfully monitored me through this withdrawal process and listened to how I was doing. He continued to check in with me every few months to ensure I balanced out alright and at one point he allowed me to book one more appointment just because I wasn't fully comfortable that I'd be ok in that time frame after my lifetime of struggles.
Thankfully he continued to be invested in my progress and my well-being as this year we started a different medication due to my still being sleepy all of the time despite a regimented sleep hygiene routine. My daytime life has changed drastically with this new medication and I'm hoping that if I work on a regimented day time routine perhaps I will have as much success as we had with my nighttime routine.
My vivid nightmares have changed to active dreams where I go on adventures or have conversations. Even if they take a turn for the dark I wake up feeling safe and secure. This would never have been possible without Dr Pawluk believing me and working with me for about 10 years now.
Was it a bumpy road? Absolutely. Is my life better now than before I was treated by Dr Pawluk? 1000x better or more. I'm happier, I'm more confident, I have a healthy marriage, I can spend time with my family and pets. I can enjoy gardening more. The list of things I can do goes on and on and is growing every day.
I didn't list the medications because every person is different. What regiment worked for me might not work for the next person. I do have faith that Dr Pawluk cares about his patients and that he listens and makes the best decisions he can for each individual patient. I wasn't going to make it much longer in the state I was in, I can say with absolute certainty he saved my life.
Thank you for listening to me and believing me. Thank you for continuing to treat me even when the path (for me at least) felt bumpy. Just thank you.

Appointments were in person and over the phone depending on the state of the world at any given time.

Submitted June 2, 2023

I cannot say enough about how Dr. Pawluk changed my life. Also, I disagree with the last comment. The patient is supposed to read the product / drug information and be informated. You cannot blame a doctor for an addiction. Also Dr. Pawluk has also been very careful to properly wean me off any medications I am taking. To suggest a highly qualified specialist like Dr, Pawluk caused harm (much less 'benzodiazepine induced brain injury') is a highly irresponsible comment and I couldn't disagree more. Not only does Dr, Pawluk treat my sleep disorder commendably, he also did my father for more than 3 decades (and he had Narcolepsy). Don't blame irresponsibility and abuse of drugs on the doctor. I am so angry with that uninformed comment!

Submitted Sept. 8, 2022

I saw doctor Pawluk for 12 years. I was so happy that I finally got to the sleep clinic and thought my insomnia was over forever. Little did I know at the time that it would be one of the worst things that ever happened to me if not the worst. Dr. Pawluk prescribed benzodiazepine (flurazepam) to me for 11 years. Benzo is only supposed to be prescribed to someone for only 2 -3 weeks. After that it changes your brain psychologically and physiologically. You become addicted to it even though you don't know it because a doctor is prescribing it to you...you assume it is okay. It is not okay! The info on this is at benzoinfo.com. If you are reading this and are on a type of benzodiazepine...you need to get off of it...not fast though. It is important to come off of it very slowly as you have what's called "benzodiazepine induced brain injury" and stopping too quickly will put you into benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. I know all about it because I am in it thanks to Dr. Pawluk. Information on this has been out since the late 1990's so you would think someone like Dr. Pawluk would know all about it...he should...this is his specialty. Yet he ignored the literature on this matter and blindly continued to prescribe it to me for years. When I came to him with my problems getting off of the benzo he misdiagnosed me and wanted to put me back on it. I refused...found a different doctor that admits there is such a thing as BIBI. I fired him as my doctor and would sue him for all the damage the benzo caused to my life and continues to cause me today even after I have been off of it for 14 months, if you could sue doctors in this country. Please get help if you are on a benzo so you don't wind up like me.

Submitted Jan. 6, 2022

Dr. Pawluk was very helpful in my transition from the Calgary Sleep Center where I had previously gotten care for my Apnea, Narcolepsy, and RLS. Highly recommend him and his clinic.

Submitted July 20, 2021

Dr Pawluk was the only one who could help me with my rls. Would recommend him to anyone who is having any type of sleep problems. Kind, compassionate, understanding.....

Submitted Dec. 30, 2020

Dr Pawluk is the best, most understanding doctor. He has been my sleep doctor for years now and wouldn’t want anyone else. He is very understanding and easy to talk to. I wouldn’t want anyone else.

Submitted Aug. 16, 2020

This Doctor is compassionate, understanding and extremely helpful. Has enriched the quality of my life for decades.

Submitted June 23, 2020

Dr Pawluk is very reliable and consistent. He takes a cautious approach to medication changes and talks everything through with you. You are involved with decisions. He vets medications before making big changes with new medications.

Submitted April 20, 2020

I think my condition was undermined and I did not feel heard during my appointment. This doctor seems fantastic, I just do not think he was helpful to my situation and I found that discouraging.

Submitted Jan. 21, 2020