Sleep apnea surgery

[riche]

Has anyone ever had this surgery?

I have severe sleep apnea and the mask won't stay on my face as it blows so much air because the pressure is so high.

They are taking out my tonsils,the thing that hangs down in the back of your throat and the soft tissue of my palett

It was bumped up today to the 8th of August

I heard from the Dr that it is very painful

 

[Florida Sunshine]

Ouch! Sorry you are having to go through this.

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

I have sleep apnea as well, but not bad. Good luck with the surgery!

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I was diagnosed with servere sleep apnea & used a machine for 4 years. Then I lost 20kg (44 pounds) & no longer have sleep apnea.
I don't know if you are overweight, but that's my experience.

 

[67chevellemalibu2]

I was diagnosed with servere sleep apnea & used a machine for 4 years. Then I lost 20kg (44 pounds) & no longer have sleep apnea.
I don't know if you are overweight, but that's my experience.

We've talked, so you know I have sleep apnea. I am overweight. If you're overweight I would seriously try to lose some weight before I did that surgery. Are you under the care of a sleep or ent doctor? I've heard that surgery isn't 100% guaranteed to correct the situation.

 

[67chevellemalibu2]

Has anyone ever had this surgery?

I have severe sleep apnea and the mask won't stay on my face as it blows so much air because the pressure is so high.

They are taking out my tonsils,the thing that hangs down in the back of your throat and the soft tissue of my palett

It was bumped up today to the 8th of August

I heard from the Dr that it is very painful

Can't they adjust your air pressure to a lesser degree where it will still work for you?

 

[Bryson.bobby]

I have no experience with sleep apnea surgery, but I hope it goes well!

 

[riche]

We've talked, so you know I have sleep apnea. I am overweight. If you're overweight I would seriously try to lose some weight before I did that surgery. Are you under the care of a sleep or ent doctor? I've heard that surgery isn't 100% guaranteed to correct the situation.

I am under the care of a ENT Dr, I am a few pounds overweight but not huge or anything.

They tried to adjust the pressure and different mask but no go

This is the first thing I can do to try to make the biggest impact

 

[jaxredsoxfan]

I hope it all works out well for you riche, I know the tired fatigued feeling sleep apnea can bring. Good luck!

 

[rkpetersen]

I've had surgery for sleep apnea.
The usual procedure is called a U-Triple P (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty).
The idea is to tighten up the tissues at the back of the pharynx, opening up the airway.
Unfortunately, while it may help for some time after surgery, eventually the tissues 'adjust', stretching out and/or thickening again, and you're back where you were.
This is exactly what happened to me. Temporary improvement and then worsening apnea requiring a mask again.
You might even develop scarring which makes your apnea worse than before surgery.
Especially as an isolated procedure (no second stage operation), it's not a particularly good approach.
I personally wouldn't recommend it.
ENT surgeons may suggest it but let's face it, they have a vested interest in recommending surgical procedures.
Recovery is fairly painful, but not unbearably so.
If nothing else, you'll probably lose some weight because you sure won't feel like eating for a while. jk
Sorry to sound pessimistic, but that was my experience and it is what it is.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

My doctor told me they don't do the operation in Australia these days because it doesn't work, as rkpeterson has suggested, & he speaks from direct experience

 

[SeaJay]

A friend of mine nearly died from complications related to elective surgery for sleep apnea. I have no first hand experience, but I know he wouldn’t recommend it. He did lose like 80 pounds though, which isn’t really as great as it sounds considering he was like 170 pounds before the surgery...

 

[Jet915]

Sleep apnea is typically associated with being overweight. If u are worried, try losing weight first. So many medical problems are associated with being overweight....

 

[Richard Ivory]

i have sleep apnea ,and i am not over weight at all ,in the uk they say if your collar size is over 17.5 inches it can affect you ,also never been offered a operation either ,but have had a septoplasty operation on my nose that was painful as hell

 

[Gareth elliott]

Could always get a second opinion, i am sure your insurance would be more than welcome to pay for a second consolation if meant there was a chance they wouldn’t have to pay for surgery.

No experience with the surgery, but your tonsils do play an active role in your immune system. Why they have moved towards antibiotics and nsads and steroids for tonsillitis, rather than removal the last decade or so.

 

[67chevellemalibu2]

Could always get a second opinion, i am sure your insurance would be more than welcome to pay for a second consolation if meant there was a chance they wouldn’t have to pay for surgery.

No experience with the surgery, but your tonsils do play an active role in your immune system. Why they have moved towards antibiotics and nsads and steroids for tonsillitis, rather than removal the last decade or so.

I second that advice. I definitely would get a second opinion and I've always been under the impression only people who are overweight or sometone with a big neck has sleep apnea. I would get a second opinion from a doctor who only specializes in sleep disorders.

 

[riche]

I second that advice. I definitely would get a second opinion and I've always been under the impression only people who are overweight or sometone with a big neck has sleep apnea. I would get a second opinion from a doctor who only specializes in sleep disorders.

This is my third Dr, my cardiologist said I need it because the issues with my heart and sleep apnea is making it worse, and my PCP said I need it since I can use the mask

The only alternative is a implanted device like a pace maker that controls the nerves in your tongue,but u have to have a low BMI

 

[jeffchapok]

Have you tried this CPAP mask? I hear they're a little harder to get off.

Just trying to add a little levity. Good luck with your surgery!

 

[NS Mike D]

I had mine done 100% laser about 15 years ago. Much better than tradition surgery and had the packing removed next day. Fixed a deviated septum, removed the uvula and some upper palette. Laser leaves much less scar tissue making it more likely to have long term success. I'm breathing through both nostrils today and sleeping well at nights.