Implanted Device May Help Sleep Apnea

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:20 am

There is an interview w/a doctor in Indianapolis, IN who will be conducting one four clinical trials for a new surgical implant to prevent or alleviate obstructive sleep apnea. They will be enrolling 40 patients and he expects to do close to half of those surgerys.

Your comments are invited - AND - since he mentioned that up to half the patients or more don't use their CPAPs - I couldn't help it. I had to comment about the MAJOR reason WHY so many are non-compliant w/their recommended CPAP therapy. Why don't a few of you also comment?

And for those of you who are interested in a surgical method to eliminate your sleep apnea, read the article and ask your questions and add your comments as well.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 3/LIVING01

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:57 am

Isn't this that hooky thing that was in the media stream a week or so back? Kinda weirds me out. I'm not jumping up for the trial. Ya'll do and report back.

Cheers,
B.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:02 am

Yes, will be interesting to see what happens in the trials.

viewtopic.php?t=20268
May 22, 2007 subject: News spot today in Indy-clinical trial
topic started by sweetdreams

A picture snoredog posted came from this page, I think:
http://www.aspiremedical.com/tech_us.html

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:27 am

Ahhh, but you gals didn't leave any comments about CPAP therapy!!! Tsk, tsk.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:35 am

Where do you want us to comment? Here, or on that website? Here - it's redundant. You know our answers.
B.

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:26 am

A TONGUE TETHER?

That's their magic idea?

Yeah.... good luck with that....

wkosturko · Post by **wkosturko** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:00 pm

not for me! I'll stick with the non evasive effective CPAP

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:09 pm

Leave comments at the article site about CPAP compliance, of course. How compliant we can be and would be and are when we have SUPPORT and ASSISTANCE.

As for me and surgery?? Yuh godda be kiddin'!!!! And certainly not to stick some fish hook in my tongue!!!!

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm

The least they could do is put a pretty flashy spinner on it so your x-rays look cool....

LOL,
B.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:34 pm

I asked my ent doc about this surgery and he said it isn't a new concept, just a variation on an old concept.

If I found out it was my tongue, and only my tongue causing the probs, I'd try this surgery in a heartbeat. I live only an hour from Indy, so it would be super-easy.

But how could you ever know if it was just your tongue?!

I'll wait and watch and see what the numbers are for this study.

Jen

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:36 pm

I also asked my ENT about this last week. He two said it was not a new idea and it failed in the past.

If it really did work I would consider it however it will be years before we know for sure I suspect.

sweetdreams · Post by **sweetdreams** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:04 pm

James,
Perhaps if you could be a part of the trial, you wouldn't have to wait years. Might be worth checking out the risk vs benefit with your other problems. Definitely you can't use cpap right now and i think that was an eligibillity
requirement. Just some thoughts...

Sweetdreams

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:37 pm

jskinner wrote:I also asked my ENT about this last week. He two said it was not a new idea and it failed in the past.

If it really did work I would consider it however it will be years before we know for sure I suspect.

James, did you say you got mouth casts taken for an oral appliance recently? I just went to an oral surgeon today to pick his brain. He assessed my jaw structure, teeth and throat very, very thoroughly and said my jaw is kinda pushed back (yeah, that is a technical term!--and not the one he used of course) and I have a big tongue (no snide comments here!) and I need to have my tonsils out asap (which is not something he does, of course so I thought that was interesting). He took casts for a TAP because he thinks I will benefit from having my lower jaw pulled forward because he says it pulls the tongue with it. He said I will do another titration sleep study after I have had it for a while. He is hopeful that it will allow me to use lower (read: more comfy) pressures on my xpap, not cure me.

I'm curious how this compares to your experience and which one they pushed on you?

So, it turns out, my tongue may be largely to blame! This surgery sounds better!

Jen

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:15 pm

Jen, several people have posted about success with the TAP (Thornton Adjustable Positioner) dental device. Hope it works wonders for you.

If you'll do a search on this board for posts by snork1, he is doing well with the TAP. He used to be a cpap (autopap) user.

Also, check out the dental sleep forum on the TalkAboutSleep.com message board. There are plenty of TAP users who've posted about their experiences.

And... (as if all that weren't enough to read! LOL ) you can find lots of discussions about the TAP in the topics here:

Clickable LINKS to surgery, turbinates, Pillar, TAP experiences
viewtopic.php?t=2836

Good luck!

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:35 pm

rested gal wrote:Jen, several people have posted about success with the TAP (Thornton Adjustable Positioner) dental device. Hope it works wonders for you.

If you'll do a search on this board for posts by snork1, he is doing well with the TAP. He used to be a cpap (autopap) user.

Also, check out the dental sleep forum on the TalkAboutSleep.com message board. There are plenty of TAP users who've posted about their experiences.

And... (as if all that weren't enough to read! LOL ) you can find lots of discussions about the TAP in the topics here:

Clickable LINKS to surgery, turbinates, Pillar, TAP experiences
viewtopic.php?t=2836

Good luck!

Thank you RG,

I have read some of snork1's posts and at talkaboutsleep as well. But i will keep reading--I'm sure there is a lot more to read in your organized list. Like I said, I'm not expecting a cure, but a solution that doesn't involve invasive surgery that can lead to more comfort and control over my symptoms. I won't be satisfied until I feel I have explored all the possiblities.

You have AMAZING organizational skills. You are like the forum's secretary. I have to wonder how you can keep track of all of this stuff. Simply AMAZING! Kudos!

jen