The Pillar Procedure??? Anyone Familiar

crazyone · Post by **crazyone** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 2:50 pm

http://www.restoremedical.com/pillar.asp

That is the website that has the info on the procedure. I came across it on Sleepnet.com

Has anyone else heard anything on this. It looks very interesting and it would be nice if a miracle procedure come along and get rid of my cpap forever.

I am going to print it out and take with me to the ENT next time I go, but that isn't for over a month.

tlc95066 · Post by **tlc95066** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:29 pm

Take a look the CPAP Faq's above, there have been quite a few posts regarding the Pillar. I spoke to my sleep doc about it and at the time he didn't have enough information to respond to my questions. I saw him again about a month later, (after he had been to a "sleep doc convention") and he was not convinced that it will work for OSA. He thinks for some people it may work.... but he was sceptical. My ENT wasn't convinced either.

Regardless, there is a lot of information on this site about the Pillar. Good luck with your research!
Teri

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:34 pm

Yes. There has been much discussion about the Pillar Procedure. You can use the search function at the top of this page to find all the threads that contain the keywords: Pillar and Procedure.

Here is a list of threads rested gal compiled regarding surgery options. You'll want to go to the section dealing with the Pillar implants:
LINKS to surgery, turbinates, Pillar, TAP experiences

crazyone · Post by **crazyone** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:36 pm

I just got through reading much of the info in the Faqs.

Thank you for the direction.
Looks like a good option for me to seriously evaluate. Maybe I'll be saving my funds for that now instead of a new machine.

Swordz · Post by **Swordz** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:45 pm

The Pillar procedure is quite new, which turns most ENT's off to it. From the initial data, it seems to work well in reducing AHI. I know alot of people on TAS have used in conjunction with other procedures or a dental device to see DRAMATIC results.

I myself may possibly be getting the Pillar in the near future. I am waiting to recieve my dental device, hopefully in the next few wks. I am thinking though that with how severe my apnea is, that I will definitely need something done to my throat (tonsels, uvula, etc). I go to an ENT on the 25th, who is 1 of the best in the country.

Anyways, I am so proud of you for finding your alternatives (I feel like a teacher telling a student that!). People on so many boards frown and even go off on posters for looking for CPAP alternatives. One solution doesn't fit everyone, but if you can use CPAP stay with it. If you want to find alternatives or just can't get used to it (like myself) then there are clear alternatives.

DCTom is trying to get a Pillar soon. I would either PM him on here, or post on Sleepnet, or TAS to get a hold of him. Definitely get your ENT's advice, but if the 1st thing he says is UPPP or something else, just leave. Get a good doc that will give you a thorough consoltation and go over ALL your options.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do, but DEFINITELY keep in contact with me as I'm heading that same direction.

Also check out TAS if you haven't, they have a lot of Pillar info as well. http://www.talkaboutsleep.com and click on message boards

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, AHI, Pillar Procedure

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:34 pm

Crazyone,

My ENT, for whom I have the utmost respect, said he refuses to do any procedure that hasn't been around awhile yet and has been proven to not cause any adverse effects down the road. As he put it, he won't put his hand into the fire with any new procedure until it's been around awhile. The one good thing seems to be, it's reversible if it doesn't work and doesn't seem too hard to recuperate from.

By the way, off topic for a moment, I think I asked you but you didn't reply. May I use your photo for the next update of our online yearbook? Please let me know as I won't put it in without your say-so. Thanks.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:19 pm

ozij, thanks for posting the link.

Crazyone, do check out the "dental sleep medicine" forum on the talkaboutsleep.com message board in those links.

Several people have been having excellent success, as Swordz mentioned -- using a combo of the pillar procedure and the TAP II dental appliance. Their good outcomes have been verified by formal PSG (sleep studies) before and after.

They are also noting that the degree of severity of OSA measured in AHI doesn't matter as much as WHERE the problem of throat closure lies. It would take an ENT who is very experienced in Pillar and TAP to assess the chance of successful treatment with either/both of those, regardless of how mild or severe the sleep apnea.

Anyone who is thinking about Pillar and/or a dental appliance should contact one of the posters on the TAS board who has been going at that kind of non-cpap treatment very methodically - PaulY, Sleepy Stoboy, RickRed, etc. The combo, Pillar and TAP II, is definitely working very well for some.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:28 pm

RG,

Are you psychic or did you know Ozij posted the "guest" post? She didn't post anywhere else on this thread that I could find, yet you thanked her for the link...