Severe Retropalatal Collapse and Pillar Procedure

I also have minimal tongue collapse supine so my thinking is a 5 pillar procedure to stiffen my soft palate will greatly help reduce my apnea. I have minimal desats to begin with and although my AHI is 57 half are hypoapneas which some doctors wouldn't even count and my average desat is only 20 secs. Most of the events happen in REM when my muscles totally collapse in my throat. My pressure is only 8 so this also tells me collapse is only in one area the throat the soft palate.
Any thoughts? They are now using 5 pillars instead of three which were used in the original trials and subsequent procedures. The extra 2 pillars is making this procedure much more effective.

Hi, are you on Cpap now? What machine, what mask, what reports if you've got the software? So many people have sworn against the pillar procedures because they say it loses effectiveness over a year and OSA returns, and I'm curious about your Cpap experience - if it hasn't been good, there are long time experts on this forum who might be able to help before you decide on the surgery.

Julie wrote:Hi, are you on Cpap now? What machine, what mask, what reports if you've got the software? So many people have sworn against the pillar procedures because they say it loses effectiveness over a year and OSA returns, and I'm curious about your CPAP experience - if it hasn't been good, there are long time experts on this forum who might be able to help before you decide on the surgery.

my experience on CPAP has been okay, struggle at times but Dr Park told me to use AFfrin as a test to see if my enlarged turbinates shrunk which they did. Ever since then I only nuse Afrin rarely and my nasal breathing has been much improved making the nasal mask work better without many leaks. The comfort curve nasal cushion is great with no nozzles up my nose and very quiet to boot. The machine is a RESMED 8 CPAP and my numbers are good. It's the psychological issues I have with CPAP and being single. And I don't want to hear it that she wasn't worth it!
If the Pillar procedure works it doesn't lose it's effectiveness from the followup studies I just read online, it's the UPPP that seems to lose it and can make the condition worse. Pillar is not surgery but a minor office procedure that takes 20 minutes. The $3000-$4000 would be out of pocket but that's meaningless to me.

Hi, sorry I confused it with the UPPP. In any case, do a search on the home page here under 'pillar' and you'll get a ton of hits (the first couple are ours, actually). Read your way through and get a consensus.

I've had another consultation with another ENT who specializes in the Pillar Procedure. He too sees a good open airway, good open voice box, no tongue crowding minimal collapse, good throat opening but just a collapsible palate. I'm an excellent candidate for the Pillar Procedure. The ineffectiveness of the original procedure only using 3 pillars was the problem. He will use 6 on me!
I'm taking the plunge with the Pillar Procedure, 6 pillars to reinforce my palate on Tuesday also will have symnoplasty of my turbinates to increase my air flow. He too see's a correlation of my pressure being only 8 so he feels strongly it's mainly palate!

Interesting link the Forum Moderators posted on top.

http://www.modernmom.com/article-5896-c ... pToArticle

I'm having both the Pillar using 6 implants and Symnoplasty RF to reduce the size of m6y7 turbinates in the morning.!

We got to think outside the box once in a while!

I had both procedures done and relatively pain free except for a very bad sore throat for a couple of days.
I used my pulsometer the first three nights and only had a couple of desats to 88% and 89% those first two nights. Also my overall O2 numbers were the highest ever at 97.36 and 97.25% without CPAP. I also slept for 4 and 4.5 hours straight without CPAP. Usually I'm up within 3 three hours, good sign that maybe the pillars are providing some support along with my swollen palate.
Day 6 now and still have a little sore throat. Let's see what the next three months brings when the stiffening really takes place.
Just posting this in case any one else who only has palate collapse maybe can be helped.

I'm at 7 weeks out since my pillar procedure/Symnoplasty RF and last night my 02 levels were well above 90% my average was 96.7%. The lowest dip was at 90, nothing below 90 which is the first time I saw this. I can now usually go 4 to 4.5 hours straight without waking, before it was 2-3 hours and I wake. I feel better not using CPAP than I did using it. Saw my doctor the other day at 6 weeks out and he told me to give it 6 months for full results so I'm pleased and it should only get better. Most say full results can be expected at 3 months but he says 6 months probably due to the 6 pillars he put in. I haven't used my machine since I had the pillars put in and it feels wonderful. For anybody that really cares.............

Congratulations to you for having found a solution which works for you.