CPAP x Surgery

[marceltcm]

Hello everyone,
I apologize if this forum is not at all to discuss surgery, even compared with CPAP. If this is the case, moderator can remove my post...
I buyed a machine to treat my apnea condition, which is severe. I know the danger of being untreated and so I am reading all I can here to understand how to cope with the "problems" that naturally ocurr with the treatment (i.e. aerophagia, itching, clogging...) and to improve my adaptation.

I confess that somethings that I read here scared me. I intend to use the CPAP all nights, but if some night, for some reason I just don't use? Being outside and not carried my machine with me for instance. I read in a thread here that a colleague in the forum know someone who died in a night he/she didn't use the machine, after being in treatment for many years.

So, some months back I had a talk with a doctor here in Brazil that makes the surgery of repositioning the jaw and other structure to expand the airway and so could possibly cure the apnea. I have fear of this surgery also, but the mentioned above about the dead by just not using the CPAP one time made me think if this surgery wouldn't be a option really.

So, apologizes for any mistake taken, I know that without treatment i can't continue, but I would appreciate your insights through what I exposed. And No, please, I'm not surgeon or anything, I'm just someone who is afraid and a little confuse about what to do. Tnx in advance

[chunkyfrog]

Skipping a night is generally not fatal, (power outage)
I had a miserable night, followed by a beastly headache the next day
Cpap is the first choice, non-invasive, etc; surgery is a LAST RESORT.
Any surgery has risks, but in your country, I would avoid every procedure possible.
(I watch "Botched".)

[Julie]

Think of it this way - you lived with apnea for a long time before being diagnosed... and you lived. It's highly unlikely you would die after one night with no machine, or two nights or a month. The people who die are most of the time old, and already have serious cardiac trouble... the Cpap just helps them a bit, but even with Cpap they will die. Do you understand? Don't have surgery... you will be fine.

[marceltcm]

Yeah, you're both right, thanks by the insights, helped me to think more clear

[Miss Emerita]

The advice you've already been given is absolutely right. People like a dramatic story, but the damage caused by apnea is long-term, not over-night. I'm glad you plan to stick with CPAP. Please let us know if we can help you solve the inevitable problems as you work toward effective, comfortable treatment.

[NanaKP]

I have had severe OSA since (I think) the 1990s. I had my Uvula removed some years after that. It was the "cure of the time", not! It is one of the life choices I regret. I have to say, with the continued updates to the masks and machinery, you should have no problems adjusting to the CPAP after a time. I saw on this site an old Sullivan S6. That was my second machine. I can't tell you what my first CPAP was but it was LARGE and LOUD. There was no ramp and no Humidifier. I'm 72 and always use my CPAP. Well, almost always. I often fall asleep sitting in my recliner. I'm still alive even was severe OSA. I wish you success with this new adventure.

[marceltcm]

Tnks all of you by the precious support!