How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

midnightdweary · Post by **midnightdweary** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:05 am

Well, there was a spot on MPR this morning on snoring.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... =111429822

They said that oral devices were mainly for mild-to-moderate sleep apnea patients. The FDA has approved about 60 oral devices, but the experts say that only 6 or 7 actually work.

I'm wondering myself if I should look into it. I've used my cpap for almost a year, and I am averaging 3:37 hours per night.
I've never fully adjusted to cpap. I've tweaked and tweaked. My pressure varies from 8.4 to 9.2. I still wake up a lot.
The website "Ihatecpap" has recommended a doctor close to where I live, actually a dentist. I think I will contact her.
What do you think?

Jay (formerly "Packitin")

Sleepy Taz · Post by **Sleepy Taz** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:14 am

sleepless4boymom,

I had UPPP and a tonsillectomy 18 years ago and after my follow up sleep study went from 14 to 10 on my pressure. I am now at 17 though I have gained about 50 lbs since then. My doctor also said that this would cure me and was surprised when it didn’t. There is a small percentage that gets off of Cpap therapy following surgery so there is a slight chance it will work for you. I recommend that you embrace Cpap therapy and spend your time and energy on making it work for you. The benefits of good health and being awake outweigh the use of a Cpap. I did my first twenty years alone and recently have found this forum and will monitor and contribute to what these fine people do to help each other succeed from now on.

Uncle_Bob · Post by **Uncle_Bob** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:19 pm

What sort of pain are we talking about with UPPP exactly? The most painful surgery i have had is all four wisdom teeth removed and my upper frenulum cut out, thats the piece of skin connecting your upper gum to the front inside of the top lip, so i had stitches in my gum and inside of my mouth. All of this was done at once and I spent a few days spaced out on Percocet. Would that be a walk in the park compared to UPPP or what?

Sleepy Taz · Post by **Sleepy Taz** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:26 pm

by Uncle_Bob on Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:19 pm

What sort of pain are we talking about with UPPP exactly? The most painful surgery i have had is all four wisdom teeth removed and my upper frenulum cut out, thats the piece of skin connecting your upper gum to the front inside of the top lip, so i had stitches in my gum and inside of my mouth.

Uncle Bob,

I am a big man with a high tolerance to pain and it took me almost three weeks before I could eat solid food and go to work. Just to swallow would bring tears to my eyes and at times I wanted to die if it meant the pain would go away. I too have had multiple teeth extractions and would be glad to have them all removed rather that go through that pain again.

Uncle_Bob · Post by **Uncle_Bob** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:42 pm

Sleepy Taz wrote:by Uncle_Bob on Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:19 pm

What sort of pain are we talking about with UPPP exactly? The most painful surgery i have had is all four wisdom teeth removed and my upper frenulum cut out, thats the piece of skin connecting your upper gum to the front inside of the top lip, so i had stitches in my gum and inside of my mouth.

Uncle Bob,

I am a big man with a high tolerance to pain and it took me almost three weeks before I could eat solid food and go to work. Just to swallow would bring tears to my eyes and at times I wanted to die if it meant the pain would go away. I too have had multiple teeth extractions and would be glad to have them all removed rather that go through that pain again.

I think i get the message, thanks

Victoria · Post by **Victoria** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:25 pm

Well....I actually just had the surgery 11 days ago. I've been on cpap for the last six months. I've been using the Swift For Her and just switched to the Comfort Full 2 while recovering from surgery. What made me decide to do it?

1. I am relatively young and in good shape (38 yr old female, avid runner) and if doing the UPPP can postpone cpap for 10 years, then it's worth it to me.
2. My apnea was mild to moderate
3. If it doesn't work, well, at least I know that I gave it a shot.

I researched it really well, and found a highly-recommended doctor. After talking and examining me, he felt like I had a 70% chance of getting off of cpap. He did a septoplasty, base of tongue coblation, removal of lingual tonsils and UPPP.

The pain is really bad, but I didn't feel like I was going to die or anything. Personally, I think giving birth is MUCH MORE painful. Having gum surgery (multiple gum grafts) and/or wisdom teeth out (I've had both) are much less painful than this, if that helps give you a basis of comparison.

My dh took off work the day and a half I spent in the hospital, then we had a weekend, then he went back to work on Monday, and I was home taking care of our four kiddos. We played lots of video games, watched lots of DVD's, I took lots of Roxicet and drank a lot of herbal tea.

I hope it worked, but the dr. likes to wait about 6 months before doing another sleep study. If my apnea is improved, even just for a few years, that will be great. If it's not, then I will continue with cpap. If it makes my apnea worse, then so be it. But like I said, at least I won't be wondering what if.....

robertmarilyn · Post by **robertmarilyn** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:41 pm

Victoria wrote:Well....I actually just had the surgery 11 days ago. I've been on cpap for the last six months. I've been using the Swift For Her and just switched to the Comfort Full 2 while recovering from surgery. What made me decide to do it?

I am relatively young and in good shape (38 yr old female, avid runner) and if doing the UPPP can postpone cpap for 10 years, then it's worth it to me.

I was 38 and an avid runner when I had my UPPP 15 years ago. And it got me 10-12 good years. Went from not having driven for 5 years to buying horses, a horse trailer and truck, taking up endurance riding (50 to 100 mile completions on my endurance horses and driving to these competitions in several different states, just me and my horses). Because my thyroid went nutzo on me about 3 years ago, the timeline of when my sleep problems got really bad again is kind of blurred. The thyroid problem makes me tired too.

I was never on a CPAP until this March. I have a variety of problems but in the last week, for the first time ever, I had two nights with AIs of 1 or less and HIs of less than 4 (8/2 cuz of Resmed) for AHIs of less than 5. I suspect I would have had to use a higher pressure without my UPPP and I'm at my upper limit on a pressure of 11 since too much pressure bothers my stomach.

The recovery from the UPPP was extremely painful for several weeks but I think it was worth it (for me...I cannot speak for others). I have had CPAP related problems since I have started CPAP but I think I am seeing progress finally and a lot of the progress comes from getting help and support from my friends on this forum.

mar

Muse-Inc · Post by **Muse-Inc** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:48 pm

robertmarilyn wrote:...in the last week, for the first time ever, I had two nights with AIs of 1 or less and HIs of less than 4 (8/2 cuz of Resmed) for AHIs of less than 5...think I am seeing progress finally...

Wow, that's great news Mar! Can't claim this apnea adventure is easy or short...what's that song, a long and winding road...yeah, it's a challenge.

Endurance rides..cool! Here's hoping you recover enough to compete again...look at what carbonman's achieved...when I avoid comparing where I am now to where he is, his recovery & those fabulous pics he posts are truly inspiring.

robertmarilyn · Post by **robertmarilyn** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:04 pm

Muse-Inc wrote:
robertmarilyn wrote:...in the last week, for the first time ever, I had two nights with AIs of 1 or less and HIs of less than 4 (8/2 cuz of Resmed) for AHIs of less than 5...think I am seeing progress finally...
Wow, that's great news Mar! Can't claim this apnea adventure is easy or short...what's that song, a long and winding road...yeah, it's a challenge.

Endurance rides..cool! Here's hoping you recover enough to compete again...look at what carbonman's achieved...when I avoid comparing where I am now to where he is, his recovery & those fabulous pics he posts are truly inspiring.

My last endurance ride was in Feb and I had hoped to already be back to doing the rides but have still had problems with being tired. But I am now planning to ride a 50 miler in Santa Fe, NM on Sept 6, and if not then I will start riding endurance rides again in Oct. I have had several busy (non horsey) long days, three days in a row and actually handled them better than I have in a long time. So things are looking up...I have an appt with my sleep doctor tomorrow but I am going to ride one of my horses first.
mar

Uncle_Bob · Post by **Uncle_Bob** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:37 pm

Victoria wrote:Well....I actually just had the surgery 11 days ago. I've been on cpap for the last six months. I've been using the Swift For Her and just switched to the Comfort Full 2 while recovering from surgery. What made me decide to do it?

1. I am relatively young and in good shape (38 yr old female, avid runner) and if doing the UPPP can postpone cpap for 10 years, then it's worth it to me.
2. My apnea was mild to moderate
3. If it doesn't work, well, at least I know that I gave it a shot.

I researched it really well, and found a highly-recommended doctor. After talking and examining me, he felt like I had a 70% chance of getting off of cpap. He did a septoplasty, base of tongue coblation, removal of lingual tonsils and UPPP.

The pain is really bad, but I didn't feel like I was going to die or anything. Personally, I think giving birth is MUCH MORE painful. Having gum surgery (multiple gum grafts) and/or wisdom teeth out (I've had both) are much less painful than this, if that helps give you a basis of comparison.

My dh took off work the day and a half I spent in the hospital, then we had a weekend, then he went back to work on Monday, and I was home taking care of our four kiddos. We played lots of video games, watched lots of DVD's, I took lots of Roxicet and drank a lot of herbal tea.

I hope it worked, but the dr. likes to wait about 6 months before doing another sleep study. If my apnea is improved, even just for a few years, that will be great. If it's not, then I will continue with cpap. If it makes my apnea worse, then so be it. But like I said, at least I won't be wondering what if.....

Its sounds too me like the pain can vary quite a bit amongst different individuals. I'm 37 and good shape but my sleep doc talked through all the possible "cures" for sleep apnea with me and downplayed everything expect CPAP. Everything else was painful and hardly ever worked. By the way my doc has an interest at the DME at his office

I'm going to bring the subject up at my six month check up later this month. But I still have the thought that the pain is enough to make a grown man cry at the back of my mind also.

Muse-Inc · Post by **Muse-Inc** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:31 pm

Please remember too, that following surgery, you may no longer be a good candidate for xPAP therapy.

charlambe · Post by **charlambe** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:39 pm

my twin brother had a major surgery for this. They put him through the wringer. I think they did everything you can do for a patient with apnea. He now after two years is going to start using the cpap machine so the surgery did not work for him but then again it did. If he hadn't of had the surgery the cpap wouldn't have worked either for him. He couldn't breath with the cpap so they said it was obstructive and they gave him 5 years to live if he didnt have the surgery. So of course he did the surgery. But now he is on oxygen at night and is getting the cpap as well.

Uncle_Bob · Post by **Uncle_Bob** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:15 pm

charlambe wrote:my twin brother had a major surgery for this. They put him through the wringer. I think they did everything you can do for a patient with apnea. He now after two years is going to start using the cpap machine so the surgery did not work for him but then again it did. If he hadn't of had the surgery the cpap wouldn't have worked either for him. He couldn't breath with the cpap so they said it was obstructive and they gave him 5 years to live if he didnt have the surgery. So of course he did the surgery. But now he is on oxygen at night and is getting the cpap as well.

poor guy, I wasn't aware of how common it was for surgery to complicate CPAP treatment. That might be the final nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned, I think I'll just go home and hug my CPAP machine

schwawi · Post by **schwawi** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:11 pm

i had the surgery in 1992 and was told I was cured. I am now back on cpap in 2009 and am convinced that my apnea returned years ago - was working alot and just thought i wasnt getting enough sleep (because after all, I was cured!). Finally came up again when a very astute dentist who i was seeing for TMJ had me take a home sleep study and the results came back severe. So much for the cure.

i think the moral for me at least is that Surgery might help lessen symptoms for awhile, but it isnt really a cure. Don't let them tell you otherwise.

Pstars · Post by **Pstars** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:14 pm

One poster brought up a very important point. These forums do not attract success stories, those people move on. Here is a brand new study just published this month which supports surgery for those CPAP users that are not compliant . "In CPAP patients, snoring control and quality of life improved as CPAP compliance increased, the report indicates. However, independent of compliance, CPAP side effects, seen in 26% of patients, reduced the quality of life benefit. By contrast, surgical complications, although more common (44%), did not affect quality of life. The findings suggest that upper airway reconstructive surgery IS a suitable alternative to CPAP for patients who are poorly compliant with the latter, the authors conclude."

For the new study google, "Surgery suitable alternative to CPAP for sleep apnea." This site apparently does not allow links.

If you have no issues using CPAP, either physical or psychologicol, then by all means use it. If it doesn't work for you than surgery IS a viable option. My research indicates the current protocol is a three step process. The nasal, palate and tongue areas need to be thoroughly analysed and addressed. Addressing just one or two areas will NOT work unless it is determined a particular area has no problems. It seems apparent to me also if you are obese or become obese after the procedure you are guaranteed it will fail. I've also concluded if you sleep on your back you greatly increase the chance for continued obstruction. It amazes me some of these post operation studies say the test group consisted of "all obese people who were required to sleep supine (on their backs)." Duh, of course the results will be abissmal. I've also come to learn that touch up surgeries sometimes may be required, nothing as extensive as the first procedures. That seems reasonable to me.

I have a deviated septum, large turbinates, a very large uvula and droopy palate and have never had my tonsils out. Mr Dr. says my airway around the tongue does no collapse during tests she preformed so the jury is still out on any tongue work for me. I'm have the nose work done on 9-3-09 and 2 months later having the uvula, palate and tonsil work and possibly a tongue procedure.

I feel good about my planned course of action and even a reduction of pressure and being able to breathe properly when I excersize will be a victory for me. Not having to use the machine, even if for only a few years would be very worth it. A wicked sore throat for 2-3 weeks is worth it for me to potentially put this behind me or greatly improve my breathing.

How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

Re: How many have had surgey and are still on cpap?

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