Thank you to the CPAP Talk community

[Spark11]

I’ve seen previous posts that complained that people having success post-op did not return to the message board to share their results. I wanted to come back today to say “thank you” for all of the support from this community over the last 7 months and share the results from my follow-up sleep study six months after Phase I surgery (tonsillectomy, UPPP, pharyngoplasty, sinus repair, septoplasty, etc.)

I saw the surgeon today who said that with my apnea events going from 28.4 pre-op to 0.8 post-op and lowest oxygen level going from 82% to 91% I am essentially “cured”. I am thrilled with the results, however will not forget what a rough road it was to get here. I have had several minor complications and could not have had such a good outcome without the dedicated support of my husband.

As an RN for the last three decades, I have to say that I really didn’t know much about sleep apnea until my diagnosis last March, although the doctor thinks I’ve had it for 20 to 30 years. I now plan to inform others about the critical importance of this diagnosis and appropriate treatment for the prevention of many chronic diseases. While not everyone is a candidate for surgery, the CPAP machines are so improved from what they were just a decade ago.

I will also inform people about the wonderful community that exists on this site. Thank you again for everything!

[rested gal]

Spark, thanks very much for coming back to share the news about your surgical outcome. I'm very happy to hear the procedures have helped you so much. That's great that you underwent a full PSG at the six month mark. Very smart of you and your doctor to do that.

I truly, truly hope the cure will last for you. As an RN, you, I'm sure, researched it thoroughly and are aware that things can change (we'll hope they don't ... except for the good!! ) as time goes on. I hope you'll report back at least yearly. I sincerely hope each report you care to share here will be of continued success!

I now plan to inform others about the critical importance of this diagnosis and appropriate treatment for the prevention of many chronic diseases. While not everyone is a candidate for surgery, the CPAP machines are so improved from what they were just a decade ago.

I will also inform people about the wonderful community that exists on this site. Thank you again for everything!

Good for you! And thank YOU for letting us know how you're doing.

[kteague]

Thank you for taking the time to come back and share your positive results. You're right, here we hear mostly the not-so--positive outcomes, as those with success stories are not generally frequenting a CPAP board. Question for you - Did you have your uvula removed or revised?

[Spark11]

Thank you for your kind comments; I do know that things can change and I plan to monitor it closely in the future and also be careful not to gain weight. In answer to the question about my uvula : it was folded back up into my soft palate (not removed).

[GumbyCT]

Thank you for your kind comments; I do know that things can change and I plan to monitor it closely in the future and also be careful not to gain weight. In answer to the question about my uvula : it was folded back up into my soft palate (not removed).

More importantly, how are you feeling since the surgery?

I do wish you continued success.

[SleepingUgly]

Glad to hear the good news! When you say "sinus repair", do you mean functional endoscopic sinus surgery?

You are the only person here besides me who has used the term "pharyngoplasty".

[Spark11]

Hi SleepingUgly - I can't find the list of Phase I surgeries, but I think I recall that it was called pharyngoplasty.

Hi GumbyCT - Thank you for asking. I am feeling great! I have more energy and I sleep through the night now without frequent bathroom trips. I can last longer in the car without nodding off and I don't fall asleep in front of the TV every night as I did before starting on CPAP. Before my diagnosis I was taking 50 mg of Benadryl every night in order to be able to get to sleep (which I learned is not good for sleep apnea). Now I just take 300 - 600 mcg of Melatonin every night and use a vaporizer since I am still dealing with the same allergy issues and recovering from LPR (reflux into my larynx). I still need to lose weight, but I have the energy now to exercise more and hopefully I can work on that in the coming year (I gained back almost the entire 11 pounds I lost post-op - oh, well).

[SleepingUgly]

Hi SleepingUgly - I can't find the list of Phase I surgeries, but I think I recall that it was called pharyngoplasty.

The "Phase I" lingo suggests you're coming out of Stanford or their disciples, and they do use pharygnoplasty.

[sister]

So glad to hear your good news and that you are doing so well.
Please don't think I am trying to be negative but I had the same surgery back in 2007 and the dr's told me that I was cured.
I was so happy but my apnea returned after 2 years and it is now worse than before. I wish you all the luck in the world,but no one told me that the apnea might return,so needless to say when it did I was crushed!
GOD BLESS YOU!!!