been wondering how you are doing with your dental appliance? Have you been feeling any better. Me , I am still fighting with my cpap, waiting on another mask.
God bless
Chelle
Swordz how are you holding up?
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sapphireskye
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:22 pm
- Location: Colorado
- Contact:
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snork1-blockedToday
I don't know if Swordz is checking in here often, but I was just reading his posts on another forum in the "dental treatment" section.
Sorry to say I am getting the impression he is NOT doing well.
He SEEMS to be responding well to the dental device, but is still feeling tired.
Hopefully he will jump in here and give the details, or you can hop over and check out his posts.
Sorry to say I am getting the impression he is NOT doing well.
He SEEMS to be responding well to the dental device, but is still feeling tired.
Hopefully he will jump in here and give the details, or you can hop over and check out his posts.
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Guest
Hey guys/gals. I really miss posting, but I've been REALLY busy with school. I transferred (again) and don't have an apartment or job yet, so lets just say its been really interesting.
I am not down and out, but I am quite depressed concerning the lack of results with my dental device. (And no, dental device haters don't say "Ha, told you so!" yet... read on.)
I am more than 1/2 way through my advancements on my device. The device is made with 40-50% advancement just with having it in. You then incrementally advance the device 3 turns every 3 nights. One turn is 0.1mm, so its basically ~1mm every 3 nights.
My device is approximately 3.3 mm advanced becuase I have turned it 33 times. Put this on top of the original 40-50% jaw advancement before advancing it, and you'd think I'd have results.
My AHI is definitetly severe and averages about 57/hour. There may be many reasons why I'm not feeling better and seeing the results I'm desiring. With my OSA being so severe, its definitely going to take some MAJOR advancement to probably see results. I could stumble onto something on any random day. I could feel better and see results 3 days from now, or not for another month. It really just depends on what it takes to get my tongue obstruction solved.
I could be sleeping better, but just being experience REM rebound and am slowly paying off my sleep debt. Just because I'm sleeping better, doesn't necessarily mean I'll be feeling better. Over 10 years of damage doesn't go away in mere weeks. You're body requires deep sleep to manage hormone levels and basically get in check.
I may not be seeing results because my obstruction isn't tongue related, but possibly palatal. Seeing an ENT for possible obstruction issues doesn't guarantee answers concerning the cause of my apnea. But it my apnea is palatal and not tongue related, then fine. In that case I would seek Pillar treatment or palatal Somnoplasty to treat it.
One way to see if my OSA is being treated is to see if I still snore. Unfortunately I haven't tried to tape record my noises at night to see if snoring has quit. Obviously snoring doesn't cause my apnea, but the presence of snoring does present the presence of obstruction. If no snoring, than obvioiusly that obstruction is being treated.
I am still very confident about dental device and support the use of them for candidates of dental devices (no bridges, dentures, etc). Hopefully over the next few weeks I will see results as I advance the device completely. If it doesn't work, than at least I tried it. Surgery is my last option (MMA/GA), but at least I'm hitting my bases and running straight for surgery.
Long and boring.......... Hopefully I explained myself well. Thinks are crappy, but hopefully I will see results in the near future. Time is not essence of treating OSA, its the very fact that you've recognized your problem and you're seeking legitamite treatment.
Thanks for the support and checking in on me. Should I start calling you mom?
I am not down and out, but I am quite depressed concerning the lack of results with my dental device. (And no, dental device haters don't say "Ha, told you so!" yet... read on.)
I am more than 1/2 way through my advancements on my device. The device is made with 40-50% advancement just with having it in. You then incrementally advance the device 3 turns every 3 nights. One turn is 0.1mm, so its basically ~1mm every 3 nights.
My device is approximately 3.3 mm advanced becuase I have turned it 33 times. Put this on top of the original 40-50% jaw advancement before advancing it, and you'd think I'd have results.
My AHI is definitetly severe and averages about 57/hour. There may be many reasons why I'm not feeling better and seeing the results I'm desiring. With my OSA being so severe, its definitely going to take some MAJOR advancement to probably see results. I could stumble onto something on any random day. I could feel better and see results 3 days from now, or not for another month. It really just depends on what it takes to get my tongue obstruction solved.
I could be sleeping better, but just being experience REM rebound and am slowly paying off my sleep debt. Just because I'm sleeping better, doesn't necessarily mean I'll be feeling better. Over 10 years of damage doesn't go away in mere weeks. You're body requires deep sleep to manage hormone levels and basically get in check.
I may not be seeing results because my obstruction isn't tongue related, but possibly palatal. Seeing an ENT for possible obstruction issues doesn't guarantee answers concerning the cause of my apnea. But it my apnea is palatal and not tongue related, then fine. In that case I would seek Pillar treatment or palatal Somnoplasty to treat it.
One way to see if my OSA is being treated is to see if I still snore. Unfortunately I haven't tried to tape record my noises at night to see if snoring has quit. Obviously snoring doesn't cause my apnea, but the presence of snoring does present the presence of obstruction. If no snoring, than obvioiusly that obstruction is being treated.
I am still very confident about dental device and support the use of them for candidates of dental devices (no bridges, dentures, etc). Hopefully over the next few weeks I will see results as I advance the device completely. If it doesn't work, than at least I tried it. Surgery is my last option (MMA/GA), but at least I'm hitting my bases and running straight for surgery.
Long and boring.......... Hopefully I explained myself well. Thinks are crappy, but hopefully I will see results in the near future. Time is not essence of treating OSA, its the very fact that you've recognized your problem and you're seeking legitamite treatment.
Thanks for the support and checking in on me. Should I start calling you mom?
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sapphireskye
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:22 pm
- Location: Colorado
- Contact:
Hey you
You will be in my prayers. I am sorry you have not had as much success and are not feeling better yet. Ill send a pm.
God bless
Chelle
God bless
Chelle
Swordz,
Sorry to hear that its not working as well as planned. The general rule that I have seen is that there is often a 50% drop in AHI. This could also explain why you are still not seeing results as your AHI would still be in the mid 20's.
Have you thought about combining this with Pillar? A number of people on TAS have and seen more improvement than with the dental device alone.
As its been a while, and you aren't seeing major improvements, you might want to consider falling back to CPAP again, as this experiment doesn't seem to be treating you, and we all know how dangerous untreated sleep apnea is. Good luck!
Sorry to hear that its not working as well as planned. The general rule that I have seen is that there is often a 50% drop in AHI. This could also explain why you are still not seeing results as your AHI would still be in the mid 20's.
Have you thought about combining this with Pillar? A number of people on TAS have and seen more improvement than with the dental device alone.
As its been a while, and you aren't seeing major improvements, you might want to consider falling back to CPAP again, as this experiment doesn't seem to be treating you, and we all know how dangerous untreated sleep apnea is. Good luck!
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Janelle
Hey, Swordz, are you still using your xPap in addition to the dental device? if so, I'll tell you a little known fact that I threw at my ENT when she suggested surgery--the floppy soft palate that got that way from snoring vibrations will tighten up within 6 months of using xPAP because of the lack of snoring. She actually agreed with me and had me return in 6 months and sure enough it was back to normal and she hasn't mentioned surgery since!
It could be your problem isn't your tongue at all, especially if you sleep on your side. It would seem the tongue problem would be more for folks who sleep on their backs. OR, as you suggested, it could be you have other issues, like lack of deep sleep, like I do. It took medication to guarantee me deep sleep and that is when things really turned around. But it took going through 2 medications that didn't work before finding one that did.
How recent is your photo? If you are overweight you might want to investigate one of the low glygemic index type diets like South Beach, or the low portion one like Weight Watchers and start a work out program too or just do exercises at home. Reducing neck size plays a very large part in preventing apneas, because it is not only the tongue, but the amount of fat around your neck pressing on your trachea that causes obstructions.
Anyway, some food for thought. I would definitely get in to see an ENT for a thorough examination to see what other obstructions you might have.
I don't think I would go for the Pillar Implant surgery since your soft palate is probably as good as it will get if you have been using xpap all this time, and I really believe it is too new to know what the long term effects are.
It could be your problem isn't your tongue at all, especially if you sleep on your side. It would seem the tongue problem would be more for folks who sleep on their backs. OR, as you suggested, it could be you have other issues, like lack of deep sleep, like I do. It took medication to guarantee me deep sleep and that is when things really turned around. But it took going through 2 medications that didn't work before finding one that did.
How recent is your photo? If you are overweight you might want to investigate one of the low glygemic index type diets like South Beach, or the low portion one like Weight Watchers and start a work out program too or just do exercises at home. Reducing neck size plays a very large part in preventing apneas, because it is not only the tongue, but the amount of fat around your neck pressing on your trachea that causes obstructions.
Anyway, some food for thought. I would definitely get in to see an ENT for a thorough examination to see what other obstructions you might have.
I don't think I would go for the Pillar Implant surgery since your soft palate is probably as good as it will get if you have been using xpap all this time, and I really believe it is too new to know what the long term effects are.
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Guest
Took a look at previous posts by Swordz to get some background information and came across this very thorough post:
[quote="Swordz"]Yep, using the Somnomed MAS instead of a CPAP/APAP.
Basically put, I'm not a CPAP kinda guy! I couldn't ever get tolerated to it. I would lay in bed with the mask on for 3 hours, and never be able to get to sleep. So after those 3 hours, I would just take the everything off. I saw it as, I'd rather get crappy sleep, better than no sleep.
So after many appointments with a Sleep Medicine Certified Dentist, and a Sleep Apnea ENT specialist I had: (A) Surgery to improve my nasal breathing, including septoplasty and turbinate reduction. (B) A Somnomed MAS dental device to treat tongue obstructions.
I am in the process of advancing my device and setting up a PSG to see the effectiveness of the device, and to see the proper advancement setting (in terms of millimeter advancement). I am trying to schedule a 2nd appointment with a ENT to get a 2nd opinion concerning any palatal obstruction, and whether there is any worthiness of seeking Pillar procedure. After all this, I will then schedule another PSG, or just have one with Pillar-only results, and the 2nd half of the study with dental device results.
I am one who doesn't accept one standard treatment. One treatment doesn't fit all, and MANY people don't know of thier options. Why not seek another treatment if (A) it works effectively and (B) I am a candidate for the treatment. I don't try to sway people from CPAP, and am no CPAP-hater. Dental devices aren't for everyone, and I am definitely taking a chance with as severe as my apnea is (AHI 57). People with dentures, crowns, or any dental work, and also TMJ problems will not be able to use dental devices. And Pillar is only for people whom have palatal obstructions. BUT... I will definitely let people know my results. My sleep doc (Pulmonologist) only offered CPAP as treatment, and I'm sure he has no clue about other treatments.
I am also seeking insomnia treatment through a Sleep Psychologist, but treatment is postponed until I start to see results from my dental device. My insomnia is probably apnea related, and my Psychologist knows there is no point in trying to treat it until I have successful treatment of my apnea.
Whoooooo.. Hope that answers your ?'s!!!
[quote="Swordz"]Yep, using the Somnomed MAS instead of a CPAP/APAP.
Basically put, I'm not a CPAP kinda guy! I couldn't ever get tolerated to it. I would lay in bed with the mask on for 3 hours, and never be able to get to sleep. So after those 3 hours, I would just take the everything off. I saw it as, I'd rather get crappy sleep, better than no sleep.
So after many appointments with a Sleep Medicine Certified Dentist, and a Sleep Apnea ENT specialist I had: (A) Surgery to improve my nasal breathing, including septoplasty and turbinate reduction. (B) A Somnomed MAS dental device to treat tongue obstructions.
I am in the process of advancing my device and setting up a PSG to see the effectiveness of the device, and to see the proper advancement setting (in terms of millimeter advancement). I am trying to schedule a 2nd appointment with a ENT to get a 2nd opinion concerning any palatal obstruction, and whether there is any worthiness of seeking Pillar procedure. After all this, I will then schedule another PSG, or just have one with Pillar-only results, and the 2nd half of the study with dental device results.
I am one who doesn't accept one standard treatment. One treatment doesn't fit all, and MANY people don't know of thier options. Why not seek another treatment if (A) it works effectively and (B) I am a candidate for the treatment. I don't try to sway people from CPAP, and am no CPAP-hater. Dental devices aren't for everyone, and I am definitely taking a chance with as severe as my apnea is (AHI 57). People with dentures, crowns, or any dental work, and also TMJ problems will not be able to use dental devices. And Pillar is only for people whom have palatal obstructions. BUT... I will definitely let people know my results. My sleep doc (Pulmonologist) only offered CPAP as treatment, and I'm sure he has no clue about other treatments.
I am also seeking insomnia treatment through a Sleep Psychologist, but treatment is postponed until I start to see results from my dental device. My insomnia is probably apnea related, and my Psychologist knows there is no point in trying to treat it until I have successful treatment of my apnea.
Whoooooo.. Hope that answers your ?'s!!!
9 posts
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