Researching surgery

[ZZZzzz]

I met the one surgeon yesterday and will consult with another tomorrow.
She would do:Turbinate reduction, deviated septum, remove tnsls and adnds and modest removal of uvula.
If OSA is obstruction in the throat and the Dr. said my nose was a bigger problem than structures in my throat - I don't know how this could eliminate Mr. Hose. She did say that of the people she does decide to operate on that there is "improvement." (Lowered pressurs etc..)
I'm on vacation this week so I'm able to do a lot of reading and research but I'm afraid that'll come to a screeching slow down when I go back to work next week.
I had eye Lazik correction to be "less blind." (Lucky me got my 20/15 back.)
In a hearbeat, I would have surgery to be "less deaf" if that were the case.
So, I have to decide if I will choose surgery for the shot at being "less CPAP dependent."
As always, Brethren, thanks for your feedback. -Bev # : )

[Sleepless_in_LM]

Thankfully, I have been blessed with a straight septum, but I had the other procedures done in early December. NASTY recovery! I went into it expecting the worst, so it wasn't as bad as I had expected, but it certainly was the worst surgical recovery I ever had. Not in top level of pain, but in length of time of really nasty pain.

I went into it not expecting to be cured. I basically needed the tonsils yanked anyhow, and had met my insurance out of pocket, so opted for the whole thing. It certainly has helped my pressure. I went from cpap of 11 to a 90% apap of around 9. It think the turbinate reduction probably has caused the most noticeable improvement.

On a side note, I am still not recovered. It appears my body is rejecting the vycral stitches, rather than absorbing them. So I still have a nasty sore throat. I warned the doc about this before the operation, but he assured me it wouldn't be a problem because of all the saliva, etc. So if you have a bad history with Vycral, beware.

[Guest]

Thanks for the turbinate info as I know the least about the effectiveness of this.
My sister has had 2 sinus surgeries and it sounds like a repulsive recovery. She also had a scary trip to ER due to post surgery bleeding by taking too hot of a shower. I'm a fan of long hot showers so I'd better beware.

[racefan]

I also would like to know more about surgery for a deviated septum.My ENT says that's the next step to try & deal with my nasal stuffiness.What I wonder is
how much improvement people have seen?

[ZZZzzz]

Racefan: I swear I never had a stuffy nose until 2 weeks after I started on CPAP.
Sleep Clinic told me to get my hose insulated 'cause the water was cooling too much before getting to me. (Also, causing rattling in my hose.)
Does that sound right to everyone?
-Bev

[blarg]

If it's causing "rattling" in the hose, you're experiencing rainout for sure. I'm much more clear-nosed since I've fixed my rainout issues.

[WifeIsHappyNow]

I also would like to know more about surgery for a deviated septum.

I've read a lot of posts on here from people who have had great relief and success from surgery to correct their deviated septum...it doesn't seem to necessarily correct sleep apnea, but it does seem to make breathing much easier for most. I'm not sure that I have read of anybody who had the surgery to correct a deviated septum say that it didn't work or wasn't worth it. The recovery does not seem that horrible either, from what I've read. I am waiting for the right time to get my deviated septum repaired.

Surgery in the throat seems to be a different monster.

[ZZZzzz]

So true about throat surgery...much worse than the nose!
Dr. says you can be in the clear for 8-10 days and than dislodge that scab and start bleeding again. Scary.
It must be 'cause you need your throat for drinking, eating, and breathing and it's just a bugger to heal.

-Bev

[mattman]

It seems there aren't very many folks here who talk about surgical/dental options.

You will find a much more active discussion of the subject at this link:
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/

There seems to be a pretty healthy group of both sucesses and failures there that talk about it quite a bit.

mattman

[ZZZzzz]

mattman-I spend $250 at a dental office researching the TAP. He wants another $2600 for the device. He claims a success rate that sounds too good to be true. (Like 99%)

[CowboyDave]

I had a UPPP in 2000. It worked for a few years but here I am on CPAP. The person who said the recovery is nasty is wrong, it is worse than nasty, it is the worse pain you will ever gone through and pain meds will not help. Most people who have surgery end up on CPAP anyway. Good luck!

[Guest]

Turbinate reduction, deviated septum

I'd get that done so you can breathe through your nose, but for the UPPP I'd tell her to forget it. Get your nose fixed so you can breathe surgery and recovery is not that bad.

Then consider the palatal advancement procedure and the tongue resection (there is another thread on it from the guy in austrialia).

Most OSA obstructions are caused by the Uvula (major cause of snoring for most) and large tongue base (major cause of OSA blockage).

Your ENT wants to do the above first because it impairs breathing and easiest to get Insurance to approve. The latter requires a PSG diagnosis and an attempted trial on cpap, meaning your doctor has to do a lot more work to get it approved.

[Bearded_One]

I understand that oral appliances only work well in cases of mild OSA, and that they cause TMJ. UPPP, Pillar procedure, and oral devices seem to ALL be snake oil.

[mattman]

mattman-I spend $250 at a dental office researching the TAP. He wants another $2600 for the device. He claims a success rate that sounds too good to be true. (Like 99%)

Yeah, I'd be a little leery as well of anyone promoting that kind of success rate for just about anything!

I really haven't followed the surgical/dental talks much since it wasn't something that interested me beyond the ability to sugget a place for interested patients I might run across to go look.

Again, I'd check over at that forum I linked to previously. From what I saw they seemed to have about a 50/50 split on those avenues but much more knowledgable folks.

mattman

[ZZZzzz]

Sweet and short: This Dr. said "Lose 20 lbs."
Dr. said the surgery is major and the recovery is painful.
He asked me if I could do that and I said, 'Two months ago; because of the exhaustion and muscle pain... absolutely not. Now that I have the CPAP, I think I have a shot.'
If that doesn't work, then he wants me to come back in for the flexitube down the nose to try and determine just where the obstruction lies. -Bev