UPPP Surgery, Removal of Soft Palate a Good Idea?

[sickwithapnea17]

will UPPP surgery where they trim the soft palate improve my sleep apnea?
I've read the success rate is as low as 40% but that seems high enough for me to try, about a coin flip...
I'm going in to have my tonsils removed and my deviated septum corrected. the surgeon didn't want to remove my adenoids but I want to have them removed?

[cowlypso]

Remember that "success" means a 50% reduction in AHI. Not a cure of apnea. So if you start out with an AHI of 30 and you're in the 40% that experiences "success" you could still have an AHI of 15 which is moderate OSA.

Also remember that there are risks involved with this surgery (I have read that it can drastically change the way you swallow). And once the tissue is gone, there's no putting it back.

[chunkyfrog]

Losing the tonsils and adenoids may help.
Do NOT be tempted to let them do more "as long as they're in there."
Less is better, even if it takes longer and costs more.
Make it clear that you will not permit any additional procedures without further consultation.
It is not uncommon for surgeons to believe they have the only solution.
They do not have to live with the consequences.

[avi123]

check this:

viewtopic/t72437/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=71 ... 90#p660790

[Mary Z]

With your multiple health problems I would be reluctant to undergo surgery. Good luck.

[sickwithapnea17]

the risks I heard of were that food could go up your nose. the one poster here spoke very positively about the surgery. but others have negative stories.

Do you need a surgeon for UPPP that is a genius Wizard and then the surgery will be successful?

the problem is I have more severe sleep apnea along with lung disease
what kind of swallowing problems could I have or other side effects? my breathing/cognitive problems are so terrible I need to have at least the tonsils removed I think or something to clear the airway

If you hear the neurologist interview on Dr. Park's site he says that people with sleep apnea on DTI MRI have these brain lesions from brain damage!!!

thanks!

[Dazzles]

My boyfriend's uncle had that surgery done. He was a success story.

Despite the success he says given the opportunity to go back in time and make an informed decision he'd opt to not have the surgery.

He said it was so painful that he more than once considered ending his life in early recovery. That he woke up and his doctor immediately apologized because there was no way to properly communicate how much it was going to hurt afterward.

I'm scared for my surgical consultation. My pain threshold is abnormally high, but when a tough farmboy looks you in the eye and tells you these things....it is hard not to get a bit scared.

[sickwithapnea17]

do you mean the tongue coblation or the UPPP? one surgeon said that with a laser surgery to clear the airway there would be only a sore throat for a few days after
at this point I need to completely disregard the pain and only consider the effect on my breathing and health

have you heard those expert interviews with the neurologist on Dr. Park's site. on DTI MRI they found lesions of brain damage in people who have had sleep apnea

[robysue]

Do you need a surgeon for UPPP that is a genius Wizard and then the surgery will be successful?

You need a talented surgeon that is highly experienced with UPPP surgery and highly knowledgeable about UPPP surgery to give you a fighting chance to have a "successful" surgery in the sense that these are the surgeons who have UUP success rates up around 50%. But it is critical to also know how the surgeon defines a successful surgery. As others have said, "successful surgery" usually means a 50% reduction in overall AHI for at least a year. Even when it works, the surgery often does NOT remain effective for a whole lifetime----many folks who have UPPP surgery have the apnea reappear within 5 years or so. Since you have severe apnea, a "successful surgery" could easily leave you with an AHI of 15 (or higher if your current AHI > 30), and an AHI = 15 is moderate apnea, which will still need to be treated; since you are young, even with a wildly successful UPPP surgery, you'd likely find that the apnea will return in the future.

the problem is I have more severe sleep apnea along with lung disease
what kind of swallowing problems could I have or other side effects?

These are two important questions to ask the surgeon. They are such important questions, that they should be asked of more than ONE surgeon before you finalize any plans to go through with the surgery. Any surgeon who doesn't really answer these questions or who doesn't treat the questions seriously deserves to be crossed off the list of potential surgeons who you would consider allowing to do the surgery.

[jnk]

Thoughts from a respected ENT surgeon on apnea surgeries:

http://www.sleepguide.com/forum/topics/ ... ment:34997

My personal thoughts on UPPP:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41299&p=362611#p362611

[soundersfootballclub]

Why not start with an oral appliance first? I started using one because I could feel breathing obstructions when lying down b4 falling asleep. Well guess what, it isn't helping my OSA at all so far! I've only been using it on and off for a week and my breathing b4 I fall asleep seems fixed but so what ...I still feel like I did pre CPAP treatment upon waking up now, ie like crap. So a waste of money so far but I think I would be much more upset if I had surgery done only to see it failed!

[BlackSpinner]

"The surgery was successful but the patient died"

Plus, 100,000 people a year die in the USA from bugs they pick up in the hospital. It is far more dangerous to stay in a hospital then to fly.

[rlyndecker]

I would say I am a success story. I had mine done, I think around 2000 or 2001; I had obstructive sleep apnea & tons of issues with strep so they did the whole thing- tonsils, soft palate, uvela etc. My apnea went WAY down to the point where it was not even considered mild anymore. I didn't have many issues with sinuses or sore throats or anything for a LONG time. Unfortunately, I gained a bunch more weight, I moved to a different school etc. and now I am in the same boat I was 10 years ago. But to me it was 100% worth it because I was getting so many sore throats, I would be in the Drs. office about once a month with strep or something wrong, usually with a high fever. And honestly I made it close to 5-6 years without having issues very often (as in every 6 months or so instead of once a month)

I've never had trouble eating/drinking or anything like that. I would make sure you talk to your ENT & find out all the details,mine was really good she explained (s (she still does as i still see her!)) everything in details.

You can send me a message if you want to know anything, I would do it again in a heartbeat!

[sickwithapnea17]

thanks for the messages!
I've just heard from some people who say they have swallowing problems and not much improvement in their apnea. my surgeon doesn't seem to know much about sleep apnea and is more experienced in tonsil surgery than UPPP. I heard one interview with this neurologist who said that he had 10 surgeries (I think it included UPPP) and his OSA wasn't cured...
I can't get much therapy ever since I switched to bipap st and I need to use sleep medications to sleep more than 1-2 hours a night. I took some restoril and last night I was able to sleep 4 hours continuously on 12/8 but I woke up with the mask off after that. I'm afraid though eventually the medications will lose their effectiveness.
It seems my airways have been narrowed by asthma which may be why my oxygen levels fall to 75 and I get hypopneas?

[BrianR4743]

I had the surgery 3+ years ago. Run, don't walk away from it. The most painful experience I've ever encountered and it was useless shortly after a very long healing process. Snored like crazy, and still had tons of apnea problems.

Have been on CPAP sucessfully for 2 years. Not real keen on all of the headgear and other equipment, but sure feel better.