Does age have any bearing on CPAP treatment decision.

[Napnea]

Now I'm a newbie but curious about something.

I'm only in the stage 2 titration torture phase but keep wondering if CPAP is something that is better than surgery for older geezers.

Here's my cracker barrel theory.
If you're 45-65 you have enough time to grow back the palate relief from surgery so CPAP is the way to go.
If you're 70 plus like me, why bother? Just cut til there's relief and send you back without machines and gizmos to mess with.

ANECDOTAL info prompts this question. I read on the infallible Internet that surgery can turn temporary due to regrowth of whatever they remove.

(Ignorance on full display in this post)

But still curious. I have lymphoma that was successfully reduced to a "no problem" stage 3 years ago by chemo and my oncologist told me that I have more years left but still have lymphoma but if that don't get me, sumpin else will..

Soooo..... that's why the question.

Why CPAP for a geezer instead of a scalpel?

[BlackSpinner]

Because the success rate is also not good. The surgeon's concept of success is not the apnea sufferers concept of success.

CPAP is cheap, mostly painless and has very few side effects and there is no possibility of dieing from the use of cpap unlike surgery which always includes that risk.

[library lady]

CPAP is non-invasive, painless, and trouble-free once you adjust. I have read horror stories about the side effects following successful surgery - I won't repeat them here, too graphic ... when I was researching the options, I decided I wanted nothing to do with surgery or oral appliances. Since CPAP is the gold standard of treatment for apnea, for me, at age 69, that was the only option for me.

[JDS74]

Success rate for CPAP surgery generally means a reduction in AHI.
But, often not enough to eliminate the need for CPAP.

So, it is likely that surgery won't get you off the CPAP.

[The Latinist]

Not only is surgery's success rate questionable and the risk of relapse high, as others have said, the surgery itself is not without risks and side effects. Some people have chronic sinus problems, some find that they cannot swallow liquids without those liquids entering their sinuses and even coming out their noses. The likelihood that you will still need CPAP post-surgery is high, and it can be much harder for those with altered anatomy to find success with CPAP.

I also suspect that the increased risk of surgery on someone in his or her 70's would far outweigh any supposed reduced consequences of relapse.

[Christine L]

I read on the infallible Internet that surgery can turn temporary due to regrowth of whatever they remove.

Maybe you were reading a gardening forum on shrubbery trimming?

Flesh cut out of the airway will not grow back.

You may have been reading about ablation procedures. Ablation causes tissues to tighten and become smaller but as time goes on they loosen up again.

One example is tongue base ablation. The scars cause the tongue base to shrink. Over time the flesh loosens up again and the procedure has to be repeated.

What is your city of residence?

[Napnea]

okay okay okay..... .I think I get it.

I live in Sacto, CA area.

[Christine L]

okay okay okay..... .I think I get it.

I live in Sacto, CA area.

I highly recommend a consultation with the excellent Dr. Nancy Appelblatt at Sacto ENT, http://www.sacent.com/services-snoring- ... to-ca.html.

She will do a full evaluation of your airway and make some recommendations. Be sure to ask her about tongue base ablation.

She will want to see a copy of your full sleep study.

[apw5746]

The painful surgery didn't help my condition I'm only 68 years young, but the government wants to give us pain pills point to the north forty, with hopes we go away

[friar]

[chunkyfrog]

--and the second frame shows the previous patient being wheeled out,
The sheet pulled all the way over the face.

[archangle]

If anything, I think surgery is less appropriate for geezers than for youngsters. More chance of severe complications from the surgery. Slower healing. Even if it works, a shorter period of apnea free joy vs. the pain, risk, and recovery period from the surgery.

I would not go for any of the current surgery options until a lot of other people have been the guinea pigs for a long time period. I do hope they will figure out a surgical solution that is better than CPAP eventually, but the risk vs. benefit tradeoff looks bad for me right now.

[Lukie]

I am a geezer of the ripe old age of 73. I just started on CPAP in November and it has helped a lot!
Surgery for sleep apnea is not the best option for anyone. It is often full of complications and doesn't
always work. Surgery is not usually advised even for the young ones. For us older folk CPAP can help
keep oxygen levels up and prevent or lessen the impact of that dreaded disease Alzheimers's .
Do it for your health. You will feel better.

[wardmiller]

Why CPAP for a geezer instead of a scalpel?

Three reasons:
1) There are a half dozen different surgical procedures. Long term success rate (more than 2 years) eliminating Obstructive Sleep Apnea is typically less than 10%.

2) There is a relatively high rate of significant undesirable side effects.

3) The one no one has mentions so far, the procedures are VERY expensive. CPAP, by comparison, is virtually free and success rate is a slam-dunk in most cases.

Age is not a factor. I was 85 when I began CPAP.

[bwexler]

Yes age is a major consideration for those of us geezers who would like to continue to age for quite a while longer.
I guess I am a youngster in this crowd, only 68, but I am looking forward to 98.