GENNIOGLOSSAL ADVANCEMENT-- STANFORD

I am back from my trip to Stanford for my gga (genioglossus advancement) and wanted to update those of you who are interested in the results.
I am now on my 9th day after the surgery. All went well and stayed one night in the hospital. Dr. H requested I stay until this last monday so he could recheck me 5 days out before I headed back home to Oregon.
Having already had a UPPP, the gga surgery was suppose to be a "breeze" in regards to pain. That was not the case. My overnight stay at the Stanford hospital was "one of the worst nights of my life". The pain meds they gave me only slighly relieved the pain. I didn't sleep at all that night. (being a pharmacist and having worked in hospitals, I must admit that the quantity of pain meds they gave me were on the low end and I think that may be fixed on dr. H's standing orders to be a little bit more liberal after my office visit). They basically keep them low to avoid vomiting and other reasons he put forth which are valid, but the patient is the one who knows best their pain level and this was my only complaint with the surgery.
The next day I slept for my first time(a 3 hour nap) WITHOUT my cpap and only managed a slight whistle--NO-snoring!!!
So far my mouth is healing quite well. Pain level after the first 24 hours was very tolerable. I am now eating soft to moderate food.
However last night I tried again without Cpap and was snoring like a freight train and having several apneic events (used my cassette recorder to record my breathing)
Dr. H pretty well let me decide whether or not to use the cpap over the next 2 to 3 months while I heal and come back to normal on the swelling. After last night I will be back on Cpap tonight.
He is going to do another sleep study 3 months out here locally with the results sent to him.
All in all I am pretty happy with my decision to have the surgery. I feel that once the swelling goes down and my pruple chin(bruising-- he told me this would happen) comes back to normal, that I will be able to put the Cpap in storage. I will keep you posted on what happens in the next few days.
Thanks again to all of you that wished me well--(I really appreciated the encouraging messages I received.) And thanks again to the folks a CPAP.com for making this forum available to us. I certainly do appreciate it, as well as you all do.
RUDYRX

May the pain be short lived and the benefits great.

rudyrx wrote:I am back from my trip to Stanford for my gga (genioglossus advancement) and wanted to update those of you who are interested in the results.
(snip)
Having already had a UPPP, the gga surgery was suppose to be a "breeze" in regards to pain. That was not the case. My overnight stay at the Stanford hospital was "one of the worst nights of my life". The pain meds they gave me only slighly relieved the pain. I didn't sleep at all that night. (snip)


RUDYRX

I had a year with 5 surgeries, and 2 major complications. Thankfully, I had the self-administered IV pump for 2 of them. For two others, I had the gluteal injections, which I would personally refuse if at all possible. I'd rather endure the pain than suffer with the uncomfortable lumps for weeks afterward.

At least you had the expertise to be able to change the policy for others (hopefully). Your doc should definitely respect your opinion on meds!! I've hopefully done the same with some other policies.

Isn't it odd that we (or at least I and a few others with whom I've discussed the subject) forget exactly how the amount of pain felt, but remember that it was horrible. That is a blessing.

I'm so sorry for the pain problem but so GLAD for you in the CPAP elimination process. I truly hope it will do the utmost for you--we all really want to know how it goes.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Hi Rudy
I've been reading this thread with interest. I hope the surgery went well. I'm very keen to hear of your experiences. Could you update when you feel up to it?
fraklydave

rudyrx wrote:Thanks for all of the comments from everyone. I head out tomorrow am for Stanford Univ and surgery. I am still fighting my insurance company on this procedure. They are going to pay for the radiofrequency and the hospital stay, but not the GAA.
Today I officially appealled their decision. Hopefully they will come to their senses and pay for the whole thing or I am out of pocket about 10 grand.$$$
Thanks for all the support and PM that were sent. When this is over and I am back I will give you all my take on this procedure.
CPAP.com does an ecellent job in suplying us with this forum. I want you all to know that I am NOT against CPAP therapy in anyway and it works for many of you. I am just tired of waking up in rthe morning with my mask laying next to me or on the floor and feeling lousy. I am hoping this will give some resolution to a problem that I have had (OSA) for over 20 years.
RUDYRX

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