Let Me Hear From You

this is my first time here..or anywhere. I have had two GOOD night sleeps in eleven years. My husband and I sleep apart -just sleep apart- I have learned of the pillar procedure- Any input on it? I don't have insurance so I have not taken your CPAP route- not because I didn't want it but I didn't want to pay 2200. for a sleep study to tell me what was already known (VIDEO-EMBARRASING,HUMILIATING ETC.) and then pay for a machine. I go to Tulsa to Dr. Nunn for appt for pILLAR fEB 15 I am very excited. Let me know something

Welcome to our community, you have come to the right place. We've got answers for you!

The pillar procedure is pretty new. From what we hear, it's fairly painful and has mediocre rate of success. With that said, some people do go in that direction and get good results. However, you've said you are without insurance, so it's even less of a good option.

If I was uninsured and looking for the cheapest/best way to treat your OSA, here's what I'd do:

1. Get a prescription for an auto-cpap from my doctor. This will let me get either an auto or a regular cpap from an online dealer.

2. Browse cpap.com and see what they feature, check out the cpap comparions and call in to talk to one of their reps (I've talked to Becky and Ted, both were very nice and patient). Their number is on the website and it's free to call. You may also want to skip the research and stuff and just call. I kinda got lazy and did that.

3. There are a few really good masks and a few really good CPAP machines. It's about what kind of money you want to spend.

If you are in the $400-$600 range I'd get these things:

Puritan Bennett 420G CPAP and H20 Humidifier
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1538

Resmed Activa Mask
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/767

Some people don't need a humidifier and some do. So if you must cut, you can get just the 420G for $299. This is cheaper, but still much better than what you'd get from a brick and mortar (DME) company.


If you have a little more to blow $800-1000+ and you want the best non-travel night sleeper unit and most comfortable stuff:

REMstar Auto C-Flex CPAP, REMstar Heated Humidifier
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1623

Resmed Activa Mask
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/767


A lot of people will also say I left out things like:

Puritann Breeze Nasal Interface System
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1451

Respironics Profile Lite Gel Mask (If you really want to shave some money off, this is an option that's cheap and proven)
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/276

Lastly, be sure to call for mask sizing. It's really bad if you "guess" it and it doesn't work.

Good luck with the pillar if thats the way you want to go! I hope it works for you!

The procedure you are asking about is Restore Medical's Pillar Implant procedure, previously approved for treating snoring and recently approved for the treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea. It involves the implantation into the soft palate of three soft "pillars" to stiffen the soft palate.

From my understanding it is relatively painless and is done in the office of the physician.

You can find more information about this procedure at http://www.restoremedical.com, including a set of Frequently Asked Questions at http://www.restoremedical.com/faq.asp There is a "Find a Doctor" search on the FAQ page.

Keep in mind that this new procedure may not help if your soft palate is not part of your apnea problem or not the major cause of the apnea. I've heard cost estimates of $1500-2000 for the procedure.

To my knowledge the longest any apnea patient in their research study has had the pillars is about a year. So there are not any long term results as of yet to be able to judge how well this works over the long haul. From some local sleep labs I've heard of a patient or two who saw absolutely no difference in their apnea level after they had the procedure. Perhaps they were severe apnea; perhaps the palate was not really an issue for them. It's like almost any of the surgical procedures -- they work OK for a few patients, partially for most patients, and not at all for a few patients. Obviously, they had enough research data to convince the FDA to allow them to market the procedure. Only time will tell how truly effective it is and on which patients.

If you have severe apnea (which you technically don't know without some sort of sleep study), this procedure alone may not help you very much or at all. Be sure to ask the physician about his success rate before you make your final decision.

Personally, I recommend that you try a PAP device first. It's still the gold standard of treatment for sleep apnea. When you can use the mask and machine every night all night long, it is almost 100% effective.

You've already 11 bad years in your life. Untreated apnea continues to get worse as we age and gain weight, so your quality of life will probably get worse. Your risk of cardiovascular problems is higher than normal, too.

Please carefully consider your options, but definitely do something to get the apnea treated.

jmraines359, the most comprehensive apnea message board posts I've seen about the Pillar procedure have been on TAS:

click to go there, then a search for "Pillar" to turn up many very informative posts