Comments on Surgery

KTinTexas wrote: I have had 2 ENTs tell me I needed correction of my deviated septum with turbinate reduction but those recommendations were not for sleep apnea (just for breathing better).

Why are you not having this done? It's an excellent thing to do for your health. While it won't eliminate the need for CPAP, it might make CPAP much easier to tolerate and keep the mask on all night.

This type of surgery has also been greatly improved. The surgery is easier on the patient, and the recovery time is quick. Gramps had it about ten years ago. Outpatient surgery on day one, rested for days two and three, plastic splints came out on the morning of day four, and then we went to lunch and a little shopping, day five back in the office. He was really happy he had the surgery - improved a lot of things. Made CPAP easier.

chunkyfrog wrote: Are all ENT's knife-happy? Just wondering.

When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Janknitz wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote: Are all ENT's knife-happy? Just wondering.

When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

The cynics chime in. I see my ENT every few years. He is very reluctant to perform UPPS/tongue reduction on any patient. Only when the patient is in bad shape and has exhausted all other practical means, will he evaluate the costs/risks/likely benefits. The same is true with turbinate reduction. He requires six weeks on nasal steroids to attempt to reduce turbinate inflammation before he will consider turbinate reduction surgery.