23 y/o- mild osa- what next?

Hello,

A home sleep study has confirmed I have mild OSA, with an AHI of 12.

I would say im probably mild-moderate realistically.

The NHS in the UK will only treat an AHI of 15+.

What are my options?

Will tonsil removal help? A mouthguard? CPAP/APAP?

Thanks in advance.

Rydog22 wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 13, 2019 3:59 pm

The NHS in the UK will only treat an AHI of 15+.

I assume that is only true in the complete absence of symptoms.

Generally a high sleepiness scale score should qualify someone for PAP even when AHI is relatively low, as I understand it.

In other words, an OSA diagnosis usually requires either (1) a high AHI OR (2) an AHI 5 or above along with a report of significant sleepiness, such as revealed in an Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire.

Rydog22 wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 13, 2019 3:59 pm

Hello,

A home sleep study has confirmed I have mild OSA, with an AHI of 12.

I would say im probably mild-moderate realistically.

The NHS in the UK will only treat an AHI of 15+.

What are my options?

Will tonsil removal help? A mouthguard? CPAP/APAP?

Thanks in advance.

i MAY be wrong, but i think this is the first time you've identified as being from uk. if i were you, i'd edit the title of this post so that it includes that fact. we have a few brits here and they may be able to help you more than us rude yanks can.

i don't even know what the nhs limits. but they MAY, for all i know, cover some other form of treatment.

are you indicating that you can go private to buy a cpap machine?

The NHS may not treat your ‘Mild to moderate’ Apnoea but the GP can still provide a prescription that you can use to purchase your own APAP machine ?


Or get one second hand.

PM Rick Blaine, a very knowledgable member in the UK who can best address your problem... yes, a C or Apap would be best, but how to access the right one there affordably (and legally) would be something he could help with. And don't do tonsils (or uvulopalatal surgery) as it's highly unlikely to solve your OSA and could cause more trouble in future.

I think I would prefer an APAP with nasal pillows..after my research.

Also, where is my welcome basket to the club?

Hi Rydog22,

You posted before – last December (2018).

And I replied to you then – three times. Everything I said then is still true. (You might want to go back and read it again. )

Today, I can add that (a) oral devices are not as reliable as APAP machines, and (b) people above have given their opinion about tonsilectomy. Ie, it's a bad idea. (And you might have trouble finding an NHS surgeon who would do it.)

Your best option, IMO, is to buy a machine (from the sources I described) and use it. A new machine should be good for at least five years. And It may be that by the end of that time, your untreated AHI will have increased to the point where you do qualify for treatment on the NHS.

And in the meantime, you will have taken care of yourself.