My personal experience with Inspire for Sleep Apneas

MattMcR wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 10:26 am

My OSA is so bad that the CPAP, when I was able to actually keep it on for more than 10 minutes, did nothing for me.

Did you have a knowledgeable, heavily experienced CPAP support group helping you?

The bottom line is.......cpap/bipap therapy continues to be the "gold standard" for effective treatment of OSA(obstructive sleep anea). Do your research about the pros and cons of alternate choices before you choose. As a 15-year compliant cpap user and 12-year(and currently) registered Sleep technologist, I would not switch. My AHI(apnea/hypopnea index) was 55/hour and my oxygen level would drop down to 72.(less than 5/per hour and O2 sats(saturation)no lower than 90% is good. With cpap, my oxygen remains in the mid 90's and have on average, less than one event per hour. So my advice to anyone who has had a sleep study performed, (regardless of whether your symptoms are mild, moderate or severe), use your cpap(or bipap). The life you save will be your own. Problems you may have should be solved with the help of your designated sleep therapy provider or doctor. All things considered.....I'm not convinced that there`s any better choices. Consider some of these health issues related to untreated sleep and.....for health's sake, put that cpap mask ON TONIGHT! Think about hypertension, memory loss, problems with weight control, dementia, increased irritability, stroke, heart attack and daytime sleepiness. And that's not even all of it. For most people......find a way to adapt to your cpap, know what your considering as another alternative before you commit.......then regret that decision. Sleep well, wake up rested and live well. (Pardon any mistakes, typographical or otherwise. All of this was done with my right thumb(my slow thumb) on a tv remote, one letter at a time. I'll use the laptop next time.

From Harvard Medical School:

Targeting tongue muscles is less effective

Inspire targets only the muscles of the tongue rather than the entire airway, so it isn’t as effective as PAP. In fact, the company’s stated treatment goal is to lower a person’s AHI by just 50% (or below 20), although some people may do better.

Because PAP is more effective, sleep specialists encourage people to stick with it by trying different strategies.

Full article: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can ... 2207072774

I thank everyone who has posted about their experiences with Inspire

Have considered Inspire as I have been having a hard time with using CPAP

With what I have read there is no way I would have this procedure. I have corresponded with the company and they couldn’t support the outcomes they state. Secondly they lead you to believe this procedure has little or no issues


Thank you again

drkemp1 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 08, 2022 11:51 pm

Have considered Inspire as I have been having a hard time with using CPAP

Start a new thread and let the members help you. Some issues are easily resolved.

Has anyone had a good experience with Inspire? I don’t think that I can physically fall asleep with a CPAP. I only bothered to go through the sleep study once I learned about Inspire. My apnea is not that bad, but my snoring apparently is. I have long struggled with insomnia. I thought I had it under control but the CPAP has brought it back

joepublic23 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 13, 2022 8:10 pm

Has anyone had a good experience with Inspire? I don’t think that I can physically fall asleep with a CPAP. I only bothered to go through the sleep study once I learned about Inspire. My apnea is not that bad, but my snoring apparently is. I have long struggled with insomnia. I thought I had it under control but the CPAP has brought it back

If they did do you think they would be hanging around here????
A cpap help forum.....not likely. They would have better places to go and better things to do than hang out here.

If you really want to try the Inspire.....start the process now because like I told you in your own thread....just because you want it doesn't mean you can get it. Start working on it sooner than later.....it's not a quick process by any stretch of the imagination.

First thing to do...get a copy of your sleep study results....you are going to need them.
Then start searching for a doctor in your area that does it...make an appointment...it will likely not be anytime soon either.
And also figure out what your insurance requires to pay for the surgery....call your insurance company.

Thanks Rogelio for telling your personal experience. It convinced me to cancel my Inspire surgery. I may try a Mandibular Advancement Device. I am having trouble keeping the CPAP mask on all night. Bev

Bevey wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 21, 2023 9:23 am

Thanks Rogelio for telling your personal experience. It convinced me to cancel my Inspire surgery. I may try a Mandibular Advancement Device. I am having trouble keeping the CPAP mask on all night. Bev

Why don't you start your own thread here and get help to manage your mask issues?

Ograx wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:10 am

I didn't have this surgery but I did have a septoplasty to correct a deviated septum with the goal being to improve my breathing and hopefully cure the sleep apnea.

The outcome was no change in my sleep apnea which was verified by a new sleep test. I am glad I did it however as I do breathe way better now and I got a free nosejob thrown in.

That's the same machine I started using a week ago and I'm ready to throw it in the pool. I'm waking up with a throat full of phlegm and it feels like the machine is making me sick

jjc38AHI wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 23, 2024 3:48 pm

Ograx wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:10 am

I didn't have this surgery but I did have a septoplasty to correct a deviated septum with the goal being to improve my breathing and hopefully cure the sleep apnea.

The outcome was no change in my sleep apnea which was verified by a new sleep test. I am glad I did it however as I do breathe way better now and I got a free nosejob thrown in.

That's the same machine I started using a week ago and I'm ready to throw it in the pool. I'm waking up with a throat full of phlegm and it feels like the machine is making me sick

You are off topic since the topic is about the Inspire procedure.
Please start a new thread of your own if you want help adjusting to cpap therapy.
Please don't go hijacking this thread.
Thank you.

On the night I went in for my sleep study they messed with the settings on my inspire and I had muscle cramps in both calves. I woke up screaming. I'd been having them in one leg or the other and sometimes in my foot. I stopped using the inspire and the muscle cramps stopped completely. I went in and they lower the settings and I am trying it again. But I am having some kind of muscle problems and I know when the settings get high enough the muscle cramps will probably return. I don't know why or how but I have figured out there is a connection. Its a shame because its such an easy fix to a dangerous condition but I can't stand the pain of muscle cramps.

I had the Inspire device implanted in 2023. I have a scar under my jaw. About an inch wide. It's fading and doesn't cause me any distress. The device itself is miraculous. But you have to start on a low setting. And learn how to up the intensity of the device, as well as lower the intensity of the device. I keep mine set at 3. It is set to begin 30 minutes after I turn it on. I never feel it, but my husband says he can tell when it works because I start to snore, but quickly stop. I love my Inspire! It just takes some tweaking.

I had Inspire implanted in early February 2024. The surgery was without any complication. My recovery was very easy. It was on the low end of the range my doctor discussed. I only took one pain pill the night of the surgery. The next day I was in no pain. I took it easy but did work and calls. I really felt the recovery was easy, way easier than when I had rotator cuff surgery 8 years earlier. My device was turned on in early March and I have been building up to higher stimulation levels. I’m on 6 now. I have my sleep study coming up but my wife says my snoring is dramatically reduced and hasn’t heard any apnea occasions. I look forward to the sleep study. Mine is set to start 20 minutes after I start it and run for 8 hours. I have forgotten to turn it off a few times. I could not be happier. I wish I had done it years ago. My experience with cpap was horrible. I went through 5 masks and could not wear it for more thann2 hours without not being able to breath. Inspire has been awesome.

kevinpking1 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 07, 2024 5:44 pm

My experience with cpap was horrible. I went through 5 masks and could not wear it for more thann2 hours without not being able to breath.

This sounds like your CPAP system had never been set up properly. Too bad you didn't find this support group then.

BTW, how did you find cpaptalk.com?