Newly Diagnosed but have questions

Hello! I just had my sleep study and am including the numbers. The doctor said I have moderate sleep apnea, but there were a few things to note. I am primarily a side sleeper. I had some apnea events when sleeping on my side, but I am waking about 21 times per hour. Because of that I got very little REM sleep (only about 3% of my total sleep time). When sleeping on my back, I had about 29 events per hour and when in REM I had 40 events per hour. He thinks because of my lack of REM sleep and limited back sleeping the severity of my apnea is underestimated.

He gave me a few options and I'm really struggling with which way to go. He mentioned the mandibular device, but I'm worried that will be very uncomfortable with my TMJ. He also mentions surgical options. After reading through some posts, I think I should consult and ENT to see if adenoid/tonsil removal would be a feasible option. Curious if anyone has had success with surgery? CPAP was another option, but I'm nervous about the hose and the mask and not being able to sleep well. My husband has one and he often struggles with it (but this is the first time we've heard of this forum, so I'll be connecting him to it now!)

All of this to say...I'm exhausted and I REALLY want to finally get quality sleep so I am hoping to figure out the best way to go as quickly as possible. Thank you so much!

Welcome to the forum.

Let me address this question first.

Wanting to Sleep wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 9:45 pm

Curious if anyone has had success with surgery?

You have to understand that this is a cpap use help forum and we don't have many people hanging around here unless they use cpap. There are a handful who did have some sort of surgery but they are back here because either the surgery didn't work out so great or maybe it did bide them some time and they were able to do without cpap for their OSA but eventually things worsened and they ended up on cpap.
Someone who maybe had the surgery and it fixed their OSA and they didn't need cpap ....they aren't going to be hanging around here because there really wouldn't be any need for them to hang around here.
Or maybe they had the surgery and it didn't help and they just decided to live with it...and still don't come here.

This is a cpap help forum. Not a gathering place for people who opted to try some other way of addressing their OSA.

The ONLY surgery I would ever even remotely consider doing would be the tonsil and adenoid removal...if they were enlarged.

There are other options...make sure you look at each option carefully but I suggest starting with cpap because it might work out just fine for you and it is the gold standard for treatment. Give it a try while investigating those other options.

Building on what Pugsy said, I would add correction of a badly deviated septum or turbinate reduction. I had UPPP surgery several years ago. I got temporary relief from it, but am now using a bilevel machine when I sleep. As a result of that surgery, I have post nasal drainage that seems to go forever.

Wanting to Sleep wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 9:45 pm

After reading through some posts, I think I should consult and ENT to see if adenoid/tonsil removal would be a feasible option.

Yes, you need to do that. In addition to looking at your adenoids/tonsils, the ENT should perform an endoscopy of the larynx and nasal passages ( https://www.laent.com/procedures/head-n ... endoscopy/ ). This exam will reveal any possible problems with your airway such as enlarged turbinates, deviated septum, polyps, etc.

Wanting to Sleep wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 9:45 pm

My husband has one and he often struggles with it (but this is the first time we've heard of this forum, so I'll be connecting him to it now!)

Yep. Many of us have made great improvements to our CPAP therapy by using cpaptalk members as a support group.

Some excellent advise above. I will add is there a chance you could try hubby's cpap before you get to far?

I agree with the tonsils and adenoids as those are a major contributor but be sure to discuss with the doc, your family, and work as you may need some time off. I understand this is a major surgery event for adults (for some reason) so be sure to pick a good doc and write down ALL your questions before hand.

Most of us had those removed as a child - for me it was 5y/o - I remember the big thing was all the ice cream I could eat.

Thank you all for the replies. I did a home test for 3 nights with a CPAP, and I slept so much better...I didn't want to return the test unit ha! I have a consult with an ENT this week, but plan to move forward with the CPAP as it made a huge difference for me.

Just to clarify… you tried ( borrowed? ) a CPAP machine for three days and was reluctant to return it.
Correct?