NSV-WOW-Sleep Apnea Update

It is hard to beleive that it has been 13 months since I have been
banded. A lot of things have happen since being banded and I will do
that in another post.

In June of 2007 I went in for a sleep study and found out that I did
indeed have sleep apena. I was put on a CPAP machine in August 07 and
did ok with it. I was banded in September of 2007. After being banded
I was having some issues with the CPAP machine, in regards to being
bloated all the time and taking the mask off at night. I talked with
my doctor about this and he had the machine set to the lowest
settings. He also suggested that I look into getting a dental
applaince. I went and meet with the dentist who deals in sleep apnea
and she said it would not be a problem and so it took about 4 months
to get it approved by insurance. I was fitted with the herbest
retainer in February, 2008. I went back to my doctor who handles the
sleep apnea in August and he was real pleased with the way I looked
and the amount of weight lost. So the doctor order a new sleep study.
I had the sleep study on year to the date of being banded. I will say
that the band can help people get away from using the CPAP. Keep in
mind that everyone is differant and what works for one might not work
for the other person. Here is the results of the study:

Per Band
Original study (pre weight loss)
Weight 250 BMI 40
Breathing event per hour: 68
Total breathing cessation per hour: 49
Lowest recorded oxygen level: 70%

Banded
New Study: post weight loss
Weight 186 BMI 29.1
Breathing events per hour: 19.4
Total breathing cessation per hour: 19.4
Lowest recorded oxygen level: 91%

With the Herbst Retainer Dental Device:
Breathing events per hour: 4.6 (counting little bitty ones 6.2)
Total breathing cessation per hour: 4
Lowest oxygen level: 92%

It turns out that with the Herbst, you are worst when you lie on your
left side. Then you have 8.3 events per hour. In dream sleep, you
have 10.2 events per hour.

I went to the sleep doctor this week to review this study and he said
that I could stop using the CPAP Machine and continue with the Herbst
Retainer. He also said that my numbers were low enough that even if I
did not use the retainer that I could do away with the CPAP. He also
felt the numbers would go down lower with more weight loss. My goal
range is between 165-175. He also said that I did not need to come
back and see him unless I feel that Iam having problems. He said that
I can just go back to the dentist and get a new herbest retainer when
this one wears out in a few years. Also I no longer have any snoring
issues either.

So as you can see here proof is in the pudding about the band and how
it can help everyone out. It just takes a lot of time and effort to
make it all happen. It does not happen overnight.

Chris
Pre Band 250
Now 184