Pillar procedure effectiveness

I had a sleep study done that showed I have apnea episodes, but not enough to be categorized as clinical apnea (therefore I did not qualify for CPAP machine). However, the study did reveal Alpha Intrusion and "very loud snoring." That was not a surprise since I wake my wife up from down in the basement during my snore-fest. I was recommended to get the pillar implants to reduce the snoring, but after reading these posts, I think I will post-pone that decision.

Recently my wife and I have had some nights when we could sleep together. I have found a couple of things I do that help me (but not always... moved to basement last night, but first time in over a week). They are inexpensive. Might be worth a try for you.

The first is doing a nasal flush on a regular basis, and the second is using nasal cones. Nasal cones are simply cones you put in your nostrils that help keep the air flowing so you can breathe more freely through your nose instead of your mouth. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think when I breathe through my mouth during sleep, the soft tissue flaps a lot more.

Although snoring episodes have decreased some, I still shake the walls when I go through my snore-fest. A surgical procedure would be a last option because there is always some risk, plus there's no reversing the scar tissue.

I had a 'sleep study' several years ago, that judged I did not have apnea.
I now know the study was marginal at best, ordered by my HMO to avoid the expense of a machine for me.
I suffered many years due to that malpractice; and if your sleep study was through an HMO,
consider the fact it may have been FIXED. I urge you to get an HONEST, current study!

Pillar procedure worked for me. Almost 5 years now.

Pillar didn't work for me. No change at all in snoring.

dbk49 wrote: I had this procedure done since I can't tolerate the CPAP

Sorry to hear you can't tolerate the CPAP, is it a general situation or is it that you can't exhale against the CPAP flow of air?
I could not tolerate the CPAP flow of air at all, when exhaling; but luckily during the titration sleep study, the RT switched me soon enough to BiPAP and it made a tremendous difference.
Was BiPAP ever considered for you?
Just realized I was reading this thread from its start, maybe you have answered this question already?

If you work on an Norwegian North Sea Oil Rig and snore this procedure is mandatory, they can't have people not sleeping, it's too dangerous. So can't see how it does not work as they have been doing this for many years.

bmwhd wrote:I have to respectfully disagree with the recommendations against Pillar. I had the procedure 4 years ago for moderate OSA and it worked perfectly as advertised.

The argument that 'if it worked, they wouldn't be bankrupt' is BS. Many a small company has failed to capitalize on a good idea in the face of the medical bureaucracy and insurance industry. The CPAP 'lobby' is strong and hide-bound doctors reluctant to forge ahead for fear of losing their incentives.

The fact is, the pillar procedure is simple, safe, and effective in many cases and despite the fact that it's not covered by insurance, if it works, it beats the heck out of any of the 'approved' alternatives.

Mikegsy wrote:If you work on an Norwegian North Sea Oil Rig and snore this procedure is mandatory, they can't have people not sleeping, it's too dangerous. So can't see how it does not work as they have been doing this for many years.

Probably because for those whom it doesn't work they no longer work on the rigs.

Why don't you sign in and provide some valid statistical data?

Coincidence?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_A_platform

It is now 2013, can anyone give me any new input regarding this procedure? Have there been any improvements made over the years?

I had this done in 2008. There was never any claim that it would help OSA. I was told it would help my snoring, and it did.

I am checking into the pillar procedure as well. What i have found so far is that for sleep apnea you need the pillar and some of the tissue removed. I've gone to two specialists about this. One had the surgical alternative where you'd be out for 3 to 4 weeks and it is very painful. that painful part is a direct quote from the doctor. the second procedure is a combination of the pillar and a non surgical removal of some of the tissue.

I am considering the second as it seems the least invasive and the doctor says it is an hour long procedure. The reason I am considering it is that after about 5 hours of sleep with the Cpap, my nose is so dry i can no longer take in air. I wake up two hours after going to sleep as my nose and eyes are so dry it wakes me up. I put in nose drops (saline), and eye drops. and hour and half later i am up again. and again. the third time i am up for about 45 minutes trying to get my sinuses lubricated enough to get back to sleep. my machine has a humidifier and it is set to the highest level. I have been doing this for 6 months now, faithfully. But, if there is an alternative, I am willing to try. the first procedure is covered by my insurance, but only if I jump through hoops. the second is not and out of pocket it is roughly $4000. I am saving money to get this done. Once I do this, I'll come back and share if I thought it was successful. My apnea is mild to moderate.

What machine and humidifier are you using? The reason I ask is because I used the PR System One 560, with the standard humidifier, and had the same drying out issues that you mention. I bought the heated hose upgrade kit and have been much more comfortable. I am no longer waking up with those dried out, stuffy sinuses.

I am curious how they are going to remove tissue without surgery.

DON'T DO IT! I had the Pillar procedure done around four years ago in Wayne NJ. There are four implants in me. They rushed this surgery because the insurance I had, which I was about to be switched out of would cover it. I am amazed by the prices some people have said they paid, because mine, although totally covered by insurance, was around $8,000.00
Don't do it. I too was told it would take at least 6 months to work. Not only does it not work, but it made things worse, much worse. I have yet to hear of a success story from anyone directly. I am now looking to go the CPAP route.

Interesting that a major player in the pillar implant racket is Medtronic.
Remember the huge lawsuits over their defective defibrillating pacemakers?
One killed my mother in law.
Does anyone think they can make a safe anything--or care to?

BeanMeScot wrote:I looked into Pillar, too. The very lack of information about it convinced me it doesn't work. If something worked for someone, they would shout it from the rooftops. I just didn't see that out there. The threads on this board were 3 years old. The positive stuff I found on the net was all done by the manufacterer. I know someone who had it done and it didn't help at all. All in all, I just don't think it works.

There are a plethora of studies out there. In Sleep Vol 33, No. 10, 2010 "Surgical Modifications of the Upper Airway for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." ( This is not a company study)