DO anyone ever try Pillar procedure?

homeman · Post by **homeman** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:04 am

Currently I use cpap but someone told me about Pillar procedure can be cure OSA. Just would like to know that anyone ever try Pillar Procedure. [/b]

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:03 am

Hi Homeman,

Here's a link where you can read a lot of discussions about the Pillar procedure -- by people who have actually had it done.

LINKS to surgery, turbinates, Pillar, TAP experiences

Bottom line seems to be: Pillar by itself rarely will cure a person's OSA. Pillar and a dental device together have a good chance of getting some people off cpap.

Anyone who tries an alternative treatment -- surgery or anything other than cpap -- definitely should have followup PSG sleep studies to be sure the treatment is truly keeping the airway open.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:37 am

Also, I believe that the Pillar Procedure is only recommended for those with Mild Sleep Apnea. It stiffens the soft palate, which if you've been on CPAP for about 6 months is already tightened up anyway, because you aren't snoring anymore, which is what caused the soft palate to sag anyway.

If you haven't had an exam by an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat Dr.) you should to determine WHAT your obstructions are. If they are nasal and no longer oral, the Pillar Procedure and jaw advancement will have no affect.

DCTom · Post by **DCTom** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:48 pm

I received the Pillar implants about 6 weeks ago. I don't notice anything yet but it's too early to tell (they say wait 12-16 weeks). It was painless and easy to get them inserted. No big deal.

meister · Post by **meister** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:46 pm

Janelle!!

"which if you've been on CPAP for about 6 months is already tightened up anyway"

Where on earth could you have come up with these words? Do you have any
evidence that CPAP "tightens up" anything?

I am anxious to learn more about the evidence behind this. Does it
continue to tighten until one is cured? I just don't understand this concept
of tightening.

Tight Wad???? · Post by **Tight Wad????** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:10 pm

CPAP can cause severe budget tightening for some of us. Others have similarly reported purse string tightening.

Wasn't "Tight Throat" the secret informant who caused the Watergate leak during the Nixon administration? Bet he was on CPAP...

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:01 pm

ROTFL!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:26 pm

meister wrote:Janelle!!

"which if you've been on CPAP for about 6 months is already tightened up anyway"

Where on earth could you have come up with these words? Do you have any evidence that CPAP "tightens up" anything?

I am anxious to learn more about the evidence behind this. Does it
continue to tighten until one is cured? I just don't understand this concept
of tightening.

If only it were possible!

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:10 am

I found this information on the internet while doing searches for Sleep Apnea before I ever found this forum, when I was first diagnosed. When I mentioned this to my ENT on the first visit when she wanted to do the radical tonsilectomy, palate removal, and uvula removal, she AGREED this did indeed happen and set another appointment for 6 months later, during which time I was on APAP. At the 6 month visit, my soft palate had totally tightened!

If you are not snoring, the soft palate is not being vibrated which is causing the sagging, no vibration and the tissue can firm up again. And this is what happens. IF ENTs KNOW THIS, how can it be a myth????

A Cure??? NO, because there are so many other things that can cause blockge of the airway, upper or lower. This is why just a Pillar implant procedure may not work. There is the tongue falling back into the throat, enlarged tonsils, deviated septums, nasal polyps, enlarged turbinates, all of which will decrease airflow. Treating just one thing is not going to cure anyone of OSA.

It might do away with snoring, but in and of itself, snoring does not always cause sleep apnea. Look at the information out there. Skinny people get OSA and Sleep Apnea, people who snore SOMETIMES get Sleep Apnea, some don't.

XPAP will eliminate snoring, by correct pressure, but just because you quit snoring doesn't mean you can do without the xPap, does it. If you lose weight on xPap that still doesn't mean you no longer don't need it like some people I know personally. Go off it, and you OSA is still there, and your metabolic system will go haywire again and you'll gain that weight back, and probably start snoring again, and the whole thing starts all over again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:23 am

Janelle wrote:I found this information on the internet while doing searches for Sleep Apnea before I ever found this forum, when I was first diagnosed.
IF ENTs KNOW THIS, how can it be a myth????

Janelle, can you please refer us to where you found this on the internet? Since I first read your post I have been searching for this information and can find nothing on it. I also placed a call to my ENT group and just received a call back. Seems they do not share your ENT's opinion that this happens. I would love to prove them wrong but I need your help in supplying the documentation from the studies you found so I can show them it's not just hearsay. Thank you.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 1:45 pm

Like I said, I'll try and do a search when I have time. Right now I am facing an IRS audit early next week. Let us say, my mind is occupied with other things, just a bit right now.

DCTom · Post by **DCTom** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:11 pm

There is no way CPAP can cause the pallate to "tighten." Doesn't even make sense. And no doctor in his right mind would ever agree!

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:50 am

Well, Tom, I hate to tell you this, but I'm living proof that it DOES happen. Within 6 months my palate was back to normal.

deltadave · Post by **deltadave** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:05 am

I don't know about "tightening up" per se, but there was an article a while ago that showed that there was SOME residual effect of CPAP on OSA upon removal in the short run:

Residual Effect

A great response to this was given by another poster elsewhere:

Yeah But?

I love words like "harangue" and "invalidism."

I don't think that "Residual Effect" should be taken to mean you now have the license to only use CPAP for half the night, but perhaps users who can only truly manage half a night of therapy may get some comfort in that they are getting a little more than half of the benefits. And then use this information to help reduce frustration and add motivation.
deltadave

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:50 am

Thanks for the link, Dave!

I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry a the following sentence:

This carryover effect could explain why a number of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome apply nasal continuous positive airway pressure for only part of the night or not every night.

However, the researcher's honor is redeemed by this one:

This does not mean that patients should be encouraged to use nCPAP for only part of the night, nor that physicians should fail to make every effort totry to achieve a better compliance.

(emphsis added).

Very interesting paper! Going to look for the refrences too.

O.

DO anyone ever try Pillar procedure?

DO anyone ever try Pillar procedure?

Pillar

Just fell off my chair

Re: Just fell off my chair

Follow-up

"Residual Effect"