12 years on cpap and it's time to move on.

With a CPAP, I get to keep my commercial pilot medical and therefore licence. That sort of surgery would be the end of my flying days.
I really don't understand how someone can prefer being all cut up and have things stuck inside them (with absolutely no guaranteed result!) instead of a mask you can take off anytime you want. But people are free to do what they want with their own body...

I'd like to see what happens long-term, i.e., since these techniques involve unilateral stimulation, one side gets progressively stronger such that when you stick your tongue out it shoots to one (the neo-dominant) side.

Corky, any updates? How are you now and has the implant been turned on?

.

deltadave wrote:one side gets progressively stronger such that when you stick your tongue out it shoots to one (the neo-dominant) side.

Easy cure:

Adult film star Ron Jeremy once described his secret for pleasuring women orally: while engaged in the act, he traced out each letter of the alphabet with his tongue.

Of all things, why surgery to strengthen the tongue?

Looks like they are doing it here with just a nightly stick-on patch on the outside of your neck. No surgery!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1gMVtX1o ... ewsletters

Take a look at the photos.

Nate

NateS wrote:Looks like they are doing it here with just a nightly stick-on patch on the outside of your neck. No surgery!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1gMVtX1o ... ewsletters

I wonder if there isn't a potential problem with the electrode pads, as well as the stimulation process for both systems being discussed. My wife used a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit for several months a number of years ago. First problem was sensitivity to the pads. She would develop an allergic reaction to the adhesive, even the mildest ones, after a few days and thus had to keep repositioning the pads. Even repositioning before the reaction flared up didn't prevent eventual reaction if she reused the spot. The neck doesn't offer a lot of real estate to move pads around so I would think the usability of the device could be very short lived for some people.

The second problem she encountered was building up resistance to the electrical signal and so had to keep raising its strength. If a body naturally builds up a resistance to a repeated electrical stimulus, how long before the implant or the external unit lose their effectiveness?

There's no doubt in my mind either system does work, at least for some people. But will it work long enough to be a viable long term solution? That is a question that every potential user needs to address.

debtheveg wrote:Corky, any updates? How are you now and has the implant been turned on?

Turned on March 20th. Over night sleep study @ M.U.S.C. I will let everyone know more as things unfold. Thanks deb.

corky wrote:

debtheveg wrote:Corky, any updates? How are you now and has the implant been turned on?

Turned on March 20th. Over night sleep study @ M.U.S.C. I will let everyone know more as things unfold. Thanks deb.

Corky,

What is your AHI now - obstructives and centrals and hypos?

What were those numbers on your pre-op diagnostic (no-cpap) sleep study before surgery?

What were those numbers when you were on continuous cpap?

Nate

I don't have those numbers. Sorry

corky wrote:I don't have those numbers. Sorry

Don't you have your sleep lab reports for any of those time periods?

How did your surgeon know these numbers if there were no lab reports?

I can't imagine them performing surgery on you without knowing your prior history, nor can I imagine you not wanting to know whatever your doctor knows.

Nate

They know them but I was not given a report of my last study. I meet with the dr's tomorrow morning. I will ask for it.

corky wrote:They know them but I was not given a report of my last study. I meet with the dr's tomorrow morning. I will ask for it.

You are very informed of your treatment over the last 12 years, I don't see how it could have failed after all your attention to your treatment. Jim

You're a very judgmental lot. We're all different and just because you do things differently doesn't make you cleverer or better than anyone else!

debtheveg wrote:You're a very judgmental lot. We're all different and just because you do things differently doesn't make you cleverer or better than anyone else!

NateS wrote: Corky,

What is your AHI now - obstructives and centrals and hypos?

What were those numbers on your pre-op diagnostic (no-cpap) sleep study before surgery?

What were those numbers when you were on continuous cpap?

Nate

I did not think that these were judgmental questions. I asked them in good faith. I think it is natural to want to know the before and after numbers.

Isn't a significant improvement the purpose of the surgery?

Whether cpap or surgery or stick-on patches, isn't the whole purpose to seek a significant improvement?

Regards, Nate

NateS wrote: I did not think that these were judgmental questions. I asked them in good faith. I think it is natural to want to know the before and after numbers. Isn't a significant improvement the purpose of the surgery? Whether cpap or surgery or stick-on patches, isn't the whole purpose to seek a significant improvement? Regards, Nate

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