CPAP Use After Septoplasty

Hi everyone, I am a generally happy CPAP user and have been for 5 years. I was diagnosed with moderate/severe apnea and "bonded" with my machine quickly. It's made a huge difference. I am 51 years old and have a BMI of 26, 5'10" and weigh 184 lbs, and very physically active.

Last year I started having problems and would wake up gasping. I told my doctor who ordered another sleep study and he determined I needed to up my pressure from 6 to 11.

He also suggested I see an ENT to have my septum corrected. I'm a little nervous about the surgery, mostly the chance of infections. Also, why fix what isn't broken? I like my CPAP although it is a pain sometimes but it is effective, about 80% of the time. Of course I can't take is camping and am worried about a long term power outage.

If anyone has experience with septoplasty and turbinate reduction and CPAP life after surgery I'd love to hear it. Thanks

Of course you can use Cpap when camping - many members do - and you shouldn't go without it, even when napping at home. You get a particular type of battery to do so (e.g. https://www.cpap.com/cpap-power.php) and/or some kind of deep water one (I'm not expressing that right, but hopefully someone else will help out). Sorry I can't help about the surgery though.

I had it done about 8 years after getting on the hose. Helped alot with my breathing. I did however have complications that you should watch out for. I was told not to bend over or lift anything heavy for a couple of weeks after surgery. About 10 days after surgery I was going motorcycle riding and I bent over getting my bike ready. Blood started pouring out of my nose and I do mean pouring. Ended up in the ER and had to have two "nasal tampons" put in my nose. Couldn't use my cpap for a week and it was the worst week of my life. Dosed in a recliner for a week and was miserable.

Was it worth it? It was. Would I do it again? I would, but I would take it easier than I did.

I broke my nose in a car wreck and could hardly get any air on my left side so getting the surgery was great for me.

Good luck

JeffH

Thanks both of you. JeffH, do you still use your CPAP after the septoplasty?

Get it done. its not bad kinda feels like you got a flu for about 1-2 weeks.

Make sure you select a surgeon that specilalizes in this. so it doesnt fail. Go to a ENT plastics or a ENT rhinologist. Dont get it done by just a general ENT.
Depending on where in the septum the deviation is different approaches might have to be taken.

changed my life after years of not really getting good therapy. Wished I had done it years ago! My current AHI is 0.1 and I have no more sinus infections and only minimal congestion. I'm a new man.

Guest wrote:Thanks both of you. JeffH, do you still use your CPAP after the septoplasty?

Of course. Septoplasty doesn't cure OSA, it just helps you breath better.

blackrock wrote:Get it done. its not bad kinda feels like you got a flu for about 1-2 weeks.

Make sure you select a surgeon that specilalizes in this. so it doesnt fail. Go to a ENT plastics or a ENT rhinologist. Dont get it done by just a general ENT.
Depending on where in the septum the deviation is different approaches might have to be taken.

I plan to take this advice. Regular ENT says I need "graft reconstruction" to spread the cartilage at the ridge of my nose, plus septoplasty. Think he called it a rhinoseptoplasty. I have a second opinion appointment to see a plastic surgeon with a board in otolaryngology.

JeffH wrote:

Guest wrote:Thanks both of you. JeffH, do you still use your CPAP after the septoplasty?

Of course. Septoplasty doesn't cure OSA, it just helps you breath better.

It does in about 40% of the patients according to my ENT sleep specialist, and a ENT plsatics I saw.

blackrock wrote:

JeffH wrote:

Guest wrote:Thanks both of you. JeffH, do you still use your CPAP after the septoplasty?

Of course. Septoplasty doesn't cure OSA, it just helps you breath better.

It does in about 40% of the patients according to my ENT sleep specialist, and a ENT plsatics I saw.

Hmm, according to Dr. Stephen Park, an ent/sleep medicine specialist, it cures OSA 10% of the time. I would be curious where they get the statistics from.

In looking at this site, http://www.realself.com/question/chenna ... eep-apnoea, I am inferring that it would have a reasonable chance of curing mild apnea but anything more severe, it wouldn't.

49er

blackrock wrote:

JeffH wrote:

Guest wrote:Thanks both of you. JeffH, do you still use your CPAP after the septoplasty?

Of course. Septoplasty doesn't cure OSA, it just helps you breath better.

It does in about 40% of the patients according to my ENT sleep specialist, and a ENT plsatics I saw.

Better get a new doctor. OSA is a problem with how your throat is built. Doesn't have anything to do with your weight, your breathing, or any of the other stuff you hear.

I had the septoplasty 3 years ago. It made absolutely no change in my OSA. If that is your reason for having it done...DON'T

JeffH wrote:

blackrock wrote:

JeffH wrote:

Guest wrote:Thanks both of you. JeffH, do you still use your CPAP after the septoplasty?

Of course. Septoplasty doesn't cure OSA, it just helps you breath better.

It does in about 40% of the patients according to my ENT sleep specialist, and a ENT plsatics I saw.

Better get a new doctor. OSA is a problem with how your throat is built. Doesn't have anything to do with your weight, your breathing, or any of the other stuff you hear.

I think it is more complicated than that. I personally thought the 40% number was higher than what I have read in literature myself, but who am I to question the specialist. The doctor I was speaking with is pretty well educated. (not saying he cant be wrong) Lot of time they are more aware of new research results due to conferences, and updates before it hits the main stream.

LSAT wrote:I had the septoplasty 3 years ago. It made absolutely no change in my OSA. If that is your reason for having it done...DON'T

But, it didn't make your CPAP use any more difficult, did it?

I have been on XPAP for 18 years & am also considering having this surgery done because I have more problems breathing out of my left nostril than my right - because of a deviated septum & also some polyps in my left nostril.

But, I don't want the surgery to make my use of XPAP more difficult in the future.

I too had absolutely no breathing changes Ada result of septoplasty. In fact I am a worse mouth breather now than I was!