Tonsillectomy and UP3 surgery

So anyone here have these two procedures done? I am having them done in one week and am very nervous.

Coolsideofthepillow wrote:So anyone here have these two procedures done? I am having them done in one week and am very nervous.

Hi Coolsideofthepillow,

Welcome to the forum.

I have never had UP3 surgery done but it seems even if you have this operation, your chances of still needing to use the cpap machine are great.

http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/di ... rgery.html

Success rates for sleep apnea surgery are rarely higher than 65% and often deteriorate with time, averaging about 50% or less over the long term. Few studies have been conducted on which patients make the best candidates. Some studies suggest that surgery is best suited for patients with abnormalities in the soft palate. Results are poor if the problems involve other areas or the full palate. In such cases, CPAP is superior and should always be tried first. Many or most patients with moderate or severe sleep apnea will likely still require CPAP treatment after surgery.

Can you tell us more about your situation and what led you to this point?

49er

The two surgeries have been shown (as far as OSA goes) to be very low as far as success goes - symptoms return within months to a year, and the surgeries are very painful (sorry!). They are an ENT's answer to things, but then surgeons' hammers see everything as a nail. Please do some research before you undergo those things! Part of the problem is also that once having had the surgery, Cpap can become harder to use because your anatomy has been changed, and not really for the better (as far as Cpap is concerned). There's a load of info on the forum (do a search here) and 'out there' as well.

I have had those surgeries. They did not cure the OSA. They did not make my CPAP treatment more difficult, to the contrary, the surgeries lowered the pressure that I needed from 13 to 9. It was a painful recovery. I don't recommend the surgery. It is very unlikely that you will no longer need CPAP treatment.

Been there and done that. Painfully recovery. Still need same cpap. Your choice. Would not recommend it. I had it done when I was 63...years ago.

Oh rats! Just discovered I responded to a very old note and either that person had the surg or didn't, but it's all been overwith for years!

Julie wrote:Oh rats! Just discovered I responded to a very old note and either that person had the surg or didn't, but it's all been overwith for years!

Looks like a new post to me and not one resurrected by accident or troll.
It's dated Sat Aug 2 at 11:26 PM (at least on my clock).
Don't see anything hidden when I stroll through the comments after hitting the reply to button.
Does look like the OP has been a member here since 2010 though.

Got it mixed up with another note I just read... please ignore!

Skip the UP3/UPPP unless you have a really good reason to do so. Why is it being recommended?

Google up the horror stories of UPPP victims.

As for the adenoidectomy, it may or may not be a good idea. Are they infected, or otherwise indicating the need for removal?

There are lots of chop happy surgeons out there with delusions of grandeur and visions of dollar signs dancing in their heads.

Coolsideofthepillow wrote:So anyone here have these two procedures done? I am having them done in one week and am very nervous.

How badly enlarged are your tonsils? Have you asked your ENT what the odds of curing or making your condition easy to treat with CPAP are if only the tonsils are removed?

I see you years earlier reported BiPAP treatment at very high pressure (30/10???) and more recently treatment with ASV.

UP3 has fallen out of favor with many surgeons.

I had it done 10 yrs ago, and it did not resolve anything in my opinion. Hopefully it will for you. Good luck with this.

I've had it too. May of this year. I wasn't expecting it to cure my OSA; and it didn't. It did lower my pressures and get my inflamed tonsils out. My surgeon removed my long skinny uvula too. I also had a slight trim of the soft palate. I was on th fence about that part; before surgery. I'm still undecided about the effectiveness. If I had to do it over again, I think I'd ask him to trim it to normal length and probably not touch the soft palate.

It was the most painful surgery I've had. Significant pain for about 2 weeks. Week 3 I finally started feeling a little better. Swallowing was very different after the surgery and I still have issues with soft things like cake. Not bad but enough to notice. Guessing it because there's more room and takes more swallowing pressure to get that stuff down.

I also had a slight trim of the soft palate.

Thanks for your report.

I have long heard "you will never eat another peanut butter sandwich". (Ostensibly because the peanut butter would stick to the roof of the mouth and head toward the nasal passages.)

Any experience with peanut butter since the surgery?

I have had no problems with peanut butter or any other food.

Nozzelnut wrote:I've had it too. It was the most painful surgery I've had.

I also had UP3 performed, along with most of the soft palate tissue removed. I was a inpatient and the procedure was done with a laser. It was an attempt to stop my snoring. The only difference is I no longer have a uvula, and I snore louder than before. I agree with all the comments made by those that have had the surgery. I'm just a kid compared to justmeagain My tonsils were removed almost 60 years ago.

I've had people swear that they have a friend whose either lost a significant amount of weight, got a dental appliance, etc.

Bottom line. If you've been diagnosed with OSA, you'll be on a CPAP the rest of your life.

Don't do the UP3. It's a waste of time, and money. The only one that gains anything is the doctor that performs the procedure. It's all about $.

However, it's your choice.