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UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - LB1982 - 09-29-2016

My AHI is low enough that I actually do not use a CPAP (I did for years but it wasn't making a huge difference) Recently saw an ENT because my last sleep study revealed that my stage 3 sleep is completely absent.

ENT found partial blockage on the left nostril and almost complete obstruction on the right. She's reccomending septoplasty and turbinate reduction.

She said she can pretty much guarantee that my headaches will get better, but couldn't make any guarantees about sleep quality. That part really sucks.

Am I just doomed to not get stage 3 (restorative) sleep ever? Have you guys done this surgery? I'd like to hear some experiences.


RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - Sleeprider - 09-29-2016

Surgery is not fun, and there are no guarantees, however you have been diagnosed with a significant nasal obstruction. If you can deal with the expense, down-time and recovery it's probably worthwhile to be able to freely breath through your nose and potentially sleep better. Not too many of us have the option to resolve the problem that easily.


RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - LB1982 - 09-29-2016

(09-29-2016, 12:05 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: Surgery is not fun, and there are no guarantees, however you have been diagnosed with a significant nasal obstruction. If you can deal with the expense, down-time and recovery it's probably worthwhile to be able to freely breath through your nose and potentially sleep better. Not too many of us have the option to resolve the problem that easily.


yes you echoed my thoughts almost exactly. The surgery itself isn't a big deal (relative to other surgeries) its a one hour procedure and most people return to work within 2 days. The cost is also lower than a lot of surgeries. I think I'll go for it but probably will wait until next year so I meet my deductible right away.


RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - LB1982 - 09-29-2016

the ENT stated several times over she can't promise it will help with sleep quality. Regardless I should probably go for it.

If it doesn't help with sleep quality, this begs the question... why in the hell is my body not allowing for me to get into Stage 3 sleep?


RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - RichardVT - 09-29-2016

I had the exact same thing done several months ago. First week or two I wondered if it was all worth it. Now I am totally glad I had it all done and went through with it!

I breathe better than I have since I can remember. My nose would be nearly blocked solid just about every night, all night even with my window wide open all winter.

Now I have no problems at all breathing all night long!

The first week of recovery is the worst part.


RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - Sleeprider - 09-29-2016

(09-29-2016, 12:37 PM)LB1982 Wrote: the ENT stated several times over she can't promise it will help with sleep quality. Regardless I should probably go for it.

If it doesn't help with sleep quality, this begs the question... why in the hell is my body not allowing for me to get into Stage 3 sleep?

Your question is the easiest of all to answer for those of us that PAP...we will cross that bridge when we come to it.


RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - LB1982 - 09-29-2016

(09-29-2016, 02:36 PM)RichardVT Wrote: I had the exact same thing done several months ago. First week or two I wondered if it was all worth it. Now I am totally glad I had it all done and went through with it!

I breathe better than I have since I can remember. My nose would be nearly blocked solid just about every night, all night even with my window wide open all winter.

Now I have no problems at all breathing all night long!

The first week of recovery is the worst part.

oddly enough, I don't really feel congested. I relocated to a different region of the country about 15 years ago, and I've not had bad allergies since. Back home, they were horrible. Constantly had a difficult time breathing. That said, I have a headache just about everyday and I'm guessing it could be related to the nasal obstruction.

Did your sleep quality increase? As I posted earlier in the thread I don't use a CPAP anymore (my AHI is low) but both sleep studies revealed I am getting 0% Stage 3 sleep. The ENT thinks maybe its related to the nose obstruction but I sleep with my mouth open and even still I get no Stage 3 apparently. I'm skeptical it will help with sleep but I may just go for it anyway.



RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - Ghost1958 - 09-29-2016

(09-29-2016, 06:07 PM)LB1982 Wrote:
(09-29-2016, 02:36 PM)RichardVT Wrote: I had the exact same thing done several months ago. First week or two I wondered if it was all worth it. Now I am totally glad I had it all done and went through with it!

I breathe better than I have since I can remember. My nose would be nearly blocked solid just about every night, all night even with my window wide open all winter.

Now I have no problems at all breathing all night long!

The first week of recovery is the worst part.

oddly enough, I don't really feel congested. I relocated to a different region of the country about 15 years ago, and I've not had bad allergies since. Back home, they were horrible. Constantly had a difficult time breathing. That said, I have a headache just about everyday and I'm guessing it could be related to the nasal obstruction.

Did your sleep quality increase? As I posted earlier in the thread I don't use a CPAP anymore (my AHI is low) but both sleep studies revealed I am getting 0% Stage 3 sleep. The ENT thinks maybe its related to the nose obstruction but I sleep with my mouth open and even still I get no Stage 3 apparently. I'm skeptical it will help with sleep but I may just go for it anyway.

How low is low ahi.??
Ive had polyp and turbinate surgery, includind some bone removed.

The turbinate surgery was a waste of time though the polyps removed did a lot.



RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - RichardVT - 09-30-2016

(09-29-2016, 06:07 PM)LB1982 Wrote: Did your sleep quality increase? As I posted earlier in the thread I don't use a CPAP anymore (my AHI is low) but both sleep studies revealed I am getting 0% Stage 3 sleep. The ENT thinks maybe its related to the nose obstruction but I sleep with my mouth open and even still I get no Stage 3 apparently. I'm skeptical it will help with sleep but I may just go for it anyway.

No, only when I awoke numerous times per night did I then notice every time that my nose is no longer blocked. Since that surgery, I began using the CPAP two weeks ago today and am now finally feeling more rested. I also had much mucus in my throat at night which the surgery also cured.


RE: UARS - ENT Recommended Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction....experience? - richb - 09-30-2016

Hi LB1982.

Welcome to the Apnea Board. I too had these surgeries. I had immediate relief when the nasal splints were removed 6 days after my surgery. It still took about 3 months to see the full benefit of the surgery. The problem is that there is no guarantee that you will get more stage 3 sleep. An AHI under 5 does not mean that some form of apnea is not interfering with your sleep. I would give the nasal surgery a try. I would then get another sleep study to see if your sleep quality has improved. I would also want to know that the Sleep Doc is going to look at O2 saturation levels throughout the night. I would also want to know if you are having episodes of periodic breathing and/or significant episodes of shorter than 10 second episodes of hypopnea like breathing. You are at the beginning of figuring out what is interfering with your sleep quality. Keep us posted.

Rich