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Newbie - Crystal Ann - 08-16-2013
Hi everyone This is my first forum. I have had sleep apena for a long time. I have used my CPAP Machine for a very long time. I have had no real good results from it. I mean I really tried like a year try. I have seen my sleep specialist, I have ENT specialist, I have four sleep studies. they all say the same thing. I have a surgery scheduled for the 29th of OCT. The UPPP. I was hoping to get some advice to see what people think.
RE: Newbie - trish6hundred - 08-16-2013
Hi Crystal Ann,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
I'm sorry you are having a rough time getting used to CPAP therapy because I think it is the better way to go, rather than the surgery you mentioned. I have not heard many good things about UPPP. hang in there for more suggestions, as mine is not the only opinion.
Best of luck to you.
RE: Newbie - STL Mark - 08-16-2013
Welcome to the forum. I know what it is like to be the Newbie on the forum. I will let those that are more knowledgeable respond to your questions.
RE: Newbie - Tez62 - 08-17-2013
Crystal Ann, welcome, I have heard it is a very painful operation with limited success, the few that have had it have only changed the severity of sleep apnea and have still needed to use a CPAP, they all regretted it, but evryone is different and if that is what you want to do I wish you the best of luck with it. Personally I'm wrapped with the results of my CPAP and will never look for an alternative.
RE: Newbie - grumpycat - 08-17-2013
I am not an expert, but wikipedia contains an entry for this procedure Of course, wikipedia is not an expert source either, so take it for what it is worth.
The entry states in part:
Success
The effectiveness of UPPP in isolation
When UPPP has been administered in isolation, the results are variable. As explained above, sleep apnea is often caused by multiple co-existing obstructions at various locations of the airway such as the nasal cavity, and particularly the base of the tongue. The contributing factors in the variablility of success include the pre-surgical size of the tonsils, palate, uvula and tongue base. Also, patients who are morbidly obese (body mass index >40 kg/m2) are significantly less likely to have success from this surgery.
Effectiveness of "The Stanford Protocol" operation
Over one thousand people have undergone The Stanford Protocol operation and received follow-up sleep study testing. The results have been that 60 to 70 percent of patients have been entirely cured. In approximately ninety percent of patients, a significant improvement can be expected.
Multilevel approach In the recent years, many surgeons have tried to address the multiple levels of obstruction by performing multiple procedures during on the same surgical day, called the "multi-level approach" (septum, turbinates, UP3, base of tongue, etc. at the same time). This approach seems to importantly improve postoperative results in very well selected patients.[citation needed]
Risks
One of the risks is that by cutting the tissues, excess scar tissue can "tighten" the airway and make it even smaller than it was before UPPP. Some individuals who have undergone UPPP as a stand alone procedure have written on internet forums that they experienced a worsening of their breathing following UPPP[1][2][3]. Others have spoken of severe acid reflux.
After surgery, complications may include these:
Sleepiness and sleep apnea related to post-surgery medication
Swelling, infection and bleeding
A sore throat and/or difficulty swallowing
Drainage of secretions into the nose and a nasal quality to the voice. English language speech does not seem to be affected by this surgery.
Narrowing of the airway in the nose and throat (hence constricting breathing) snoring and even iatrogenically caused sleep apnea.
Patients who have had the uvula removed will become unable to correctly speak French or any other language that has a uvular 'r' phoneme.
In 2008, Dr. Labra, et al., from Mexico, published a variation of UP3, by adding a uvulopalatal flap, in order to avoid such complications, with a good rate of success.[1]
RE: Newbie - vsheline - 08-17-2013
(08-16-2013, 08:37 PM)Crystal Ann Wrote: I have seen my sleep specialist, I have ENT specialist, I have four sleep studies. they all say the same thing.
Hi Crystal Ann, welcome to the forum!
Regarding "they all say the same thing", what exactly was said?
If possible, I suggest again trying to use your AutoSet machine and posting data from your machine on this forum for comments and suggestions.
Or even just installing SleepyHead or ResScan and looking over and posting data for some of the days you last used your machine.
Take care,
--- Vaughn
RE: Newbie - me50 - 09-07-2013
My sister has a friend that had surgery for sleep apnea. they cut her esophagus during surgery and because of this, she had a long recovery period once they determined she would live. She is still on cpap therapy.
RE: Newbie - cbramsey - 09-07-2013
Welcome to the forum!!! We are glad you joined us!!!
RE: Newbie - me50 - 09-07-2013
Let us know what you decide. Would be glad to see what your monitoring results are from rescan or sleepy head. Wishing you the best in whatever choice you make!