Comments for Sleep Apnea http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Treatments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:20:37 +0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 Comment on Rosie O’Donnell and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (The View) by Donna http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/rosie-odonnell-and-obstructive-sleep-apnea-the-view.html/comment-page-1#comment-753 Donna Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:20:37 +0000 http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/rosie-odonnell-and-obstructive-sleep-apnea-the-view.html#comment-753 CPAP is awful I don't know how they think a person can sleep with something like that. I hate it. I am going to try a mouthpiece which is going to cost me a fortune but it will be worth it not to have to use that AWFUL machine. CPAP is awful I don’t know how they think a person can sleep with something like that. I hate it. I am going to try a mouthpiece which is going to cost me a fortune but it will be worth it not to have to use that AWFUL machine.

]]> Comment on Treatments for Obstructive Apneas, Palate and Tongue Surgeries by Treatment for Sleep Apnea  http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/treatments-for-obstructive-apneas-palate-and-tongue-surgeries.html/comment-page-1#comment-751 Treatment for Sleep Apnea  Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:30:11 +0000 http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/?p=202#comment-751 If the purpose of surgery is to eliminate sleep apnea, the chance of success is much lower and much more difficult to predict. In this case, the decision to have surgery is best reached after extensive discussion of the operation and the expected results with your sleep specialist and ENT surgeon. If the purpose of surgery is to eliminate sleep apnea, the chance of success is much lower and much more difficult to predict. In this case, the decision to have surgery is best reached after extensive discussion of the operation and the expected results with your sleep specialist and ENT surgeon.

]]> Comment on Treatments for Obstructive Apneas, Palate and Tongue Surgeries by Treatment for Sleep Apnea  http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/treatments-for-obstructive-apneas-palate-and-tongue-surgeries.html/comment-page-1#comment-750 Treatment for Sleep Apnea  Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:18:40 +0000 http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/?p=202#comment-750 I nearly fell asleep behind the wheel the other day but I had my anti sleep alarm on and it sounded so I pulled over and had a break. They are not that expensive and I got mine from NO NAP I nearly fell asleep behind the wheel the other day but I had my anti sleep alarm on and it sounded so I pulled over and had a break. They are not that expensive and I got mine from NO NAP

]]> Comment on What Should You Do If You Think You Have Sleep Apnea ? by John http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/what-should-you-do-if-you-think-you-have-sleep-apnea.html/comment-page-1#comment-748 John Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:06:07 +0000 http://localhost/?p=105#comment-748 I have been tested positive for Sleep Apnea, and i've been told that i will be referred to the sleep clinic, for treatment. However, that was 3 weeks ago, and when i called the sleep clinic, to see if my referral had been sent to them, i was astonished to hear that, the referral has to go through a call center first, and they decide upon which level of treatment i should get. Then and only then, is the referral passed on to the sleep clinic. I find this quite unbelievable. I have been tested positive for Sleep Apnea, and i’ve been told that i will be referred to the sleep clinic, for treatment. However, that was 3 weeks ago, and when i called the sleep clinic, to see if my referral had been sent to them, i was astonished to hear that, the referral has to go through a call center first, and they decide upon which level of treatment i should get. Then and only then, is the referral passed on to the sleep clinic. I find this quite unbelievable.

]]> Comment on Rosie O’Donnell and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (The View) by Theophilus http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/rosie-odonnell-and-obstructive-sleep-apnea-the-view.html/comment-page-1#comment-667 Theophilus Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:13:01 +0000 http://www.obstructive-sleepapnea.com/rosie-odonnell-and-obstructive-sleep-apnea-the-view.html#comment-667 IainB1511, In reality, there is no one absolute cure for sleep apnea for all people. There are highly effective surgeries and treatments to significantly help the condition. And just losing weight doesn't necessarily cure it. It more times than not requires multiple treatment and/or surgical options. Also, as a disclaimer, I am not a doctor nor claim to know any more about this subject than anyone else. I'm just a moderate OSA sufferer with many sleep studies behind my belt who has spent many hours researching treatment options online and with various doctors. In the end, I optted for UPPP/Turbinate Reduction/Septoplasty/Tonsilectomy surgery considering I couldn't comply with CPAP due to uncontrollable allergies & deviated septum. Also, I have a BMI of 19...far from being overweight. According to the literature it is claimed there at least three areas of potential blockage for OSA. 1) Soft Palate (velopharynx - common) 2) Tongue (orohypopharynx - common) 3) Nasal (rare) And because of the complexity of what could be causing one's blockage, aside from CPAP/APAP/BiPAP, quite often multple treatments/surgeries need to be done. Surgery: 1) UPPP - usually includes a tonsilectomy/adenoids(if present)/uvula/and part of soft palate removal. It tries to increase the airway. Pain from 1st hand experience is high with about 2 weeks recovery. Success Rate apparently is on the order of 40-70%. I've seen studies with huge variations. 2) MMA - breaks top/bottom jaw and moves typically both top and bottom jaws forward in order to create move airway. Appears to be a long recovery period. Success Rates claim to be 99% - also a combination of UPPP/MMA was apparently created by Stanford Docs. 3) Septoplasty (deviated septum repair) - according to the literature, having a permanent blockage of the nasal cavity worsens OSA. So, docs try to fix the septum if deviated. 1st Hand experience is that the pain is mild compared to UPPP. Success Rate: Haven't seen one, but it is sure nice to be able to breath through your nose. 4) Turbinate Reduction - reduces turbinates in the nasal cavity in order to improve nasal breathing. The turbinates apparently are what flare up when you allergies/infections. Success Rate: Not sure, usually done in a combination with other surgeries Treatments: 0) CPAP/APAP/BiPAP - forces pressurized air into your nose/mouth in order to keep the airway open. Success Rates claim to be extremely high: 90+%. But it requires compliance. 1) MAD - an orthodontic device that brings the bottom jaw forward creating more airway opening (There are a slew of appliances, some that restrict just the tongue, etc). Success Rate: Not sure, but reasonably high for mild to moderate OSA. 2) Losing Weight - When extra tissue is present in the throat due to being overweight, this can worsen OSA, and as a result, losing weight can help. But it isn't necessarily a cure. The cheapest solutions without much insurance would probably be losing weight(assuming you don't spend alot on a diet plan), and orthodontic appliances(DIY versions). But, you should still consult with a doctor with what you're doing. If your insurance coverage is good after seeing a doc and having a sleep study, CPAP or a dentist-made appliance is typically the first things to try. My treatment for 6 years had been CPAP which in the end didn't work. It was a cure in the short term, but after too many allergic flareups, it couldn't be tolerated. And then what has helped is surgery all done at once consisting of UPPP/Tonsilectomy/Septoplasty(deviated septum surgery)/Turbinate Reduction. I am still not 100% cured but am >50% better. In the end I will probably have to add a MAD or MMA surgery to cure it or perhaps now the CPAP can be tolerated. Note also while the surgeries may cure OSA in the short term, long term effects appear to be alot fewer and far between. I wish all a good night's sleep. IainB1511,
In reality, there is no one absolute cure for sleep apnea for all people. There are highly effective surgeries and treatments to significantly help the condition. And just losing weight doesn’t necessarily cure it. It more times than not requires multiple treatment and/or surgical options. Also, as a disclaimer, I am not a doctor nor claim to know any more about this subject than anyone else. I’m just a moderate OSA sufferer with many sleep studies behind my belt who has spent many hours researching treatment options online and with various doctors. In the end, I optted for UPPP/Turbinate Reduction/Septoplasty/Tonsilectomy surgery considering I couldn’t comply with CPAP due to uncontrollable allergies & deviated septum. Also, I have a BMI of 19…far from being overweight.

According to the literature it is claimed there at least three areas of potential blockage for OSA.
1) Soft Palate (velopharynx – common)
2) Tongue (orohypopharynx – common)
3) Nasal (rare)

And because of the complexity of what could be causing one’s blockage, aside from CPAP/APAP/BiPAP, quite often multple treatments/surgeries need to be done.

Surgery:
1) UPPP – usually includes a tonsilectomy/adenoids(if present)/uvula/and part of soft palate removal. It tries to increase the airway. Pain from 1st hand experience is high with about 2 weeks recovery.
Success Rate apparently is on the order of 40-70%. I’ve seen studies with huge variations.
2) MMA – breaks top/bottom jaw and moves typically both top and bottom jaws forward in order to create move airway. Appears to be a long recovery period. Success Rates claim to be 99% – also a combination of UPPP/MMA was apparently created by Stanford Docs.
3) Septoplasty (deviated septum repair) – according to the literature, having a permanent blockage of the nasal cavity worsens OSA. So, docs try to fix the septum if deviated. 1st Hand experience is that the pain is mild compared to UPPP. Success Rate: Haven’t seen one, but it is sure nice to be able to breath through your nose.
4) Turbinate Reduction – reduces turbinates in the nasal cavity in order to improve nasal breathing. The turbinates apparently are what flare up when you allergies/infections. Success Rate: Not sure, usually done in a combination with other surgeries

Treatments:
0) CPAP/APAP/BiPAP – forces pressurized air into your nose/mouth in order to keep the airway open. Success Rates claim to be extremely high: 90+%. But it requires compliance.
1) MAD – an orthodontic device that brings the bottom jaw forward creating more airway opening
(There are a slew of appliances, some that restrict just the tongue, etc). Success Rate: Not sure, but reasonably high for mild to moderate OSA.
2) Losing Weight – When extra tissue is present in the throat due to being overweight, this can worsen OSA, and as a result, losing weight can help. But it isn’t necessarily a cure.

The cheapest solutions without much insurance would probably be losing weight(assuming you don’t spend alot on a diet plan), and orthodontic appliances(DIY versions). But, you should still consult with a doctor with what you’re doing.

If your insurance coverage is good after seeing a doc and having a sleep study, CPAP or a dentist-made appliance is typically the first things to try.

My treatment for 6 years had been CPAP which in the end didn’t work. It was a cure in the short term, but after too many allergic flareups, it couldn’t be tolerated. And then what has helped is surgery all done at once consisting of UPPP/Tonsilectomy/Septoplasty(deviated septum surgery)/Turbinate Reduction. I am still not 100% cured but am >50% better. In the end I will probably have to add a MAD or MMA surgery to cure it or perhaps now the CPAP can be tolerated.

Note also while the surgeries may cure OSA in the short term, long term effects appear to be alot fewer and far between.

I wish all a good night’s sleep.

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