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.