"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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Tongue too big
To start out with I must tell you, I have tried every mask available, and i just can't wear them. I Broke my back while in the military and that makes it almost impossible to sleep on my back, therefore I turn side to side all night, having that mask on my face I am so aware that it is there I cannot sleep. Also, I was perscripbed an oxygen concentrator with the nasal noduals. I, for the most part get about 5-6 hrs of sleep at night.
I went to the local VA medical center and saw an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist and he told me that my tongue was too big, I never realized it before, until he said something, and now I look at it and go WOW that thing is huge.
I went to him because I had read that a deviated septum could be the cause of my sleep apnea, well he said I don't have one, and he said that there have numerous surgeries to fix the size of my tonugue.
I guess my big question is, what is entailed in a surgery of this sort, and most important is this procedure very painful?
I am getting to a point where I am noticing the oxygen on every night, and of course this keeps me awake.
Any advice is appreciated
Views: 100
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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good question -- i'm not an expert by any means on this topic, but i have heard much about the tongue reduction surgery from folks who do it for a living. you should understand whatever Dr. Park, a prominent Sleep Apnea surgeon, has to say about this procedure. I think they can stick a wand into the tongue now and shrink it somehow. but i would listed to Dr. Park on Sleep Apnea Sugery for a more technically precise description of the options ;-) this is taken from a presentation he once gave at the New York City AWAKE meeting. for the slides that accompany this audio file, go to Dr. Park Sleep Apnea Surgery slides
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Permalink Reply by Justin NA on
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Sorry, I do not mean to hijack the conversation, but I was wondering if the Portable Oxygen Concentrators helped with your sleep apnea. What machine did you use? Is it a continuous flow or pulsating?
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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An oxygen concentrator would do nothing to keep the airway open, though you might have a higher amount of O2 in your blood when you had apneas.
Justin NA said:Sorry, I do not mean to hijack the conversation, but I was wondering if the Portable Oxygen Concentrators helped with your sleep apnea. What machine did you use? Is it a continuous flow or pulsating?
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Not quite sure what CPCP machine I had, all I know is the VA must've tried 5-6 different style masks, it was a continuous machine, and it was set at 14, now I dont know what that means, but I do know I couldn't sleep with it on, almost everynight I would wake up, rip it off my face and throw it across the room
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Permalink Reply by SleepMBA on
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Mr. Williams,
If your CPAP machine has a ramp feature, that would make it much more tolerable. When you activate the ramp, it immediately goes to a lower pressure and gradually builds to the pressure you need. Ramps can go from 5 minutes to 20 minutes. The idea is, you can fall asleep comfortably on a low pressure and when you are asleep, it continues up to the pressure you need. If you don't fall asleep in that time....press it again! I know this isn't the topic you originally brought up, but I thought it would help.
Joe Rogan has a similar problem as yourself. He posted something about it on his website, check it out:
http://blog.joerogan.net/archives/215
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