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Permalink Reply by Mike on January 4, 2010 at 6:29pm

Surgery very rarely, if ever, cures Sleep Apnea (unless it's a tracheostomy). A lot of surgeons will give you the impression that it will, but what they don't tell you is that a reduction of severity is considered "success" even if you're still left with very fragmented sleep/ obstructions.

In any case, the throat and airway are very dynamic structures of your body that don't stand still -- they're constantly evolving and changing over time. . . sometimes for the worse.

If I were you, I'd see a sleep specialist about using a CPAP. While not a cure, it's the best treatment out there. And I wouldn't delay. You're so young, and have so much promise for being healthy. It would be a shame to squander the opportunity you have.

Losing weight alone may or may not help. The sure fire thing is CPAP. Learn to love it. that's my $0.02.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Speas on January 4, 2010 at 7:44pm

i had surgery to eliminate sleep apnea 18 monthes ago. my doctor said he was 99% sure that surgery would cure the problem. they did my nose, adnoids, tonsils, uvala, soft palate and stretch my tongue down and attached to my adams apple. i had a sleep study only because my dentist insisted on a follow up study, the doctor was so sure that surgery corrected the problem he was not going to do a follow up. i had 71 episode pre hour before surgery after surgery 43 per hou after. my oxygen levels got down to 60% pre-surgery and 70% after. that is not much success.

i am now seeing a sleep specialist. he said that he would not had reccommended surgery in my case. he did a new study i am now on bipap.

i agree with Mike find a sleep specialsist and have a new study done and get on cpap. i have spent 15 years trying different gimmacks for this and alot of money.

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Permalink Reply by J Murphy on January 4, 2010 at 8:24pm

Thanks guys...have the cpap machines changed your life dramatically? Please be specific. I was so happy when I got the surgery that I would finally get some good sleep and turn my life around. It helped a great deal, but still feel like I deal with mental fog, memory problems, etc. Thanks for your help!

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Permalink Reply by Tim on January 4, 2010 at 8:44pm

There seems to be a 40% success rate for most types of apnea surgeries; and "success" is a 50% reduction in AHI. That "success" rate goes down rapidly to nearly zero five years after the surgery. For many, but not nearly all, people there seems to be a relationship between sleep apnea and weight gain - the question is which is the cause and the effect, because sleep apnea causes weight gain..

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Permalink Reply by Mike on January 4, 2010 at 9:47pm

Yes, CPAP has changed my life dramatically -- once i was using it properly, that is. My depression lifted. I felt more confident. I felt energized during the day and not sluggish. I got married. Things turned around totally for me, all for the better.

J Murphy said:

Thanks guys...have the cpap machines changed your life dramatically? Please be specific. I was so happy when I got the surgery that I would finally get some good sleep and turn my life around. It helped a great deal, but still feel like I deal with mental fog, memory problems, etc. Thanks for your help!

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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on January 5, 2010 at 11:35am

With the treatment of sleep apnea it is never 100%. Surgery may last a while and even forever. CPAP-BiPAP may work then fail as the years progress.
Sleep Apnea may occur with weight gain or even weight loss. Variations and fluctuations in weight being the culprit.
The tissue within our own bodies betray us at one time or another. The loss of elasticity brought on by the advancement of age allows the tissue to become floppy.
Apnea happens as most of us here can attest.
Stay with your PCP or Sleep Physician. Keep communication lines open and keep with your yearly evaluations. Eat a proper diet, exercise and avoid over use of alcohol.
Surgery, nPAP, and dental devices are only 50% of the battle. Hard work, compliance, and notifying your Physician of any changes or behaviors is the other 50% of your treatment.
If your apnea symptoms return its more than likely not your fault. It is changes within your body.

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Permalink Reply by Henning on January 5, 2010 at 2:33pm

It is too easy to say that CPAP is the solution for everyone.

Unfortunately there are some of us who can't tolerate the use of CPAP. So should other options be considered, including surgery, oral appliances, etc.

I don't agree with Mike that it is very few who are "cured" by surgery.

But I agree that our tissue changed over time.

I am one of the lucky ones who are currently cured of Sleep Apnea through surgery. I don't think it is a lifelong cure, but more as an ongoing process.

E.g. I know that I probably need a new surgery on my turbinates within 3 - 4 years. It is a small operation, so it will not be a problem. But other things can occur.

I think the keyword here is personal involvement in own treatment. You will have to tackle some knowledge about Sleep Apnea and treatment possibilities (of course together with your doctors). That's why a site like this is important to me.

Personally, I have chosen that I will have a new sleep study done every year (so far), and then re-evaluate my whole situation about 3 - 4 years from now.

Sleep apnea is a relatively new area, and much can happen within that time.

Henning

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Permalink Reply by Henning on January 6, 2010 at 2:29pm

Just not to be misunderstood, CPAP is also in my opinion the first priority.

Henning

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