Anyone had surgery for sleep apnea?

Question

Please state what kind of surgery and how well it worked for you

Answer 1

I know 2 people who had it because my husband was considering it. They burn away some of the loose excess tissue from the back of your throat, in the pharyngeal area. Unfortunately the 2 people I know got lousy results from the surgery; it did not stop their snoring. My husband uses the CPAP machine, which does stop it.

Answer 2

Most people who have the surgeries -- most commonly the UPPP or related ones -- are told about the surgeries by an ENT. Often you are told about the "success" rates being close to 100 percent. Find out what the ENT means by "success" in his/her terms. Does it mean people who survived the surgery?

As a treatment for apnea, the UPPP **may** lower your overall apnea index some -- most likely slightly -- but you will, in most cases, still need a CPAP. Because the tissue from the back of your mouth is missing, you will need a full-face mask -- covering both your nose and mouth, instead of simply your nose. You will no longer be able to drink through a straw, as the missing tissue prevents you being able to create a suction.

There are many other issues. Most people, sadly, have to go back for "touch ups" every 16 months or so -- for the rest of their lives. Worst case scenarios after a UPPP is that you will need a tracheotomy (hole in your neck) to breathe, then have your jaw broken surgically, implants placed, and your jaw moved forward to help undo some of the damage, then you will be back on CPAP -- but then, most likely -- BiPAP. I've seen that happen in five different people now. It's a very sad situation to witness, and torture to go through. For two of the people, it was literally life-or-death.

The overall "success" rates for treating apnea are less than 50 percent, as per sleep studies -- not ENTs. The overall two and three year success rates -- for eliminating CPAP are worse than that. For those who initially are able to get rid of the CPAP, generally within two to three years they are on CPAP or BiPAP.

Go with the gold standard until something comes along. A CPAP blows filtered room air. There are no side effects, nothing to worry about "reversing" should you have an adverse reaction. It is simply air. Once an ENT slices and dices your throat -- think of the tomato that goes through LaMachine -- it's diced for good. There is no turning back.

Answer 3

My son had it done when he was 3 yrs old. He had his tonsils and adnoids taken out, then they scraped his throat. He could not breath well when he slept because his tonsils and adnoids were so big. He recovered really well. After the surgery, he finally starting sleeping through the night, which he had not done before. He is now 9 and has no problems at all.

Answer 4

I asked a lung specialist about that a few weeks ago.
He said the results are usually very unsatisfactory and it is very painful.