My husband went to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor to discuss options to improve his quality of sleep and lessen his snoring. The doctor wants to perform a tonsillectomy, re-set his deviated septum, and surgically trim his soft palate. We've got a second opinion scheduled for next week, but my husband is understandably nervous. Has any one else had this procedure performed? Were the results what you had hoped for? Was recovery difficult?
2007-11-08 09:24:57 · 9 answers · asked by AngG 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
My brother had it done and it did nothing but screwup his mouth, he still snorzes, Don't waste your money, please contact me.
2007-11-08 09:29:31 · answer #1 · answered by redd headd 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ENTs are surgeons and will recommend surgery; it's their treatment of choice after they've tried the medication route.
The specialist who should advise about the apnea is a pulmonologist. These folks aren't surgeons and have other treatments an ENT isn't necessarily qualified to use or recommend.
You husband may actually need both. However, prior to deciding to trim the soft palate, ask about the role the adenoids are playing in the whole picture. If the tonsils are enlarged, the adenoids are likely to be, too.
I think trimming the soft palate is questionable, but if it's abnormally long, it should be trimmed.
A septoplasty will make breathing through his nose easier even when he's not asleep.
2007-11-10 06:58:22 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
John n is right. The surgery is not a cure for sleep apnea and most patients end up on CPAP anyways. The recovery is very very long and painful. I wouldn't recommend it, I haven't seen one patient yet that has been cured with surgery. CPAP is the only proven effective treatment for sleep apnea. And it is very simple and non invasive unlike the surgery. The hardest part is just adjusting to wearing a mask but it is well worth the benefits. Has your husband seen a board certified sleep specialist?? If not thats what he needs to do. ENT's almost always want to do surgery. Good luck in your ventures.
2007-11-09 15:59:15 · answer #3 · answered by Just Me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have sleep apnea too, and i too consulted a surgeon who suggested a surgery similar to the one you mention, BUT i was warned that the surgery wouldn't necessarily solve the sleep apnea problem.
If your husband is able to sleep with a CPAP machine that is a better, non-surgical remedy that is 100% effective.
Whatever method that your husband choses should take into account that sleep apnea is very dangerous. The hightened risk of heart attack and stroke,and the contributing factor to high blood pressure make not treating sleep apnea a receipe for disaster.
2007-11-08 09:41:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!
1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.
2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.
The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.
After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net
Ohhh..and Good Luck!
2014-09-17 05:03:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I met a guy in sleep clinic, he had 9 sugeries for apnea and nothing has worked. He not only can't sleep but is in constant pain.
2007-11-08 09:30:43 · answer #6 · answered by dude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband uses a device called a CPAP (sp?) machine. See if he can try that first.
Sleep apnea is very dangerous. It can lead to strokes.
2007-11-08 09:28:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, but I know that if a person exceeds their normal body weight with a substantial amount of pounds, sleep apnea can occur.
2007-11-08 09:29:12 · answer #8 · answered by Willie Boy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
now i know your going to think wtf do i have here but i have seen this for myself. get hubby to learn to play the," Didgeridoo", or just grab a piece of pvc piping about 5' in length, practice for 6 mths i bet the snoring stops.
This method though noisy ,is cheap, has no pain, you don't need a second opinion, and you get better sleep
2007-11-08 09:34:52 · answer #9 · answered by catart1956 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋