Sleep Apnea...

[Drilim]

Does anyone have sleep apnea to any extent? I'm headed under the knife Wednesday morning.

Its been progressively worse over the last 3 years. About a year ago I went and saw an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. He checked me out and was surprised to hear my complaints and description of how I felt. I'm 25, not overweight and have a somewhat physical job - im not sitting behing a desk all day going crazy. He recommend I go to a sleep clinic and be monitored (polysomnogram) while I slept. The results were shocking. While my snoring is intermittent, I stop breathing at inhale for 7 to 8 seconds and then gasp for air. This usually is enough to make me snap out of any kind of deep sleep and throw my heart-rate up drastically.

My actually sleep cycles are a mess. I got about 40% of the recommended REM sleep. I haven't woken up and felt rested and refreshed in forever.

After seeing 2 other specialist, the recommendations across the board were for surgery. More often than not, people are prescribed a positive air pressure machine (CPAP). The last thing I wanted was to go to bed every night and have to strap a machine on my face.

Surgery involves getting my tonsils and adnoids removed. Removing the uvula in the back of my throat. Septoplasty (fixing my deviated septum), and the one that has me really worried, the are going in and cauterizing the tissues in my nasal passages to increase my airflow.

NOT EXCITED. Recovery is 10-14 days and the first 7 are supposed to be terrible. Not even remotely excited. Hopefully it will be completely change my current issues and improve my quality of life drastically. The last 12 months have been pretty tough.


Anyone else have any experience with sleep apnea?

[greaslife]

My wife tells me I do the same bit .iam too chicken shit too go thro what you are doing. Good luck and let us know how is goin

[Nick]

I have sleep apnea. I've been using a cpap for about 10 years. From my understanding, the surgery is not a sure thing. I've gotten used to the cpap, and actualy like the white noise it makes, it helps me to fall asleep faster.

[greaslife]

Nick how hard was it too get get use too the machine?

[Nick]

Nick how hard was it too get get use too the machine?

Not very long. i tried a couple of different masks, and settled on nasal pillows.

[Drilim]

From what I understand Nick, the surgery isnt 100% effective on everyone either. All 3 doctors I saw basically told me the same thing...I'll be doing myself a huge favor by going through with it. Even if it doesn't completely cure the apnea, It pretty much eliminates all of the culprits besides my actual sleeping habits themselves. Needless to say I'm anxious to get it over with.

The time recovering is going to drive me stir crazy, I can already tell.

[Polarcub]

Though I have not personally been through it I have had many friends go through this. The machine seems to be acceptable to about half of the crowd. The surgery seems to have a high success rate and those that I know were very glad they did it. Good luck with it I know that this is not a pleasant condition.

[BDKW1]

I dated a chick for a short while that had sleep apnea. Being a very light sleeper I would wake up when she stopped breathing. After about a minute or 2 she would give a raising from the dead gasp and start breathing again. It freaked Me out so bad that she might not ever start breathing again I went and slept on the couch...........

[ogre20012001]

i sleep with a cpap and love the thing. took me about 2 weeks to get fully used to it. now that i work graveyards i find it helps me sleep much better durring the day. and the white noise it makes helps me sleep also.

[Bondobob]

I was diagnosed with SA 12 years ago. I was single at the time and I didn't want the "Supercharger" to ruin what little game I had so I opted for surgery. I'm glad I did it that way and it has been very positive. It was done in two phases 1st tonsils, adenoids and uvula removal then 2nd phase 6 months later repair of deviated nasal septum and full roto-roter. I would do it again based on my results no more snoring and no more dozing off during the day or feeling beat down tired all the time.

[Broncodawg]

When I had my sinuses reamed years ago, it didn't help, and still need to do the loose skin at the back of my throat. Sleep study showed no apnea, but wife thinks the study was bunk, because she tells me about long pauses. Can't wait to hear the results and maybe I'll get off my butt and finish my fix.

[johncharlesb]

The girl uses breathe right stips. I noticed an immediate difference in her sleep. She has a deviated septum.

[Drilim]

Its been one week since surgery and let me say that it has been a long week.

Spent Wed night and most of Thursday day in the hospital. Stayed on an IV for most of the time due to not being able to physically swallow anything more than an ice chip or 2 at a time. They also had me on a steady dose of IV antibiotics and painkillers. The initial pain wasn't all that bad, but definitely was uncomfortable.

Got home Thursday night and had 2 types of oral steroids, a large bottle of liquid painkiller and 2 large bottles of antibiotics. Attempting to eat applesauce turned out unsuccessful, as well as ice cream. Popsicle went down without to much trouble. So exhausted I was hardly able to get a shower in before falling asleep. The doctors were great about telling me exactly what to expect, at what pace to go, what to eat....except for how to sleep. Due to my deviated septum being fixed, and the opening of my sinus passages, It felt like I had a bad headcold with congestion. They prescribed me a nasal spray to keep everything moist and open, but its only effective for about 6 hours. So, went to bed...exhausted and it was maybe 9?

Up like a light before midnight. I guess my nose started to clog so I switched to breathing through my mouth. Breathing through my mouth dried everything up real quick and left me almost unable to swallow. Note taken: set my alarm to go off every 2 hours for a Popsicles and an attempt to drink some water.

Unable to talk, I resorted to writing everything down or texting everything from Wednesday night to Monday afternoon. The discomfort level went from a 4 or so the night I got in from the hospital, probably to an 8 by late Friday. By Sunday, I was back down to a 5 or so and its creeping down still. As of this morning, I'd put myself at a 3 or so. I finally started to say some things without huge discomfort Monday afternoon/evening. Tuesday was the first day I had anything besides popsicles (there was a small bowl of mashed potatoes thrown in, wasn't pretty) and it was some chicken noodle soup. It was hands down one of the three best meals. EVER. I've never been this hungry in my life.

So far, while still recovering AND being up every 2 - 3 hours, Ive noticed a huge, drastic difference in my sleep. The lugging exhaustion is hugely reduced, waking up I feel at least mildly refreshed and rested. Im sure the mild has to do with still being uncomfortable, having trouble breathing and having the getting up so often. My follow up appt with the E.N.T specialist is Friday morning, I'm hoping i get the okay to get back to life. Sitting around has me going absolutely stir crazy.

The surgery seems to be a successful. I wont know until I'm fully recovered and able to really sleep a full night.

[Broncodawg]

Thanks for the update, can feel for you having had septoplasty years ago. Back then they packed your nose with gauze to control bleeding and everything was bearable until time for the gauze removal! Hell on earth!! Wanted to die as it was being pulled out. Didn't want to tell you about it earlier, in case you had to go thru it. Didn't cure my snoring , but still need to do my throat and not looking forward to it.

Best of luck for good results once healed.

[Drilim]

I heard a few horror stories about the gauze treatment. Luckily they went and cauterized everything after they fixed the deviated septum. They bleeding was bad at all. The "shedding" of all the tissue has been weird but not all that painful.

[Nick]

I'm glad it went well, and that you're doing good! Keep us updated on your recovery and progress.

[greaslife]

so after reading all the replys i decided too go too the doc last friday. she decided too run my blood checking for low testosterone ,diabetes and have me check my sleep cycle. the dr already put me on flow nase which is making huge difference in my sleeping. so thinks too all of you who was willing to go into personnel stuff it helped me pull my head out and start getting fixed.

[Drilim]

3.5 week update.

Been back to work since the 2 week mark. I feel fantastic. Looking back, I wish i would have opted for the surgery when it was first recommended. My energy level is so drastically different. I wake up ready to go in the mornings and my concentration level is astronomically better. Before surgery, I was so exhausted all the time it put me on edge. Very easily I became irritated and snappy. Its amazing what a difference quality sleep can do for you.

The positives have outweighed the negatives ten-fold. Post-op I lost 22ish pounds from not being able to eat anything. My discomfort has all but subsided. I had to retrain myself how to drink water. Anything carbonated was a big no-go for the first 3 weeks.

For anyone holding out, Go see an ENT. Its worth every second.

[tcm glx]

3.5 week update.

Been back to work since the 2 week mark. I feel fantastic. Looking back, I wish i would have opted for the surgery when it was first recommended. My energy level is so drastically different. I wake up ready to go in the mornings and my concentration level is astronomically better. Before surgery, I was so exhausted all the time it put me on edge. Very easily I became irritated and snappy. Its amazing what a difference quality sleep can do for you.

The positives have outweighed the negatives ten-fold. Post-op I lost 22ish pounds from not being able to eat anything. My discomfort has all but subsided. I had to retrain myself how to drink water. Anything carbonated was a big no-go for the first 3 weeks.

For anyone holding out, Go see an ENT. Its worth every second.

Awesome news!!!

[yikes]

Wow! That's awesome Zach. Does make we wonder why I don't feel rested in the mornings.