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Grex Health Item 47: Sleep apnea discussion
Entered by headdoc on Sat Feb 14 18:39:05 UTC 1998:

Someone I know has recently been diagnosed with sleep anpnea.  He went through
an overnight stay at the U of M hospital and was told he stops breathing over
100 times a night. Further medical evaluation has been put off for about two
months due to scheduling problems with the MD's at the U.  Any one here have
any information about sleep apnea and treatments.  I have searched the
internet but gotten very mixed information.

6 responses total.

#1 of 6 by mary on Sat Feb 14 22:12:56 1998:

I assume your friend was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea
where he doesn't really stop breathing but rather his airway
becomes obstructed and he stops getting air until his CO2 
level becomes high enough to awaken him just enough to
establish a clear airway.

There are a number of treatments, from losing weight, to
wearing an appliance to keep the nares more open, to a 
mouth guard that keeps the tongue from flopping back,
to a breathing machine one wears that keeps a constant
positive pressure in the upper airway while sleeping,
to a UPPP (surgical nip-n-tuck of a floppy pharynx.

Which treatment has been advised for your friend?

#2 of 6 by headdoc on Thu Feb 26 02:22:32 1998:

We are waiting for an appointment with an MD at the U.  I am fairly sure it
is obstructive apnea with the uvula flopping back.  he does not waken often
but when he does he is gasping for air.  Most of the time, he just stops
breathing and then makes a smal coughing noise and starts to breath again.
He is adamant about not using a CPACK (Spelling?) but will consider the
surgery to open the passageway or the block to keep the jaw pushed forward
if either of those is recommended.  He has lost the weight necessary.

#3 of 6 by mary on Thu Feb 26 04:35:39 1998:

CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) is a difficult way to
go but for some folks it is the only safe choice.  The surgery
requires a somewhat difficult recover period.  In fact, the
first night post-op the patient must stay in an ICU for
close airway evaluation.

I hope you get good news and the recommended treatment is
modest and effective.

#4 of 6 by headdoc on Fri Feb 27 00:14:29 1998:

We have also been told that the surgery is often not successful in ending the
apnea.  That is can be a protracted, painful healing process.  

Thanks, Mary, for your interest.

#5 of 6 by rickyb on Wed Mar 25 21:56:41 1998:

I've heard only good results reported (anecdotally) from the surgery. 
However, most of my discussions were about correcting snoring (somewhat
related...surgical procedure is/nearly identical).  Recovery hasn't been
mentioned as too debilitating, and snoring has been resolved...but nearly
everyone has sleep apnea to some degree or another.  this case is one of
excessive period length or frequency, it seems.

#6 of 6 by iggy on Thu Aug 2 16:18:49 2001:

<kick start>
i was finally diagnosed with sleep apnea a few years ago.
i spend nearly 24 hours at a sleep-disorders clinic.

i had the cpap, but had a hard time adjusting. i am a stomach sleeper
and those facemasks cant seal properly in that position.
i ended up with surgery.. not in the throat but the sinuses.
i had a cat scan done, and not only was my septum deviated, but
my turbinate bones were HUGE.  plus i was having trouble with chronic sinus
infections as my sinus couldnt drain, so this was leaving me stuffed up
and breathing through my mouth.
it was estimated that i was only getting about 30% breathing ability
through my nose.
after surgery to correct everything, i could feel that i
was actually getting enough air through my schnozz to live on.

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