Sleep Apnea

[cpatz58]

Has anybody had surgery for OSA? I am currently "trying" the CPAP machine I got after my study. I can use when I am awake and getting ready to sleep with no issues. After falling asleep I am ripping the mask off because I feel like I am suffocating. I have tried to train myself while awake to get use to the nose/mouth face mask that I have. I have tried the just nose as well as the nasal pillows with the same results. I am going to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in two weeks to see if I am a candidate for sleep apnea surgery. I was wondering if anybody else out there has had surgery or has gotten information about the different types of surgery? Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

[sct]

cpatz58
I had the same feeling when I used CPAP. I upgraded to BiPap which is better but I ultimately take the mask off after a few hours because I fell claustrophobic. Being a mouth breather, I have yet to find a mask that works very well. The nose pillow type works marginally well for a little while until I get congested.

As for surgeries, I am in the market myself. I am considering mid-face advancement as a permanent way of enlarging my airway. I have 3 friends who have tried uvuloplasty with no one being satisfied and none of them would do it again or recommend it.

I have had 4 treatments of somnoplasty - radio frequency tissue ablation, twice to the back of the throat and twice to the tongue. It decreased my snoring slightly for a few months, but within 6 months I was right back where I started. Soft tissue surgeries report about 40% efficacy for the mild sleep apneac.

Please let me know if you hear from anyone who has had the "hard tissue" surgery mandibular advancement. I have questions about that.

Good luck!