Apnea Forum Posting

Posted by Gene (littleton, CO) on October 22, 1999 at 14:48:36:

For those of you who are considering surgery as a cure for OSA:

Just a brief history:

My first sleep study was done on 11/13/98. That was a split night protocol with CPAP titration. The baseline affects of that study prior to CPAP demonstrated an apnea hypopnea index of 41 with oxygen desaturations to as low as 77% and overall, severe obstructive sleep apnea was felt to exist. I was placed on CPAP with a pressure setting of 10.

Around February 1999, after extensive research on this forum and elsewhere, I decided to subject myself to the UPPP, Tonsillectomy, and Septoplasy procedures. Two hours before my scheduled arrival at the hospital, my surgeon called to inform me that my pre-op blood tests had indicated that I have hypothyroidism. My surgery was cancelled and I was placed on Levoxyl (Synthetic Thyroxene) to correct the low levels of T4. Following two months of thyroid medication, I was rescheduled for surgery. I had the UPPP/Tonsillectomy/Septoplasty on May 6, 1999. (My postings are in Forum 12.)

Following the surgery, I slowly began to feel more energy and even recall dreaming. (I had not remembered dreaming for years!) In July, I even went on a two-week vacation. I had also lost 20 lbs. following the surgery, which I have still managed to keep off. I am not now, and was not prior to surgery, terribly overweight. Presently, I am 47 years old, 6'3" tall, and weigh 200 lbs. I believe (and my doctor concurs) that much of my weight gain prior to surgery may have been linked to my thyroid problem.

By the end of August 1999, I was feeling very fatigued and depressed once again. I was aware of waking three or four times per night, and I did not feel rested. My GP increased my Prozac to 60mg per day and scheduled me for another sleep study, which I was able to have completed on 9/24/99. Yesterday, I obtained the results of my second sleep study.

This most recent study, at baseline prior to CPAP, clearly demonstrates improvement over the first study. I now have an apnea hypopnea index in the high teens. Overall without CPAP, it is felt that I now demonstrate what would be considered mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. CPAP pressures from 5 to 8 failed to improve the mild OSA seen on this study. The recommendation is to repeat a full night titration with BIPAP to see if that will help. My ENT is also going to have me try a "snore guard" to see if that will help. The end result of my present "improved" condition is that I am still as tired as I was before the surgery. Most important is the fact that my sleep efficiency is quite suppressed. I am getting very little REM sleep. Of the 383 minutes total study time, I slept 230.5 minutes. However, of these 230.5 minutes, I had only 10.5 minutes of REM sleep!

Bottom line… I suppose that my surgical procedures would be considered a "success", since I went from an apnea hypopnea index of 41, prior to surgery, down to the high teens following surgery, However, the impact on my quality of life is negligible. I am still exhausted all of the time, and CPAP now does me no good whatsoever. If the "snore guard" and the BIPAP do not help, I will probably end up going to another specialist in the Denver area and let him/her see what they can do.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Are you considering surgery for OSA? Meg in Vermont 10/24/99 (3)
  • Re: Are you considering surgery for OSA? kathie 10/25/99 (0)
  • Re: Are you considering surgery for OSA? Walt 10/24/99 (1)
    • Re: Are you considering surgery for OSA? Joan 10/24/99 (0)

Copyright ©1995-2005 Sleepnet.com., All rights reserved