Posted by Captin Cannuck on July 18, 2008 at 05:22:35:In Reply to: Looking for advice on options posted by ahr on July 17, 2008 at 19:52:22:
I would like to recommend the following:
1. Hold off on UPPP for now. This operation has a very miserable track record. I don't know of very many cases where it has proven successful.
2. Check out your facial bone features via x-ray with a surgeon who does MMA (esp. at Stanford Univ if you live in USA or Dalhousie Univ. Dept of Oral / Maxilofacial Surgery if you live in Canada). The surgeons will be able to tell you if your facial structure (e.g. overbite, etc). contribute to your OSA. They have an operation called MMA which has approx. 90% success rate.
3. In the meantime continue with CPAP. It does work. In your case, your apnea is moderate. CPAP + weight loss will be your best choices. Probably you could manage to live a normal life with CPAP. I would try that for about 2 years before considering any surgeries.4. Please take my advice and not rush into surgeries lightly. OSA surgeries are not the same as other kinds of surgeries (e.g. hip replacement etc.). In OSA surgeries, results are not so good, and sometimes do not last so long. In my own opinion, the only exception to that is the MMA operation, which has proven to have lasting results. This is because they are moving bones, so there is stability. Soft tissue is like plasticine. Not anchored well.
5. Don't worry so much about being single and CPAP. Believe it or not, lots of people are using CPAP. You would be surprised. CPAP is just normal air at slightly higher pressure. If you explain that to a guy, he will be fine with it. If he is not, then to h*** with him. He wasn't worth your time anyway. Too fickle.
- Re: Looking for advice on options jvan31 10:41 7/21/08 (0)