Re: My MMA Experience
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Re: My MMA Experience

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Posted by often_awake on February 23, 2012 at 13:22:06:

In Reply to: Re: My MMA Experience posted by Marie on February 22, 2012 at 22:36:59:

Hi Marie,

I've been reading your comments on other newsgroups and was aware that you had had a tracheostomy. You've really been through a lot, and I hope this helps.

Dr. KL also said I have a floppy airway/neuromuscular hypotonicity. To me, that definition is basically tautological. It just means that your airway isn't big enough relative to the conditions of your throat. It's not immediately clear that this is a structural
issue, though. No one can really say.

Here's a theory that I have: sleep apnea often co-occurs with nasal problems, GERD, etc. For many people, the apnea causes the other issues, but it works both ways. I would guess that in people with a high apnea index, these other issues are rather
secondary, but in people that primarily have hypopneas/arousals, they play a larger role. Even after having one's airway enlarged, they might remain, causing inflammation, etc. I myself had a sinus infection which went undetected for months after my
MMA. Finding it and taking antibiotics was a step in the right direction.

I also think the trauma of bad sleep over a long time period can exact a psychological toll on anyone, especially on light sleepers. The trauma makes sleep worse and causes more arousals, which causes worse sleep, etc. It's not the only factor, of course,
but it probably plays a role somehow.

The apnea, comorbidities, and psychological trauma all interact in complicated ways and make each other worse. Some times, just opening up the airway isn't enough, especially if there are structural reasons preventing a huge opening.

But that's just my theory, based on my own experiences. I could be wrong.

I won't have a tracheostomy, but I can certainly understand why you did. I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences in more detail if you feel you can post about it.

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