Having surgery on March 23rd.

Back in Sept, they retested me for sleep apnea...now I never used a cpap because when I was originally diagnosed, I opted for the UPPP surgery and it worked but was starting to fail due to my weight...

Well, my surgeon's office scheduled me for a retest...my apnea count was 6.1 (cut off is 5 so I BARELY had it) but it was the hypoxia that got them all squirrely.

Now, I am a long term insomniac. And 99% of the questions about your being sleepy during the day applies to us as well as those with apnea. Well, that sleep doctor didn't want to look any further...hear hoofbeats/think horses...I've been a zebra most of my life.

I sought out a second opinion with the sleep doctor who was dealing with my husband. HE recommended I see an Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon. He took some xrays...and turns out that deep down in my windpipe, my tongue blocks my esphagus. Only happens when I am sleeping on my back but I can not sleep on my front, not since my back surgery. I have an overbite...not bad enough for people to notice but it's there. As a result of his xrays, he suggested surgery to fix the issue rather than the cpap. What it will do is move my lower jaw forward and in alignment with my upper one and make my windpipe a bit bigger just from moving things forward.

This is something that a sleep doctor with just sleep apnea on the brain would never consider...not every case needs a cpap...some of us need more.

So on March 23rd, I go in for a Le Forte/SSRO surgery at 7AM. They will "break" my jaws and rewire them in the correct place...means a liquid diet for about 2 weeks to a month. He said I would easily lose 10-15 lbs but probably gain them back...I'm gonna do my best to keep my bounceback from that at less than 5.

My insurance company approved this one very quickly as he just submitted the paperwork last week.

Liz

Wishing you all the best with this, Liz. I hope there are a couple of silver linings here.

--gina

I hope so too.

Oh wow Liz good luck with your surgery.  That sounds extremely painful, hope they give you some good meds to take.

Linda

Thanks, Linda

I hope so too, LOL

Hello Liz

             So sorry to hear about this situation for you!  I hope this surgery is a big help in the long run...I suffer from insomnia and it really is a pain in the you know where...so you might have helped me research my insomnia further...who knows you just might be on to something here!!  Best of luck to you!!  We will be here to offer support if you need it...

Not that I woul;d wish that surgery on anyone...if I helped, great. And thanks.

Liz

Wow Liz! What a thorough physician to figure all that out. Good luck with the surgery!!

~~Jennifer

Jennifer, thank you...and yes, having a sleep surgeon (my second opinion) who hears zebras helps.

Liz

I hope this works out for you Liz.  Keep us Updated!

I was thinking about talking my DH to go to another Dr. because he has been tested for Sleep Apnea and he barely had it but he is very restless at night and always looks exhausted when he wakes up in the morning.