I'm sure if I gave my Wife the link to this site she would have allot to say about my Sleep Apnea. For the past 3 months I wake up in the middle of the night to find my wife not in our bed. Because of my annoying apneas I go through all night long.
It all started 10 years ago when I was diagnosed. I went through the sleep test and wasn't asleep an hour and they woke me up to put the CPAP on me. I learned I was having over 200 Apnea episodes. I was fitted for the CPAP for about a month until I was recommended to undergo UPPP Surgery. I had large tonsils which didn't help at all. Those were taken away along with my Uvula and my Adenoids. It was the most PAINFUL thing I ever had to go through. For the first few months after it was very difficult to swallow and eat. When I drank from a straw I would have to tilt my head back a little to keep it from running out of my nose, LOL.
I was feeling great after having that surgery, I was sleeping through the night, couldn’t snore if I wanted to. This was to be the best way to cure the Obstructive Sleep Apnea, although I was diagnosed with “Mixed� Sleep apnea.
As stated at the beginning of this post I started getting worse. Snoring is awful, I quit breathing in my sleep again and feel TIRED all the time, again. It seems worse than before. The headaches and fatigue has made life difficult once again. Has anyone out there had this happen to them years after their Surgery?

It is unfortunate that you were not told of the prognosis of those who have an UPPP.  It has a very dismal success rate, especially in those with moderate to severe apnea.  "Success" with a UPPP is considered than in 50% of patients, their AHI (events/hour) is reduced by 50%.  You probably had 200 events throughout the whole night.  If you slept 8 hours, that would be an AHI of 25.  Check with your doctor to learn your AHI.

This all means that the only time you can expect to not have to use a CPAP is if your AHI is no more than 9.5.  A 50% reduction would bring it down to <5 where 5 is the AHI at which CPAP use is recommended.

Additionally, it is not unusual that apnea returns months after UPPP.  And a UPPP can make apnea worse down the road.  UPPP is not recommended for OSA in Europe.  For all the studies and numbers, contact member Daniel, who is in Europe, had an UPPP and must use a CPAP.  He really is the most knowledgable about surgical options and UPPP outcomes here.

You need another sleep study to determine the status of your apnea.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

I can't agree more with Vicki:

               You need another sleep study to determine the status of your apnea.

  I had an ENT wanting to do a UPPP/Nose work on me telling me how I could get rid of the CPAP, etc.
  Well, as Vicki said, a surgical cure is a reduction of 50%, so for me that meant going from an AHI of 111.7 down to 55.85. This is still SEVERE Sleep Apnea. I didn't give it an option. CPAP was for me.

  As for your symptoms, and the fact you mentioned the Mixed Apneas, I very strongly believe you will do better with xPAP therapy, then you will with surgery, unless you want a tracheostomy, but who wants one of those?!   

Read my signature box.


_________________
painless

Sleep Apnea is a Killer! Get it Tested!
Get it Treated! Use the Treatment!