I was diagnosed with apnea a couple of years ago. Treatment thus far is not very effective.

I read that large tonsils were a major cause of obstructive apnea. Mine are very large indeed. When I put my finger at the base where the uvula is, I can feel both tonsils at the same time. There's only about a finger's worth of space in there, and that's mostly blocked by the uvula.

My tonsils have been permanently ubersized for several years now, and I have frequent throat pain etc. whenever I get a cold.

Thanks :)

I'm not one to favor surgery BUT since your tonsils cause problems other than just w/apnea and CPAP therapy I'd give a tonsilectomy some consideration just for the improvement in health as far as sore throats, colds, etc.

HOWEVER, I would be VERY CAREFUL of what additional surgeries might be suggested by an ENT. And I'd want more than one opinion. I would be ESPECIALLY leery of any suggestion of UPPP surgery (removal of the uvula) and investigate that VERY THOROUGHLY especially the LONG TERM "success" rate and WHAT is considered "success". Keep in mind that w/any of these surgeries, includingl tonsillectomy, generally only a reduced CPAP pressure need is the result rather than being able to discontinue CPAP therapy entirely.

That being said, tonsillectomy and/or septoplasty if I had a deviated septum, I would look into IF the tonsils or septum caused other health problems than "just" OSA.

Just "my" personal opinion. What they take out they can't put back in and all surgeries create some scar tissue.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Hey Chronie, thanks for your response.

I would never expect to be fully treated for sleep apnea simply by a tonsilectomy, I'm just wondering if my giant tonsils couldn't also be responsible for my CPAP not having the desired effect, that the obstructions are simply too large and too many? I have noticed significant improvement since getting CPAP, don't get me wrong, and I've been using it every night for several years, but I still have many symptoms and I'm going to get another sleep study done, because I seriously doubt my blood oxygen is healthy. The only explanation I can come up with is that my apnea is not being properly treated by the CPAP for some reason. Perhaps my tonsils?

Yeah, I definately don't want to touch the uvula or anything else, I don't see the point, and I doubt they would be the problem. The uvula is a fraction the size of each of my tonsils which are quite literally huge. Each tonsil is easily many times larger than the uvula. My doctor told me not to worry, that it would likely shrink and go away, but two years later, here they are.

I did actually have a severly deviated septum (almost zero throughput in one nostril and less than half in the other) and my sleep got better after I operated it. More so than from the CPAP - which has me very puzzled. My current CPAP pressure is set to 8cm with a maximum of 10cm.

The septoplasty helping is because you can BREATHE and inhale more air easier whether w/CPAP mask or not. The snozz was made for breathing, the mouth for eating and drinking. The snozz breathes more efficiently w/temperature and humidity better regulated than mouth breathing.

Yep, OSA "and" frequent sore throats, I'd investigate having a tonsillectomy done. If they are that enlarged and you have frequent sore throats quite likely they are full of scar tissue and provide more resistance to CPAP pressure.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Quote:

Yep, OSA "and" frequent sore throats, I'd investigate having a tonsillectomy done. If they are that enlarged and you have frequent sore throats quite likely they are full of scar tissue and provide more resistance to CPAP pressure.

Alright, thanks! I'll take them to see an ENT :)

My tonsils are permanently swollen to the point where you can almost see them through the bottom of my chin/neck. And certainly can feel two swollen lumps at all times.

Sure sounds like the little darlings should go then! Good luck!


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I have freak tonsils as well. Going to be setting something up to have them liberated soon

I just have to ask- can having a tonsillectomy contribute to SA? I had my tonsils out in 2000 and was diagnosed with mild OSA in 2002. I don't think it caused my OSA, because I also have centrals, but could the surgery have made it more noticeable and more of a problem? Maybe the scar tissue or something?

Kristina


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"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."- Thomas Dekker

Yeah, my tonsils were normal til about 3 years ago, then suddenly during strep throat they swelled like crazy. I'm walking around with the feeling that my tonsils get infected very easily, and that they take the longest time to heal. I got a sore throat 10 days ago, and it's still not gone. I'm starting to show signs of fever. Is it possible the virus is localized in my tonsils? When I put my finger in there and feel around, the saliva also smells really horribly... I don't have bad breath or anything, so is that normal? If not, then it's just one more nail in the coffin for my tonsils lol.

Hmm, how big can such scar tissues possibly be? Certainly they can't be bigger than tonsils?

Wow I thought I was the only one having this issue. My tonsils seemed to be really swollen at 18 and when I went to the ENT to have them looked at he said unless I had a certain virus that would have been tonsillitis repeatedly then I would not be able to have them removed. almost 10 years later they are just as swollen I feel them touch the uvula all the time. When I went for my sleep study my doc said first thing that I had the largest tonsils she had ever seen on someone my age. I will be asking PCP for a EBT referal next month when I see him. I have the same thought as you that I don't expect my apnea to go away but think it may make for more effective treatment

Like you, both my GP, ENT, and apnea specialist told me it wasn't necessary, but I think apnea and constant throat infections are enough of a complication to have them yanked... I just think there are so many obstructions in my throat that my treatment may not be effective because of them. *Shrug* Who knows for sure? I certainly don't WANT to have surgery if it can be avoided, but common sense seems to dictate it would be prudent in our cases... right?

I would most certainly pursue this enlarged tonsils issue w/a good ENT specialist! I'd push the issue if I had to.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I too have large tonsils, and just like you mine swell every time I get any kind of cold! I talked to the ENT about it and he said if it happened more than 4 or 5 times this winter he would remove them, but he also suggested trimming my palate? and I am not so sure about that! I really would like my tonsils out though. I hate having a sore throat.


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Started CPAP 4/08, pressure 10
nights camping with CPAP: 11!

If you do go for the tonsillectomy, try to find a surgeon that uses the Coblator, rather than the standard electrocautery. Since it vaporizes tissues at low temperatures (rather than charring at high temps), it hurts a lot less. It can be used just like a regular tonsillectomy (removing the entire tonsil), or it can be used to "shave" the tonsil, about 90 to 95% (this one hurts a lot less). If you're removing them purely to debulk your tonsils, consider the "shaving" procedure.

Awesome tip sypark :)