Check out these excellent articles from links posted in August 2005 by sleepydave on the ASAA message board:

"Surgery and OSA - Pro and Con Debate
There's a great Pro and Con debate in this months' issue of Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine that is as good a state of the art summary as you can find, given by two icons in the field."

Upper Airway Surgery Does Have a Major Role in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Nelson Powell MD

Upper Airway Surgery Does Not Have a Major Role in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Barbara Phillips MD
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Links below go to discussion topics on message boards:
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Pillar Procedure and TAP Dental Device:  Topics containing PaulY and Sleepy Stoboy's excellent posts about the Pillar Procedure (3 small inserts placed in the soft palate) and the TAP dental device ("Thornton Adjustable Positioner", a removable device worn in mouth while sleeping to hold lower jaw forward and open the airway more.)

Direct link to Dental Sleep Medicine message board on TAS

Direct link to PaulY's PSG studies before and after the Pillar Implants and TAP device (posted on osaforum/com under the nickname pyounan)


More topics about Pillar and TAP:

Dec 19 2005   subject: Info for Dizzy's benefit - Hard data on Pillar/Dental Combo

Dec 11, 2005   subject: Pillar surgery

Dec 04 2005   subject: Hard Data for Pillar Success/Finding Alternatives to CPAP

Dec 02, 2005   subject: Which hospital to titrate @?

Nov 30 2005   subject: Alternatives do exist and they sometimes work for some folks

Nov 25 2005   subject: Why do Those on CPAP attack Those who found alternatives

Nov 24 2005   subject: Why didn't my Pillar cure my snoring?

Sep 28 2005   subject: piller surgery

Sep 07 2005   subject: UARS & Insurance

Sep 09 2005   subject: pillar and septo/turb

Sep 07 2005   subject: Dental appliances CAN treat severe apnea

Sep 03 2005   subject: How many were given other options than CPAP

Aug 23 2005   subject: CPAP the cornerstone of OSA treatment

Aug 18 2005   subject: pillar regression

Aug 17 2005   subject: Pillar vs UPPP, desperate for advice

Aug 13 2005   subject: Botched Pillar Procedure?

Aug 11 2005   subject: Continuing Problem with NO end in sight

Jul 14 2005   subject: Had pillar today

Jul 14 2005   subject: Pillar Coming Out

Jul 01 2005   subject: Sleep study after Pillar & Silent Nite- Goodby to CPAP

Jun 30, 2005   subject: Insurance reimbursement for Pillar starting to happen

Jun 22 2005   subject: pillar procedure newbie ( long)

Jun 21 2005   subject: Does sleeping positions effect Apnea

Jun 16 2005   subject: Getting off of CPAP

Jun 09 2005   subject: MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL PILLAR PROCEDURE DOCS?

Jun 09, 2005   subject: GOOD ENT IN THE TWIN CITIES??

Jun 03 2005   subject: Pillars - Insurance Denied Claim

Jun 03 2005   subject: just had the pillar

May 30 2005   subject: Somnoplasty vs Pillar vs UUUP?

May 24 2005   subject: pillar procedure scheduled questions

May 23 2005   subject: LAUP vs Pillar?

May 18 2005   subject: similar to "Cost of my Pillar procedure $1500"

May 07 2005   subject: Pillar Success Stories

May 11 2005   subject: Pillar and Tap

May 04 2005   subject: pillar procedure

Sat, Feb 27 2005   subject: Open Letter to Restore Medical

Sat, Feb 26 2005   subject: Drumroll Please - Here is your Pillar Implant Pre and Post S

Feb 22 2005   subject: Pillar surgery

Jan 31 2005   subject: Pillar and GA(tongue advancement)

Nov 29 2004   subject: Snoring Questions



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Nasal turbinate and Sinus surgery experiences: Note especially the posts by snork1 - he had extensive nasal/sinus surgery to make breathing through his nose much easier while using CPAP.

Jan 17, 2007   subject: Turbinates jskinner posts link to emptynosesyndrome.org/turbinate.html

Jan 22 2006    subject: Am I Recovering Correctly? Just Had Nasal Surgery

Jan 21, 2006   subject: Barbeques

Dec 12, 2005   subject: septoplasty and turbinate surgery

Nov 26, 2005   subject: Somnoplasty

Oct 04 2005   subject: Surgery Recovery Time

Sep 19 2005   subject: Surgery Tomorrow!!!!!!

Aug 30 2005   subject: Opinions on nasal somnoplasty...

Aug 30 2005   subject: Just had a septoplasty and partial turbinectomy . . .

Aug 26 2005   subject: septo turb

Aug 24 2005   subject: septo/turb tommorrow

Aug 16 2005   subject: coblation vs somnoplasty

Aug 12 2005   subject: septoplasty/turb reduction

Aug 04 2005   subject: post operative swelling

Aug 04 2005   subject: Just had UPPP, Tonsil, Septoplasty, and Turbinate Reduction

Aug 02 2005   subject: had surgeries

Jul 30, 2005    subject: CPAP and Sinus Surgery

Jul 15 2005   subject: Anyone tried surgery?

Jul 13 2005   subject: just had surgery

Jul 01 2005   subject: Septoplasty and Turbinoplasty - 1 week later

Jun 26 2005   subject: Sinuses

Jun 21 2005   subject: Turbinate reduction options

Jun 21 2005   subject: Seeking Septoplasty support

Jun 08 2005   subject: Surgery Questions, esp. Picking a Doc

Jun 04 2005   subject: sleep apnea surgery

May 27 2005   subject: Update on septoplasty and turbinate reduction and tips

May 27 2005   subject: Nasal somnoplasty and Radio Frequency Ablation Differences

May 25 2005   subject: Goodby Afrin, hello life

May 23 2005   subject: Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction

May 12 2005   subject: Operation over - phase one begins

May 07 2005   subject: Surgery coming up Wednesday

May 11 2005   subject: Relief for chronic stuffed nose-Goodby flonase

Apr 27 2005   subject: Nasal Surgery coming up. Question

Mar 01 2005    subject: Turbinate Cautery

Feb 28 2005    subject: Need "roter rooter" on nose, $$ extra for reducing
 
Feb 27 2005    subject: Maxillary Sinus Surgery

Feb 05 2005    subject: Help please, first few days, Sinus issues

Feb 04 2005    subject: Surgery scheduled for Thursday

Jan 14 2005    subject: new apnea patient

Jan 10 2005    subject: how to decide

Dec 18 2004    subject: sinus headaches

Dec 15 2004    subject: Full face mask for colds- bad for AHI

Nov 20 2004    subject: Nose Sprays or Nasal Surgery to help CPAP ?
 
Nov 22 2004    subject: Surgery Pros & Cons


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Surgeries:  UPPP MMA etc. Note particularly the very well researched, informative posts by BillinSeattle/Seattle Bill - he's been through about every surgery possible for OSA.


UPPP Ohio Sleep Medicine Institue 10% success rate?

Apr 10 2007  subject: Newly diagnosed having surgery

Nov 22 2006  subject:  Recovery from UPPP surgery

Sep 27 2006  subject: UPPP and tolerance to subsequence cpap

Apr 23 2006   subject: MMA Procedure - Doctor and Procedures - References? Exp?

Apr 08 2006   subject: Questions on surgical tongue reduction.

March 20 2006   subject: Surgery for thin apneac who has had OSA since childhood

Feb 18, 2006   subject: tonsillectomy and uvpp surgery on Wednesday.

Jan 31 2006   subject: Palatal advancement + other surgeries (1 week post-op)

Jan 20 2006   subject: any mma/ga pictures??? Billinseattle???

Jan 14 2006   subject: Might Cancel my UPPP/GA Scheduled for Tuesday - Need Advice!

Dec 26 2005   subject: Upcoming UP3-any advice

Dec 21 2005   subject: Read this before having a UPPP or having it done twice

Dec 21 2005   subject: Back from my UPPP surgery

Dec 21 2005   subject: 1 Week Post-Op After UPPP

Dec 18 2005   subject: Help Please - Having UPPP Surgery in 2 Days!

Dec 15 2005   subject: Bill in Seattle, et al. Got braces, planning on jaw surgery

Dec 14 2005    subject: 1st Day Post-Op After UPPP, Tonsillectomy, Deviated Septum

Dec 2 2005    subject: doesn't anyone support UPPP?

Nov 18 2005   subject: New CPAP user contemplating UPPP

Oct 28, 2005   subject: UPPP Ohio Sleep Medicine Institue 10% success rate?

Sep 28 2005   subject: Billinseattle : need your help with info. please!

Sep 25 2005   subject: When Do You Call It " QUITS! "

Sep 13, 2005   subject: Tonsillectomy (sp?)

Sep 01 2005   subject: What questions should I ask my doc about surgery?

Aug 23 2005   subject: Need Surgery input

Aug 17 2005   subject: Pillar vs UPPP, desperate for advice

Aug 04 2005   subject: Just had UPPP, Tonsil, Septoplasty, and Turbinate Reduction

Jul 26 2005   subject: 6 months after MMA/GA ...Wheew !

Jul 15 2005   subject: Anyone tried surgery?

Jul 13 2005   subject: just had surgery

Jul 03 2005   subject: Mayo Clinic - Interesting article

Jul 02 2005   subject: surgery coming up

Jun 27 2005   subject: Tongue Too Big..Cant Breathe

Jun 19 2005   subject: UPPP anyone?

Jun 15 2005   subject: I had the surgery, still having problems

Jun 03, 2005   subject: surgical approach to OSA

May 30 2005   subject: Somnoplasty vs Pillar vs UUUP?

May 23 2005   subject: All I hear is NEGATIVE info on surgery for Apnea!

May 20 2005   subject: Surgery Options for Sleep Apnea - NEED ADVICE!!

May 19 2005   subject: help with study results

May 17 2005   subject: surgical and xray overview for OSA indicators

May 16 2005   subject: MMA/GA 4 months ago...

May 04 2005   subject: pillar procedure

Apr 30 2005   subject: Surgery and my throat?

Apr 24 2005   subject: Somnoplasty (Radio Freq. Tissue Reduction)

Apr 18 2005   subject: Important week, I must decide between UPPP and MMA/GA

Mar 12 2005   subject: Had UPPP and osa is back in full force

Feb 22 2005   subject: decision...surgery?

Feb 02 2005   subject: 2 weeks out from MMA/GA...whew!

Jan 22 2005   subject: Brother considering MMA surgery

Jan 12 2004   subject: surgery option experiences wanted

Dec 02 2004   subject: Has anyone out there had an MMA?



Last edited by rested gal on Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:18 am; edited 17 times in total

I am going in Monday morning for UP3 surgery, are they any good out comes out there.

I am bumping this up so it is higher in the list.

Help!  I have problems with very low oxygen levels when I sleep.  (77%)  I went to an ENT and he said I my uvula was too long and I needed a UPPP.  He also said I needed a Turbinate Resection, Somnoplasty & Septoplasty.  I'm very concerned about the recovery from this surgery as I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia - my body just doesn't tolerate any kind of stress or pain well.  I know I need to get some oxygen going when I sleep and the CPAPs are hard for me to get any sleep with.  My apnea level is just low to moderate so I'm not so worried about that and I am not worried about snoring - just the oxygen.  Any advise?  Thanks!