Ok first off thanks in advance to all who reply, and forgive the spelling errors.  My first question concerns the UPPP procedure.  My doctor said that removing my tonsils may be an option to help/cure my apnea.  Is this the UPPP procedure?  Or is it simply a part of it?  One of the things people who have had the UPPP seem so upset about is the pain, but i figure if little kids have their tonsils out all the time without much fuss then why should adults be different?  I am really interested in talking to him some more about the procedure because i have not recieved my CPAP yet but i am dreading the thought of wearing a mask all night every night for a few reasons.  First is what if I hate it?  What if it does me good, it works well,  and then i hate the thing?  I am afraid that if my body experiances good sleep, for the first time in a long time - maybe ever, that going back to an apnea filled life will cause me to feel worse then i do now.  Also i am still young and do not want to take some girl home with me and say "hey before we go to sleep wait while i hook myself up to this machine" <-- not very sexy.  What if i do not use it for a night?  Are there any CPAP wearers out there who can tell me about a night were they havent had the machine?  How was it?  Were you like the walking dead the next day?  Also has anyone who now wears the CPAP/ had surgery noticed they they need less sleep now with the treatments?  I really don't know what to do right now, hopefully your replies will help me out.   Thanks again.

Welcome MooseMan!,

A tonsillectomy and UPPP are not the same thing.  For info. on surgeries, see the link on surgeries to the left of the forum titles.  I can't say how much either would help apnea, but I do know that the UPPP procedure does not have a high or lasting success rate for "curing" apnea.  Rested Gal also has tons of surgery links posted under the "Interesting Links" forum.  I'm missing my tonsils and I still have apnea, but once again you just need to really evaluate how much of an effect a tonsillectomy would have for your situation.  And not to scare you, but tonsillectomies are harder on adults than children.  The plus is that you get to eat lots and lots of ice cream!!  You need to do a lot of reading about surgeries for apnea.

I can address the single person issue.  My apnea has given me the opportunity to educate people.  I generally am awake when having fun, so my CPAP isn't an issue then (although I know that some people are into the mask thing, but that's another story I'm not even gonna start here).  By the time they are spending the night, they know me well enough to know I have apnea, all of its horrible side effects and why it is so wonderful I'm being treated with a CPAP.  Besides, I tell them, I won't snore.

It has never bothered anyone (gee that sounds like I get around, I've taken it to Girl Scout outings and other communal stuff too).  My boyfriend pretty much checks to make sure I have my "breathing thing" before we go on trips or I spend the night at his place.  The one night I didn't have it, my snoring sent him as far away to sleep as possible.  He is noncommittal as heck, but he does like to snuggle.

You can not dislike your CPAP if it makes you feel better.  Really, those two feelings are simply mutually exclusive.  If I don't use my CPAP, even for a nap, I feel like garbage.  I feel like I've been beat up, I'm tired and I have a stupid apnea headache.

Really MooseMan, before you dive into surgery, a sleep study would be advisable to understand what is going on (or have you already had one?).  Make sure your sleep doc. is a diplomat of the ABSM (see my post under "Interesting Links" to understand what this is and how to find one.

Come back with more questions and let us know what you're going to do!

Vicki


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

MooseMan wrote:

Ok first off thanks in advance to all who reply, and forgive the spelling errors.  My first question concerns the UPPP procedure.  My doctor said that removing my tonsils may be an option to help/cure my apnea.  Is this the UPPP procedure?  Or is it simply a part of it?  One of the things people who have had the UPPP seem so upset about is the pain, but i figure if little kids have their tonsils out all the time without much fuss then why should adults be different?  I am really interested in talking to him some more about the procedure because i have not recieved my CPAP yet but i am dreading the thought of wearing a mask all night every night for a few reasons.  First is what if I hate it?  What if it does me good, it works well,  and then i hate the thing?  I am afraid that if my body experiances good sleep, for the first time in a long time - maybe ever, that going back to an apnea filled life will cause me to feel worse then i do now.  Also i am still young and do not want to take some girl home with me and say "hey before we go to sleep wait while i hook myself up to this machine" <-- not very sexy.  What if i do not use it for a night?  Are there any CPAP wearers out there who can tell me about a night were they havent had the machine?  How was it?  Were you like the walking dead the next day?  Also has anyone who now wears the CPAP/ had surgery noticed they they need less sleep now with the treatments?  I really don't know what to do right now, hopefully your replies will help me out.   Thanks again.

Hi Mooseman,

UPPP is not good. Tonsilectomy is OK on its own. Believe it or not tonsilectomies get tougher and more painful as you get older.
If cpap works for you, you couldn't possibly hate it. The benefits are terrific. I don't think any girl will be complaining about you hooking up to a machine, when she experiences all the extra energy you will have. It can be a discussion point. How many guys can use that for a chat up line 'come home and meet darth vader'. I think you are reading too much into cpap. You do get attached to it (LOL).
CPAP is a life sentence. It is best to use it every night. When you become compliant you are reluctant to miss a night.
I suggest that you concentrate on becoming compliant with cpap and when you are compliant you might consider using a dental device for the odd night.
I had the UPPP over 11 years ago. It actually caused my OSA to rebound at a more severe level. Apparantly this is not uncommon.
You must be positive about cpap. Make sure you get a comfortable mask that works for you and use this forum and your supplier to get you over the initial hump. It's well worth it.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

My significant other loves the sound of the CPAP machine.....  finds it soothing.   We joke about me putting my scuba diving mask on before bed.   It hasn't affected our relationship in any negative way... it's only helped.  I'm rested, less cranky, and I have tons of energy now.

Bringing a girl home and saying 'gee, I hope I don't stop breathing tonight' seems a whole lot worse than saying, 'I have to wear this when I sleep so I don't snore you out of the house'.

Good luck!