DaneMcCloud |
08-17-2016 02:13 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Holladay
(Post 12372057)
I don't want to do the "C-Pap" machine, or cut out my uvula (not vulva).
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I probably mentioned this in related thread but I've snored all of my life. I also felt just fine until 2007, when my wife mentioned it to a doctor friend of ours and she gave a recommendation of a Head & Neck specialist. He checked me out and couldn't see anything visibly wrong, so he ordered a CT scan of my nose and sinuses. He found nothing and sent me to an allergist.
After undergoing various tests, I was told that I was misdiagnosed as a child and had asthma. I was only using 38% of my lung capacity and the doctor felt that this was the root of my problem. He also performed rhinoscopy, in which I found out I had acid reflux that had burned my esophagus (and I about jumped out of the chair when he touched it).
So, after 8 months of treatment, I was still snoring. The allergist sent me to a different Head & Neck specialist and I did a sleep study in which they found that I stopped breathing a ridiculous number of times per hour (like 52 or something). He recommended surgery over a CPAP, so I had my tonsils and adenoids removed along with excess tissue folded over. It was a disaster. My throat was inflamed for weeks on end and the swelling was inducing my gag reflex 3-4 times a day. I went in for a followup and told him about it, so he cut out my uvula in his office (and forgot to give me a numbing shot!. Good times!). Still, the swelling was awful and I've been dealing with it since 2008.
Fast forward to 2015 and I finally visit a doctor again since 2009. He immediately said "I can tell you have sleep apnea, just by looking at you", so he ordered a sleep study. It was awful. I had to be there at 9pm, couldn't fall asleep and tossed and turned all night, so they couldn't get a reading. I had to go back about a month later but this time, I had a few cocktails before and Uber'd over to the study. It was fine and they knew where to set my CPAP levels.
I finally received the machine in October (Phillips) and while it took about a month and 5 different masks before I got comfortable, I haven't had any issues since with sleeping or snoring. I can get 7 hours a sleep and feel great the next day, with no periods of sleepiness or tiredness. It's really amazing.
Bottom line: Avoid surgery at all costs. The CPAP is far less expensive and way more effective.
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