I had UPPP surgery, and it WORKED!

[PandaMom]

It took me a long time to decide to go through with it. I KNEW I snored, even though I denied it vehemently to my kids. While camping one summer, the kids informed me, that YEAH, Mom, you DO snore badly!

Five years, and 2 nose surgeries (deviated septum, and a followup procedure) made things better, for a time. I had gone through a sleep study, when things got really bad again. I do NOT have Apnea. YEAH for that!

My ENT strongly recommended getting my uvula (hangy down thing in the back of your throat), tonsils, and soft palatte removed. That seemed drastic. I did a TON of research online about it, and found mixed reviews. So, I hesitated about the surgery. But, my husband helped me to see that, a 50% improvement in the snoring is better than nothing! Poor guy, had resorted to wearing “snore proof” ear plugs at night. (a lie, I snored through those, no problem!)

I had the surgery done on the 18th of March, and on Monday March 29th, I had my FIRST NIGHT WITH NO SNORING! YEAH!!! I have since gone 4 more days without snoring. The surgery was hell for 2 weeks, but it worked! Kinda had to didn’t it? What is LEFT back there to rattle around and make me snore!!!

Just had to share that. THANK GOD FOR MODERN MEDICINE! (and vicodin… Thank God again, for VICODIN!)

[ZipperJJ]

I’m very happy for you! And your FAMILY!! I grew up in a small house with 2 parents that snored. Dad snored because he was drunk all the time but mom snored because of a deviated septum (I think. Something in her nose…)

Anyway, her surgery wasn’t as drastic as yours and it helped not only her, but everyone! Glad you took the plunge and it worked out.

That’s TWO cases of snoring fixed on the SDMB this week Check out congodwarf’s thread about CPAP success.

[PandaMom]

I had seen congodwarf’s thread. CPAP’ers and UPPP’rs are diometerically opposed to each other. Ok, I say that in jest, but if you google, for research, UPPP surgery, it almost ALWAYS takes you to a Sleep Apnea site, where they bash the surgery pretty hard, and swear by the CPAP machine. I have no doubt that it is a godsend.

It just was NOT for me. I could NOT go to bed every night like Darth Vader! It is a very personal decision, and even my doc said the machine would probably help my problem, but the emotional ramifications would be devastating for me. I deeply value my closeness to my husband at bedtime. Not referencing sex here (although…;-)), but just the time to be close, cuddle, and talk, and laugh. I couldn’t do that with a mask on.

[MeanJoe]

@PandaMom

I had seen congodwarf’s thread. CPAP’ers and UPPP’rs are diometerically opposed to each other. Ok, I say that in jest, but if you google, for research, UPPP surgery, it almost ALWAYS takes you to a Sleep Apnea site, where they bash the surgery pretty hard, and swear by the CPAP machine. I have no doubt that it is a godsend.

It just was NOT for me. I could NOT go to bed every night like Darth Vader! It is a very personal decision, and even my doc said the machine would probably help my problem, but the emotional ramifications would be devastating for me. I deeply value my closeness to my husband at bedtime. Not referencing sex here (although…;-)), but just the time to be close, cuddle, and talk, and laugh. I couldn’t do that with a mask on.

Assuming with a CPAP, you do have sleep apnea? How severe? I have OSA, in the severe category, and I’ve read the same anti-UPPP sites and they seem to have a valid point regarding effectiveness particularly for anyone above the mild category of OSA. Have you had the UPPP and subsequent sleep study to determine how effective it was?

Not looking to hijack or bash you decision, honestly curious as I made the decision after consulting a surgeon that UPPP was not the way for me. Unfortunately, I have the same problems with CPAP as you so I’m basically not treating my OSA at all right now.

[ZipperJJ]

Not being a chronic snore-er, I don’t care how you got your problem fixed - CPAP or UPPP or whatever. No dog in that fight. I am just very happy when people get things fixed, especially if they are scared and not sure if they want to go through with it. To me it all sounds like a big relief!

I’m happy your procedure worked and equally as happy for Mr. Congodwarf! Hurray for relief for everyone!

[PandaMom]

I have had an initial sleep study which found that I do NOT have apnea, I just snored like crazy! I really debated with myself/husband about doing the machine, as opposed to something as drastic as that surgery.

The sites I looked at, truly clearly indicate that if your snoring problem is apnea based/caused, than this surgery is iffy for fixing the problem. I tried hard to find a site that talked about the surgery and its success rate for just “simply” severe snoring due to obnoxiously sized crap in the back of your throat. My uvula, was so long, when I layed down to rest, it would flop over and rest on my rather large tonsils.

Before doing this surgery, I had my deviated septum fixed, which helped the problem some. Basically it just took away my nasal snoring, and left me with just my throat snoring. Trust me, I have woken myself up many times and tried to FEEL where the snoring was originating, and I could TELL it was the throat, and not phlegm, or whatever.

Seeing as I JUST recovered from the surgery (stopped taking narcotics on Monday), I haven’t had a followup sleep study. I probably won’t do it either. The proof, for me, is in the fact that I have gone 4 nights in a row without snoring at all. I am getting SUCH a better sleep, as is my husband!!

This surgery was a personal decision. I see many people commenting on how great the CPAP machine is, and I have no doubts whatsoever. I just knew that it wouldn’t work for me.

What are you doing to treat your OSA? Do you do any home “fixit” things? I found that if I stayed away from red wine near bedtime, things wouldn’t be so bad. Breathe Right strips worked for a time too, before the septum surgery. Also, saline rinses. Gross though they are, helped with the nose snoring too.

[PandaMom]

I’m happy your procedure worked and equally as happy for Mr. Congodwarf! Hurray for relief for everyone!

ZipperJJ, AMEN to that. I am thrilled that it worked for Congodwarf, and yeah, anything that can bring relief, is a good thing!

[Mama_Zappa]

@PandaMom

I had seen congodwarf’s thread. CPAP’ers and UPPP’rs are diometerically opposed to each other. Ok, I say that in jest, but if you google, for research, UPPP surgery, it almost ALWAYS takes you to a Sleep Apnea site, where they bash the surgery pretty hard, and swear by the CPAP machine. I have no doubt that it is a godsend.

It just was NOT for me. I could NOT go to bed every night like Darth Vader! It is a very personal decision, and even my doc said the machine would probably help my problem, but the emotional ramifications would be devastating for me. I deeply value my closeness to my husband at bedtime. Not referencing sex here (although…;-)), but just the time to be close, cuddle, and talk, and laugh. I couldn’t do that with a mask on.

Well, in fairness, a CPAP wouldn’t have done much for you if you don’t have apnea, right?

But yeah… looking at a CPAP some time soon myself and I don’t relish the prospect.

Do you find you’re feeling more rested in the mornings?

[PandaMom]

My ENT thought it would help. I didn’t see how, since I don’t have apneaotic (??) episodes. He just knew that I would hate the machine, and the surgery was a better guarantee for relief.

I can’t exactly say that I wake up feeling more refreshed, like congodwarf has. I just know I sleep solidly, without multiple interruptions.

[BigT]

@PandaMom

My ENT thought it would help. I didn’t see how, since I don’t have apneaotic (??) episodes. He just knew that I would hate the machine, and the surgery was a better guarantee for relief.

I can’t exactly say that I wake up feeling more refreshed, like congodwarf has. I just know I sleep solidly, without multiple interruptions.

The actual sound of snoring is caused by the air being stopped or slowed down by an obstruction, as said obstruction vibrates, adding sound to the air. The CPAP blows the air past the obstruction, keeping it open.