Pillar Success Stories

[Guest]

I thought it would be a good idea to have a thread so all those who've had the Pillar could share share has happened after the procedure.

I've had the pillar, and a nasal somnoplasty. I recomment the somnoplasty for anyone who has a chronically stuffed nose, which is not a result of allergies or a deviated septum. It beats using nasal spray a few times every night.

With the pillar, a nasal somnoplasty and dental appliance I've been off CPAP for 3 weeks now and I'm feeling better than I ever did with CPAP. which I was on for 15 months or so. I plan to have a sleep study in Aug to confirm that my decision to stop CPAP was medically correct.

There are lots of people interested in having or have had the pillar. Let's hear from everyone so we can share success stories and have an accurate idea on how the Pillar procedure has performed in helping with apnea. So far it seems the Pillar is not a cure, but rather one important procedure when combined with others may make it possible to disconnect from CPAP. Dispite all the trouble I had with the implants, I'd do it again in a heart beat. I find a dental appliance eaiser to cope with than CPAP.
Rick

[BocaRaton]

congratulations on getting off cpap. I am going down same road. Had my nose done, deviated septum, turbinates reduced. Nest month I am going to have pillar implants and tongue reduction. I would recommend nose work first as the payback is great for very little pain and discomfort (provided you have a good ent). I can breathe through my nose for first time in a long time. I will report back on pillar procedure in coming months. I have been following it for some time and decided that it benefits versus risks where good as compared to some of the other procedures out there. As for the tongue reduction; it seems to make more sense than changing the positioning of my jaw or advancing the position of my tongue. Plus they do it in 4 treatments so if I don't like what is happening I will stop it. I have been on cpap for 6 years and although it works well it would be nice not to have a mask on my face at night.

[Guest]

BocaRaton
As I read your letter I think you are on a great path. In fact I can't understand why every CPAP patient isn't told they can get somnoplasty for the Pallet, Tounge, and Nose.

My Sleep Dr told me this, "forget about any procedures, they are high risk and low return, know you will be on CPAP for the rest of your life." (He's also on CPAP)

Yet it's seems to me a three prong attack on apena would be highly successful. Isn't it great to breath through your nose again!! Good luck with your Pillar. One thing I'd add here, if all you do doesn't seem to give you a cure, look into a dental appliance as well.
You might want to read a few posts in that forum.

I can't even imagine how many people might be off CPAP if there were given a whole menu of choices, many of them have little or no pain and also few risks as well.

Keep us all posted on your progress.
Rick

[Billinseattle]

Rick,

Excellent news ! I hope your sleep study confirms your results.

What your sleep doc said was short-sighted and offers little hope for those who are refractory to PAP use. He should go to more conferences before handing out blanket pessimistic advice like that.

Although, if he were refering to the UPPP, which was the only procedure available for many years, he would be telling the truth. But, as you know, that is no longer the case.

Boca, you are correct sir. These procedures do make more sense than having your jaw and tongue advanced. That is extreme (but effective ) surgery. If you have tongue base obstruction as well as a small airway, anything less than extreme may not work. I just wish the pillar procedure was an FDA option before my UPPP...I would've tried it After everything else didn't work, I was attracted by the prospect of a 96% "cure" despite the daunting nature of the procedure.

I hope the "triple prong" approach is studied and gets published as an alternative in the medical literature...so sleep docs will recognize it as a viable alternative.

Bill

[guest]

Rick,
Do you have a long/big palet?
Piilar works better for people where the palet causes most of the obstruction.
I just had somnoplasty/rhinoplasty for chronic stuffed nose and am recovering (pain was worse than I thought it would be).
My sleep doc says he thinks my long/big palet is the reason for my apnea, so I am going to consider Pillar also in a few months.
Did your insurance pay for Pillar?
Kurt

[Guest]

Kurt

[Josh]

Rick,
What is involved in somnoplasty of nose? How longdoes it take? do they reduce turbunates? What do they do exactly? Recuperation period?

What have you done to monitor you sleep besides just "feeling better" technique?

Have you checked your blood pressure? Haver your used an oxymetry? Have you recorded yourself during the night for snoring or asked the partner to monitor you for more than and hour on a deep sleep?

[Guest]

Josh,

[Josh]

How long have you been suffering from apnea and age? I know you may have already posted somewhere but it doesn't make sense for me to go and try to find by opening every posting.
Thanks

When is your next PSG planned?

[boca raton]

just wanted to update you on my nose surgery after reading some of the posts.. I try do read as much as I can before I make a decision that involves any kiind of surgery. Originally i though i wanted to have somnoplasty for my nose...However when checking out ent's in south florida I came across one particular ent who had great education credentials plus no lawsuits against him. ( in florida you can check these things on the web). His procedure required a cat scan of sinuses. Apparently that info was fed into a computer which help guide the surgical prodedure. He had done over 1000 of these procedures....no real pain..I was very surprised and please. First night was tough because I was packed. Next day packing out and could use the mask. Now there is a lot of blood clots coming out of nose and I rinsed with saline and used the spray he prescribe (saline plus antibiotic) and used a little nose syringe(like for baby's) but it really wasn't a big deal. I think the most important thing is not to do a procedure that could hurt you or make things worse.
In any caseI think the nose stuff, pillar, and tongue reduction are probably the safest of all the procedures and I will let you know how the pillar and tongue reduction goes in following months.
As for the dental appliance, I will check that out if the above stuff doesn't cure the apnea.. Good luck to all though..

[Guest]

Josh,

[bocaraton]

rick- they reduce the tongue volume by using radio waves (somnoplasty). The reduction is done at the back of the tongue by the throat. Takes 4 or 5 treatments. They put the probe into the back of the tongue where it coagulates some tissue which is then absorbed thus reduces tongue volume. Very similar to how they do somnoplasty of turbinates or how they stiffen your palate.. I suppose if you got an infection it could be a problem. I am also sure that there is some morbidity for any procedure you might have. We all have to way our choices. For me these things that I have chosen to do were best alternatives. Again even though I have used cpap successfully for many years (6)
there are times when the mask bugs me, sometimes I get air into stomach and the other problems we all have experienced. I am 51, probably have had sleep apnea all my life and have chosen these three procedures (nose work, pillar, tongue reduction) as a modest, if you compare them to other procedures, attempt to get off cpap. Bear in mind that they pertain to my anatomy which included deviated septum, clog sinuses, I snored plus a big fat tongue. It seemed to me that these procedures were tailored to my anatomy. Others of you in the apnea world might not respond like me..Anyway I have only done so far the nose stuff which I am please with. 1rst week in June I am doing the pillar and it is my understanding that it might takes months before that works. Good luck and I'll keep you informed of my progress

[cody ire]

Can anyone give me information on combo of pillar procedure and dental appliance? I had UPPP 10 years ago. My sleep apnea came back. I've now been on CPAP 10 months with minimal success. My sleep Dr. talks only of CPAP. Any suggestions on a type of Dr. who looks at the pillar/dental appliance as a combination and will recommend and oversee the procedure? Does insurance normally cover this approach? I would appreciate any input.

[Paul]