Pillar and Tap

[Waker]

I'm scheduled next week wed to get a consultation for the tap wednesday and friday for the pillar procedure.
I have been approved by my insurance for upp/tonsilectomy/septoplasty/turbinate reduction.
I want to have all the surguries except the upp I think the tap pillar combo will work to replace the upp Should I go ahead and get the pillar and tap then have the surguries, or vice versa. I just want to find the best way to do this to bet my insurance company to pay for as much as possible.

I do know one thing dr's and dentist all need to communicate jeezus

[Boca Raton]

I would get the septoplasty/turbinate reduction first. I just had it. Little pain great gain.

Can breathe thru my nose for first time in long time... Couple uncomfortable nights and then everything is ok. My ent took the packing the day after surgery.

As for the other surgeries (uvv) I haven't read anything good about them.. I am going for the pillr myself beginning of June. Reading up on it it didn't seem as there where any downsides to it and they can always be removed.. Good luck on whatever you choose.

[Guest]

My thoughts on this are as follows. I think you are doing things backwards. The Pillar takes 6-8 weeks to harden the pallet. My thought is you would want to have the Pillar and allow your pallet to harden before you move to a TAP.

While I don't know the reasons for your difficultly with your turbinates, I just went through a nasal somnoplasty. No packing of the nose invovled, zero pain, and great relief with breathing. Again though this surgery requires 6-8 weeks to give you maximum benefit.

So if I were in your position, I'd go through the surgeries, wait two months and then go for the TAP. I wish you much success. I've been off CPAP almost a month and while I don't have a sleep study to verify that the Pillar, Somnoplasty and dental appliance has been successful, this I do know. I feel better on a bad day with the dental appliance than I did with a good day with CPAP. My mood, energy level, and memory are better since now that with CPAP. But in Aug I will go for the study so I can speak to everyone with facts rather than just with a personal report.
Rick

[Billinseattle]

Waker,

Good advice from Rick.

The turbinate/ septoplasty surgery is annoying, but has little pain. Many people relieve nasal congestion and improve CPAP use with this. It will not "cure" your apnea.

Getting the tonsils out may help. It , as an adult, will be painful. You probably will be drinking liquids for a week or so. While the tonsillectomy won't completely fix your apnea either...I give it a thumbs up because large tonsils do block upper airway airflow and it will always be in doubt later (even if you get a TAP device or pillar).

I think you've read most of the posts about the UPPP (UP3). High pain, low yeild.

When you hear UPPP , it is usually because that is the operation that that particular surgeon does. It is also redundant to get a pillar if you've had a fresh UPPP (I think, but I'm not sure about this...that having a UPPP obviates getting a pillar implant later).

A reasonable plan might be to get your nasal surgeries (+/- the tonsils). Recover. Then try the pillar and TAP device. Wait and recover. Review your situation months down the line and see where you are.

Just because insurance will cover all of your planned surgeries...doesn't mean that they are medically good ideas. To the contrary, insurance frequently declines novel therapies that work better. (TAP device, pillar implants, an MMA/GA surgery, etc...) And, the fact that surgeons get re-imbursed for a procedure, makes it that much more likely for them to recommend it to you (boating season is upon us & the yacht club needs its mooring fees).

Good luck,

Bill