My experience with UPPP. Done 9 hours ago.

mr1344 · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 23

Just had the UPP done this afternoon. Figured I'd write a quick post about my experience so far.

I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea about 5 years ago. Never thought anything of it until an ex gf told me I was choking at night. Fast forward 5 years later. I rarely use my cpap, I tolerate it, but it's not my idea of how I want to sleep for the rest of my life. I am fully aware uppp is not an 100% answer, and maybe could make it worse.

Fast forward 5 years later (I'm 30 now). Still not using cpap, and visit 2 ents for opinions. They both say UPPP might help improve situation, and that I have a deviated septum. I am 6' a d 180 pounds, so this it not an issue due to my weight. I consider myself to be in good to excellent shape. . I chose to only have UPPP done first. And why not use the health insurance, right !?

Surgery took about an hour. Tonsils out, and whatever else makes up the UPPP. I wake up in recovery, and can't really say my pain level is anything crazy. They give me a pain killer, but that was 9hours ago. So far it just feels like a really bad sore throat. I'd say about a 6 on the pain scale.

They are keeping me overnight. They said to bring my cpap, but I didn't because I never use it anyways. It hurts to drink water, I drink a sip very very carefully. This is not a total pain free experience, but the dr and these boards for my so hyped on how horrible this would feel.

Not sure if the pain will catch up to me tomorrow or the next few days. With my luck it will! But to be honest , the pain that was described to me by the dr is nowhere near what I'm experiencing.but the surgery was over 9hours ago.

Just sharing my experience.

mr1344 · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 23

About to leave the hospital. Pain is very very tolerable. Only hurts when I swallow, pain level at about a 7. Still shocked how good I feel. I slept really good last night. I did take the pain killers that the hospital offered. They prescribed me antibiotics and pain killer for home.

I know that the real test will be my next sleep study. I'll have to follow up with my dr on how soon I can schedule. But so far, feeling great.

Anyone else out there scared to death about the pain from the UPPP (like i was) my experience has been excellent. Glad I didn't chicken out.

Tracy · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 2019 Location: Minneapolis area

Keep us in the loop during your recovery. Laughing

I am one of those who had U3P back in 1990. Your tolerance for pain might be higher than mine, but for me it was excruciating pain - a 9 . Shocked

The first day or so, still on pain meds were not as bad as the following days when it got worse.

One suggestion for you - buy some popsicles - use them if needed to apply to the back of your throat to ease the pain. For me, it was more effective than any pain meds I was given.

As for follow up - don't schedule a return sleep study for at least 6 months to a year. You must go through a healing process. For most who have failed results with U3P, it has to do with the development of scar tissue....that takes some time to develop. Many people rush to have sleep study 2-3 months later and come out saying I AM CURED - but its usually a temporary situation.

mr1344 · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 23

Well, i'm back at work. I am not taking the lortab or whatever it is called anymore. Just taking Aleve. The most uncomfortable time since having the u3p done is during meals. I have been eating most normal foods, although i'm sure my Dr would not be happy to hear that. I am eating very very slowly, and like i said it is uncomfortable during meal times. Probably about a 6 or 7. During none meal time, maybe a 4. It hurts to yawn too. Ouch!I could have gone back to work last week, but didn't want to push it too much.

My follow up visit is 2 weeks from now. And sleep study in a couple months. I'll let you all know what the verdict is.!

mr1344 · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 23

I had the follow up sleep study last week. My ENT who did the UPP called me and sounded very suprised/shocked over the phone.

He told me the result of my previous sleep study from 2010.and my AHI then was in the low 20 something while sleeping on my back.

My new AHI from the sleep study said my AHI was 1.5 while sleeping on my back.. Anything under a 5 is not considered sleep apnea (according to my ENT).

Now I know things down the road could change, but at this point in time, things are great. the UPP was well worth it. Recovery was not half as bad as the DR or any posts I read about.

Dickman · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 430

do you have any side effect? like choking, swallowing difficulty.
was the surgery done traditional way (scalpel) or using new techniques like plasma, davinci etc?

mr1344 · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 23

No nasel reflux at all. Thank god! I was really worried about that. I did experiance nasel reflux twice, but this was only 2 days after the surgery, and I was drinking water a little too quickly. No chocking or anything. Although if something ends up going down "the wrong pipe",,,,i've noticed my couching is a bit more intense then it used to be...I can't say anything is going down the wrong pipe more often then before.

Now that I am mostly healed.....I drink the same way I used to, never worried about nasel reflux at all.

I'm not really sure what technique my Dr. used...i assum scalpel? Not too sure.