Sleep Apnea: CPAP mask vs Surgery

AfroCubanFunkMa · #1 07-18-2011, 09:19 AM

So I'm going for a sleep study and based on my wife's and my bandmates observations I most likely have sleep apnea.. Doc says I should try the mask but I don't care for the idea of using a machine to breathe right every night for the rest of my life.. That said, the surgery option isn't ideal either.. Up to two weeks to recover from removal of tonsils/adnoids and the real kicker is that it'll probably change my voice.. I sing quite a bit these days..

Any thoughts from the collective wisdom of TB? Any singers who've had the surgery? Did it change your voice for the better or ruin your tone?

Quickie · #2 07-18-2011, 09:46 AM

I had the operation and I use a cpap at 13 psi. I'm not a singer, (backups only) but it seemed to give me a higher pitch. I had my adenoids, uvula and tonsils all removed at the age of 48. Make darn sure that's what you want. Extreme pain for weeks.

hover · #3 07-18-2011, 09:58 AM

Look into the "Pillar" procedure. It's what I'm doing as CPAP was an utter failure for me.

good luck.
Ron

Smokin' Toaster · #4 07-18-2011, 10:00 AM

Go for the CPAP machine. I was a poster boy for the “I can’t possibly sleep with that damn thing on my face”, but after the 2nd night of the sleep study, where they actually put one on me in order to determine the ideal pressure for me, I was convinced. I remember laying down with the mask and the first few minutes I was thinking “I have to get this off, I can’t handle it” but then I basically had a conversation with myself. I told myself that thousands of people sleep with a CPAP every night and it hasn’t killed anyone yet, so quit yer bitchin’ and go to sleep. And I did. And the next morning I felt like I was on stimulants or speed or something, because I had FINALLY got a night of rest I was rejuvenated. Try the CPAP. If you don’t like it you can get the surgery. It’s easy to undo the CPAP, you just stop using it. They can’t reattach your tonsils, uvula, and any other tissue that might have to be removed in the surgery. If you want to talk about it with someone who’s been there and had great results, PM me and I’ll give you my phone number. Good luck, my friend, and I hope you have the same great results that I got.

sloasdaylight · #5 07-18-2011, 10:03 AM

Use the machine. My dad had surgery to remove his uvula and he's been having all sorts of issues swallowing and eating since.

AfroCubanFunkMa · #6 07-18-2011, 10:17 AM

Thanks guys, definitely helps hearing about your experiences.. As always the wisdom of TB is its' greatest asset..

tastybasslines · #7 07-18-2011, 10:20 AM

I'm curious...OP and the rest of the people on this thread who have it...are you overweight?

AfroCubanFunkMa · #8 07-18-2011, 10:26 AM

I could stand to lose some weight and that's part of the plan as well but I've had this all my life, even when I was a svelt 170 lbs.. Just never bothered to do anything about it..

Smokin' Toaster · #9 07-18-2011, 10:40 AM

Yep. My doctor swears that if I lose weight I could lose the CPAP. I'm about 245, 6ft. Screw the charts, If I were 215-220 I'd be at my ideal. If I weighed 180 or whatever the charts say I'd be more unhealthy than I am now.

hover · #10 07-18-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

I'm curious...OP and the rest of the people on this thread who have it...are you overweight?

Let's put this to rest right now. Well, until the next thread.

Yes, that is A factor, but it's not THE factor.

If you have a narrow airway, you could suffer from it.

An excess of soft tissue in a general area...could have it.

Not all fat people have sleep apnea, and not all sleep apnea sufferers are fat.

MJ5150 · #11 07-18-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

I'm curious...OP and the rest of the people on this thread who have it...are you overweight?

Yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

Yes, that is A factor, but it's not THE factor.

Thank you. I visited with my cardiologist last week as I have begun a weight training program, and he let me know I will need to continue wearing the machine even after I drop a bunch of weight. My weight is making the problem worse, but it is still there.

-Mike

tastybasslines · #12 07-18-2011, 11:53 AM

I know 2 people who have it and are both overweight...must be a big factor even though it's not THEEE factor.

MJ5150 · #13 07-18-2011, 11:56 AM

Well of course, since you know two people who use a CPAP.

-Mike

hover · #14 07-18-2011, 12:02 PM

That's an open and shut study right there. 2 people = 200% accurate, right?

hover · #15 07-18-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Yes.

Thank you. I visited with my cardiologist last week as I have begun a weight training program, and he let me know I will need to continue wearing the machine even after I drop a bunch of weight. My weight is making the problem worse, but it is still there.

-Mike

Going through the same thing.

bassguppy · #16 07-18-2011, 12:26 PM

Many overweight people tend to have sleep apnea as with weight gain it only makes sense that you also "fatten" up areas of your throat & windpipe. When sleeping, these areas relax thereby creating a barrier that makes it difficult to breathe.

I had a gastric bypass in November 2010. Pretty drastic undertaking since normal modes of weight loss were never successful. Went from 290lbs to 195lbs and no longer have sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, my joints are no longer in pain, I'm more energetic so I can now work out several days a week and I feel better about my appearance.

EscapeNote · #17 07-18-2011, 12:38 PM

Funny that this thread should come up. I'm going in for a sleep study tomorrow night.

Like the OP, my wife (every night) and bandmates (when sharing a room on the road) have told me about the many strange sounds I make when sleeping. I think they're all lying, of course...

I went to a neurologist recently to deal with some shoulder/neck issues - yes, bass playing related - and was a bit surprised when the neurologist recommended that I go see a Sleep Doc (other symptoms, not just because of the neck/shoulder issues).

Sleep Doc says I most likely have apnea, tomorrow's test will likely confirm. I don't think I'd want the surgery, especially after reading some of the posts above. Good to read what Smokin Toaster had to say about the mask, even though I'm a bit nervous about it...

And, no, I'm not overweight - 5"7", 140 lbs.

tastybasslines · #18 07-18-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

That's an open and shut study right there. 2 people = 200% accurate, right?

No, I said "I know 2 people who have it and are both overweight...must be a big factor even though it's not THEEE factor."

"Must be a big factor"...and it seems to be. So far most of the guys on this thread who have it are overweight, in addition to the people I know...so 5 out of 6?

Mike M. · #19 07-18-2011, 12:56 PM

I'm a definate candidate for a sleep study. I can't begin to remember the last time when I woke and felt refresed and raring to go. I'm not overweight...weigh about 180 and since I sleep alone I have no idea of what goes on when I sleep.

One of my brothers had sleep apnea, went in for the study and also wound up with the mask. He said it took a few to try to get not only the levels right, but to try to get use to the mask. But he said he sleeps good now.

I know how you feel. Good luck to you. Let us know how the study turned out.

funkytoe · #20 07-18-2011, 01:06 PM

I've been doing this in stages since my 20's.

First, I have snored all my life -- as did my Dad, Uncles, Grandfather, etc. They all got CPAP's later in life. I did my best to avoid it.

At 28, I had a turbinectomy. That's where they take a laser and burn the excess tissue in your nostrils to open those passages. Quick out-patient procedure. Did not hurt (after they coat your nose with something suspiciously like a liquid cocaine). Breathing was a little easier (at least that's what I told myself). Did not help the snoring all that much.

In my mid 30's I had the surgery -- complete roto-rooter -- tonsils, uvula, and adenoids. Hurt for about a week. Like swallowing glass or a really bad strep throat. But, after I healed, my wife says I was quiet as a baby -- for the first couple of years or so after the surgery.

Then, as I started to gain weight, the snoring came back. Not the apnea, but the snoring. Also noticed alot more problems with ear aches and sinus issues. You sinuses drain different after the surgery. If you are prone to sinus issues, you may want to think twice. These earaches HURT.'

Now, more than 10 years and 25 pounds heavier, the snoring is back, and so is the apnea.

I did another sleep study last year and finally relented and got the CPAP. Still hate that damn thing. Requires you to sleep on your back, which I have always disliked. At times you feel like your suffocating and at other times your walking into 50 mile an hour winds. I seem less rested when I use it than when I don't.

Personally, I think weight does have the most to do with it. If I were a skinny man who snored, I would get the surgery -- get rid of the excess tissue and get on with your life. But, having already exhausted all the options, my only real choice is to get used to a CPAP for the rest of my life or lose about 25 pounds see if I can get back to where I was right after the surgery.

For me, I am going to try the weight loss route. I really think that is the key. And if I am wrong, at least I'll look better after the weight loss and then I can resume using the CPAP. But, at least for me, all snoring/apnea treatments are a lose/lose proposition.