Surgery for OSA
Question:
About three years ago, I went to Stanford (Drs. Riley & Powell) for a revision of my previous "conservative" UPPP, plus a hyoid suspension and myoglossus advancement. I was very impressed by their research articles and meeting presentations, and even by them personally–but unfortunately, the surgery didn’t work. I have repeatedly contemplated going back for their "stage 3" surgery–maxillomandibular advancement–but my current sleep doctor, also a very reputable person (Richard Millman) has convinced me to make more of an all-out try to optimize CPAP first, with careful pressure adjustments, weight loss, etc, and I am hoping more surgery won’t be necessary. Both surgeries were quite painful to recover from, and for the day or two I spent in the hospital after the second one, I even found myself wishing I "hadn’t made it" through the surgery! Kerrin WHite
Response:
Hi, Ron, I don’t have personal experience with sleep apnea, but am a medical writer who has coauthored a book on sleep apnea (see my signature line). The book contains detailed information on the surgical procedures for treating sleep apnea. From researching the medical literature for the book, I am familiar with the name and reputation of your surgeon, Riley. He pioneered several types of surgery to treat sleep apnea. I don’t think you could possibly be in better hands. Best wishes, Sally in Seattle (JSo…@aol.com) Coauthor, with Dr. Ralph Pascualy, of Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Personal and Family Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment, published in 1996 by Demos Vermande, NY. Available through bookstores, ISBN # 0-939957-82-5.
Response:
Sally, For dummy beginners like myself: Could you please give some rough info on what type surgeries have worked for what kind of patients? I think CPAP is probably wonderful for the pretty types who have faces that the masks fit, but we ogres are *very* interested in possible surgical alternatives. BTW, I have ordered Phantom and will order your book ASAP now that I have the ISDN. A well-educated consumer is his/her own best self-defense. Thanks for past and future wisdom! eric pearson er…@mindspring.com On 10 Sep 1997 23:44:04 GMT, jso…@aol.com (JSoest) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi, Ron, >I don’t have personal experience with sleep apnea, but am a medical writer >who has coauthored a book on sleep apnea (see my signature line). The book >contains detailed information on the surgical procedures for treating sleep >apnea. >From researching the medical literature for the book, I am familiar with >the name and reputation of your surgeon, Riley. He pioneered several types >of surgery to treat sleep apnea. I don’t think you could possibly be in >better hands. >Best wishes, >Sally in Seattle (JSo…@aol.com) >Coauthor, with Dr. Ralph Pascualy, of Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Personal >and Family Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment, published in 1996 by >Demos Vermande, NY. Available through bookstores, ISBN # 0-939957-82-5.
Response:
Hi Ron!! Dr Riley, and his partners seem be at the top of thier field. I was diagnosed at Stanford with OSA, but due to insurance reasons….. I had my UPPP in San Jose with another ENT (he was pretty good, but it alone did not "cure" my apnea). Since then, after changing insurance companies,…. I had a tongue advancement and hyoid suspension, performed by one of Dr Riley’s associates on September 2nd. The good news is, so far everything is going to plan, and I’m feeling pretty good. I’m still on CPAP but at a lower pressure. (yeah!!) The bottom line is, like with anything else, there is risk, and each person’s problems and solutions are different, but at least you seem to be in "competent" hands. Maybe, I’ll see you at Stanford, I’ll be going in for "23 hour" stay for nasal surgery on September 15th. Feel free to look me up at Stanford or E Mail me directly. Good Luck! Bruce Reynolds reynol…@apple.com In article <5uv7ki$25…@newsd-111.bryant.webtv.net>, ronb…@webtv.net – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(Ron Messina) wrote: > –WebTV-Mail-2061435397-13053 > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT > I have been diagnosed with severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. My apnea is > so severe CPAP does not work. I found a reconstuctive surgeon, Dr. > Robert Riley of Standford University, Palo Alto, Ca. who specializes in > severe OSA cases, and will correct my problem by performing a series of > surgeries involving the removal of the Uvula, partial removal of the > soft palate (UPPP), tongue advancement, and possible jaw advancement. > Before these surgeries I need a tracheostomy as a safeguard in case > there is swelling during and after the surgery. My tracheostomy is > scheduled for Sept. 16 and the UPPP will be scheduled for Sept. 29. > Is there anybody out there who has or had a similar case of severe > OSA and has undergone one of the surgeries mentioned above. I would > appreciate your input regarding your experiences with these surgeries > and whether the surgery has helped eliminate the OSA. All other kinds of > support will be greatly appreciated too. Thanks–Ron Messina > –WebTV-Mail-2061435397-13053 > Content-Description: signature > Content-Type: TEXT/HTML; CHARSET=US-ASCII > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT > <html> > <script language="Javascript"> > <!– > document.bgColor="#oooooo" > document.fgColor="#33ffff" > //–> > </script> <img
src="http://members.tripod.com/~webtv20/notes4.gif"align=right> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/~webtv1/palmtree.gif"align=left> <embed src="http://www.vipxlnet.com/menu-jazz/divers/take5.mid"autostart=true> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> </html> > –WebTV-Mail-2061435397-13053–
Response:
In article <5valcr$7h…@news.wco.com>, "Mr. Bear" <"Bears Eat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Spamer’s"@Don’t Spam Me.Never> wrote: > x-no-archive: yes > reynol…@apple.com wrote: > > Hi Ron!! > > Dr Riley, and his partners seem be at the top of thier field. > > I was diagnosed at Stanford with OSA, but due to insurance reasons….. I > > had my UPPP in San Jose with another ENT (he was pretty good, but it alone > > did not "cure" my apnea). > Hi Bruce: you are the first one that I have seen on the newsgroup that > has had the "Stanford Phase 1" surgery, besides myself. > Do you you have a hideous 3 inch long scar from the hyoid suspension?
Well yes, and no, I do have a 3" scar, but it’s only about 1/4" wide and not very noticable. > > Since then, after changing insurance companies,…. I had a tongue > > advancement and hyoid suspension, performed by one of Dr Riley’s > > associates on September 2nd. The good news is, so far everything is going > > to plan, and I’m feeling pretty good. I’m still on CPAP but at a lower > > pressure. (yeah!!) > Boy……..Two months after my surgery, I was on top of the world. I > was even off CPAP for the first time in 5 years! :~) Six months later, > it was a WHOLE different ball-game! :~( I was on a PSV ventilator > with an apnea index of 60+
Thanks for this information, I will be looking for changes in the future. Hopefully my improvement will last. > One of Dr. Riley’s "trainees" did my surgery too.
My surgery was performed by one of Dr. Riley’s partnerns, not one of his "trainees". > > The bottom line is, like with anything else, there is risk, and each > > person’s problems and solutions are different, but at least you seem to be > > in "competent" hands. > Yupp………Just like Allstate!!!!!
You got that right! No – 3 year, 30,000 mile garuntee…….. > > Maybe, I’ll see you at Stanford, I’ll be going in for "23 hour" stay for > > nasal surgery on September 15th. Feel free to look me up at Stanford or E > > Mail me directly. > Good luck gentlemen, you won’t ever be seeing me at Stanford again!!!!
Mr Bear, I’m truely sorry that you had such a bad experience, but CPAP/BPAP just wasn’t working for me, so this seemed to be my best option… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Ron and Bruce……..I sincerely wish both of you the best. I hope > your surgeries bring you the relief that I so desperately needed, and > failed to achieve. Please keep us posted. > ……….Mr. Bear………………………………………….. > > Good Luck! > > Bruce Reynolds > > reynol…@apple.com
Response:
In article <5vd0ae$pu…@news.wco.com>, "Mr. Bear" <"Bears Eat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Spamer’s"@Don’t Spam Me.Never> wrote: > x-no-archive: yes > > > reynol…@apple.com wrote: > > > > Hi Ron!! > > > > Dr Riley, and his partners seem be at the top of thier field. > > > > I was diagnosed at Stanford with OSA, but due to insurance reasons….. I > > > > had my UPPP in San Jose with another ENT (he was pretty good, but it alone > > > > did not "cure" my apnea). > > > Hi Bruce: you are the first one that I have seen on the newsgroup that > > > has had the "Stanford Phase 1" surgery, besides myself. > > > Do you you have a hideous 3 inch long scar from the hyoid suspension? > > Well yes, and no, I do have a 3" scar, but it’s only about 1/4" wide and > > not very noticable. > Hi Bruce: > I am very glad to hear that your incision healed properly. Mine is > almost 1" wide and protudes outward about 1/2 inch from the surface. It > also hurts constantly. I am now facing further surgery to fix this > little "problem". > > > > Since then, after changing insurance companies,…. I had a tongue > > > > advancement and hyoid suspension, performed by one of Dr Riley’s > > > > associates on September 2nd. The good news is, so far everything is going > > > > to plan, and I’m feeling pretty good. I’m still on CPAP but at a lower > > > > pressure. (yeah!!) > > > Boy……..Two months after my surgery, I was on top of the world. I > > > was even off CPAP for the first time in 5 years! :~) Six months later, > > > it was a WHOLE different ball-game! :~( I was on a PSV ventilator > > > with an apnea index of 60+ > > Thanks for this information, I will be looking for changes in the future. > > Hopefully my improvement will last. > Bruce, I sincerely hope your surgery "lasts", and that you continue to > improve! :~)
I hope so too, but time will tell, and I won’t find out if I’m cured for another 3-6 months. > I was told that some insurance companies will not pay for Dr. Riley at > Stanford because they consider his fee to be excessive and the surgery > itself "Experimental", and of questionable value/success. > > > One of Dr. Riley’s "trainees" did my surgery too. > > My surgery was performed by one of Dr. Riley’s partnerns, not one of his > > "trainees". > Was it Dr. Powell?
Actually, the surgery was done by Dr Troell, and assisted by either Dr Riley or Dr Powell, I forget which. > > > > The bottom line is, like with anything else, there is risk, and each > > > > person’s problems and solutions are different, but at least you seem to be > > > > in "competent" hands. > > > Yupp………Just like Allstate!!!!! > > You got that right! No – 3 year, 30,000 mile garuntee…….. > AMEN!!!!! No warrenty, expressed or implied. Your mileage may vary! > No refunds or exchanges!
I’ve got my fingers crossed….. > > > > Maybe, I’ll see you at Stanford, I’ll be going in for "23 hour" stay for > > > > nasal surgery on September 15th. Feel free to look me up at Stanford or E > > > > Mail me directly. > Are you doing a septum and/or turbinate surgery?
I’m going in for both the septum and the turbinate job. > > > Good luck gentlemen, you won’t ever be seeing me at Stanford again!!!! > > Mr Bear, I’m truely sorry that you had such a bad experience, but > > CPAP/BPAP just wasn’t working for me, so this seemed to be my best > > option… > I hear you Bruce…..I was in the exact same situation that you > were…….And I rolled the dice and lost. I hope you guys both come up > winners!!!!!!! :~)
Thanks for all of the suport, I’ll keep you updated. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > > Ron and Bruce……..I sincerely wish both of you the best. I hope > > > your surgeries bring you the relief that I so desperately needed, and > > > failed to achieve. Please keep us posted. > > > ……….Mr. Bear………………………………………….. > > > > Good Luck! > > > > Bruce Reynolds > > > > reynol…@apple.com > …………..Mr. Bear…………………………………………
Response:
I am posting a second time because I forgot to disable the Html and Javacript in the signature of my e-mail. Sorry about this. I have been diagnosed with severe OSA– CPAP did not work. I will have to undergo reconstructive sugery on my throat (UPPP), and tongue and jaw advancement, but first I will need a tracheostomy as a safeguard during and after sugery. Is there anybody who has had one of these surgical procedures and can tell me whether it was successful. My trachesotomy is scheduled for Sept. 16, and the UPPP is scheduled for Sept. 29. Thanks–Ron Messina <hxml> <script language="Javascript"> <!– document.bgColor="#oooooo" document.fgColor="#33ffff" //–> </script> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/~webtv20/notes4.gif"align=right> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/~webtv1/palmtree.gif"align=left> <embed src="http://www.vipxlnet.com/menu-jazz/divers/take5.mid"autostart=true> </hxml>
Response:
–WebTV-Mail-2061435397-13053 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT I have been diagnosed with severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. My apnea is so severe CPAP does not work. I found a reconstuctive surgeon, Dr. Robert Riley of Standford University, Palo Alto, Ca. who specializes in severe OSA cases, and will correct my problem by performing a series of surgeries involving the removal of the Uvula, partial removal of the soft palate (UPPP), tongue advancement, and possible jaw advancement. Before these surgeries I need a tracheostomy as a safeguard in case there is swelling during and after the surgery. My tracheostomy is scheduled for Sept. 16 and the UPPP will be scheduled for Sept. 29. Is there anybody out there who has or had a similar case of severe OSA and has undergone one of the surgeries mentioned above. I would appreciate your input regarding your experiences with these surgeries and whether the surgery has helped eliminate the OSA. All other kinds of support will be greatly appreciated too. Thanks–Ron Messina –WebTV-Mail-2061435397-13053 Content-Description: signature Content-Type: TEXT/HTML; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT <html> <script language="Javascript"> <!– document.bgColor="#oooooo" document.fgColor="#33ffff" //–> </script> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/~webtv20/notes4.gif"align=right> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/~webtv1/palmtree.gif"align=left> <embed src="http://www.vipxlnet.com/menu-jazz/divers/take5.mid"autostart=true> </html> –WebTV-Mail-2061435397-13053–
