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Sleep Apnoeics in the News
Currently, there are a couple of well-known 'Sleep Apnoeacs' in the news.
Ed Milliband resorted to surgery for treatment for his Sleep Apnoea: Big mistake! The latest reports (from the Beeb) suggest the op. was not a success. Ed had, and I suppose, still has, a deviated septum, causing his OSA. There have been a number of cruel aspertions cast in Ed's direction, mostly saying he has had the operation to make his voice sound more assertive and confident. But to submit to surgery, if that is the sole purpose is really a step too far, don't you think?
Whatever your political views, Ed Milliband has picked up a poisoned chalice in assuming the Labour Party leadership. Whatever he proposes, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't: he finds himself in an impossible position, as the art-mistress said to the gym-instructor. He sets about curing his Sleep Apnoea, and it hasn't worked.
Surgery, in my opinion, should be the very last resort in treating Sleep Apnoea, but I feel sure other members here will disagree with that. It's irreversible, it cannot be undone, which means if it hasn't done the trick, you can't go back to the drawing-board and try again.
And the other Sleep Apnoeac? None other than Mike Tindall, Captain of the England Rugby Team, now husband of the redoubtable Zara Phillips and son-in-law of the Princess Royal. As if that were not enough, he, too, has a deviated septum, in fact, if his photograph on the cover of this month's Readers Digest is anything to go by, it's more like a doubled-over septum!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on
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I just hope that Ed Miliband has a sleep study done once his nose has settled down after the op to see if he still has sleep apnoea, and not just assume the treatment's worked. Removing the tonsils and adenoids out in children does often cure their sleep apnoea, but it does tend to come back in later life. Therefore, I doubt that the removal of Ed's adenoids has cured his apnoeas. Regarding his deviated septum operation, I had the same procedure (plus surgery on my enlarged turbinates) back in April. No way did I have this as a cure for OSA, but to make my CPAP therapy better and more comfortable - which it has! I've been a mouth breather all my life through nasal problems so it's wonderful to now be able to breathe through my nose. Having said that, I still do have to remind myself constantly to breathe through my nose, as mouthbreathing's obviously become a habit, but as this improves I'm hoping to try a nasal mask instead of the full face.
Lots of people go in for operations to try to cure their OSA, but the success rate is not good. Whilst often it can appear to have cured them initially, the symptoms usually return.
There are several other operations I could try, and in fact my surgeon wanted to cut away at my large soft palate, but NO WAY would I let him, and nor will I be putting myself through unnecessary painful surgery when CPAP does it's job. I've spoken to too many people who have had failed surgery, and also who've managed to cure one problem and cause another. Dr Park's as most of you will know, is a very proficient Ear Nose + Throat Specialist in New York, and even he tries to get his patients on CPAP before turning to surgery. In fact it was him who advised me not to let my surgeon anywhere near my soft palate unless I was having my jaw re-aligned as well - yikes!
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Permalink Reply by Sally Gould on
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I think Ed Miliband is very brave to have this Op to cure his sleep Apnoea as are you Kath. The main thing I find that it is , at the moment, brought into public discussion from which other sufferers, and people who undiagnosed, get to understand what it is and that there IS help available., even if you dont want to take it. I do know that if you are diagnosed and drive for your living then you have to use a CPAP machine. That is what I was told anyway.
I would be interested to know what you mean by a sleep study. I dont know if I had one. Now I am diagnosed I find I dont have any doctor to discuss problems I am having. The hospital check my machine but that is basically all that happens. What are other sufferers experiences?
Kath Hope said:
I just hope that Ed Miliband has a sleep study done once his nose has settled down after the op to see if he still has sleep apnoea, and not just assume the treatment's worked. Removing the tonsils and adenoids out in children does often cure their sleep apnoea, but it does tend to come back in later life. Therefore, I doubt that the removal of Ed's adenoids has cured his apnoeas. Regarding his deviated septum operation, I had the same procedure (plus surgery on my enlarged turbinates) back in April. No way did I have this as a cure for OSA, but to make my CPAP therapy better and more comfortable - which it has! I've been a mouth breather all my life through nasal problems so it's wonderful to now be able to breathe through my nose. Having said that, I still do have to remind myself constantly to breathe through my nose, as mouthbreathing's obviously become a habit, but as this improves I'm hoping to try a nasal mask instead of the full face.
Lots of people go in for operations to try to cure their OSA, but the success rate is not good. Whilst often it can appear to have cured them initially, the symptoms usually return.
There are several other operations I could try, and in fact my surgeon wanted to cut away at my large soft palate, but NO WAY would I let him, and nor will I be putting myself through unnecessary painful surgery when CPAP does it's job. I've spoken to too many people who have had failed surgery, and also who've managed to cure one problem and cause another. Dr Park's as most of you will know, is a very proficient Ear Nose + Throat Specialist in New York, and even he tries to get his patients on CPAP before turning to surgery. In fact it was him who advised me not to let my surgeon anywhere near my soft palate unless I was having my jaw re-aligned as well - yikes!
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A Sleep Study is just another name for the Sleep Test I hope you had when you were first diagnosed. Some people go into hospital overnight to get wired up and their sleep patterns checked, and some people have a home study where they bring the equipment home and wire themselves up.
In our area, the doctor discharges us to the Sleep Unit and we have a team of nurses/physiologists who then look after us. They see us once a year to check the machines, but do also want to know how we're getting on. If there are any problems they can't sort then the refer us back to the doctor who gave us the diagnosis. The service here is very good, as they want people to contact them if they have any problems before their yearly check-up and will always make an appointment for them.
Sally Gould said:
I think Ed Miliband is very brave to have this Op to cure his sleep Apnoea as are you Kath. The main thing I find that it is , at the moment, brought into public discussion from which other sufferers, and people who undiagnosed, get to understand what it is and that there IS help available., even if you dont want to take it. I do know that if you are diagnosed and drive for your living then you have to use a CPAP machine. That is what I was told anyway.
I would be interested to know what you mean by a sleep study. I dont know if I had one. Now I am diagnosed I find I dont have any doctor to discuss problems I am having. The hospital check my machine but that is basically all that happens. What are other sufferers experiences?
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