Sleep Apnea and Lap Band Surgery

angel27 · December 17, 2007

Hi! I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea and i dont know whether to use lap band to alleviate my sleep apnea or to use UPPP or Radiodophrem (OSA surgery) to deal with the sleep apnea. My sleep doctor is saying that since i have severe sleep apnea there is a chance that even with the lap band it wouldnt help with my apnea. What do i do should i try the OSA surgery 1st or the lap band first:help::help:

lindaa · December 17, 2007

I'm assuming that you are already using CPAP. To my knowledge the OSA surgery is not all that effective. I am dealing with the weight issue first.

VegasGrace · December 17, 2007

What's causing the sleep apnea?

And is your weight a contributing factor? If so....there is your answer.

angel27 · December 18, 2007

My BMI is just 32 the bariatric surgeon just considered me as a candidate for lap band because i have sleep apnea already. I cant use CPAP because i always sleep in the ofc and i just cant see myself carrying it everytime i have to sleep and its really troublesome. My sleep doctor says that after my OSA surgery i will likely lose weight coz i hve to eat liquid foods after surgery but based on forums that ive been to they are saying that OSA surgery hurts like hell. I am just confused, which procedure is more invasive and which procedure is more effective for treating obesity and sleep apnea at the same time:faint:

Telecia · December 18, 2007

As someone who has had sleep apnea for 15 years now and been on many a forum and BB for it. The UPPP surgery doesn't have a very good success rate at all. And can be a tremendiously painfull surgery to recover from. Allot of surgeons wont even recomend it.. Getting the band and getting your weight under control will probably help WAY more then the UPPP surgery.

But you should consult a doctor that specificly treats sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Because there are many family doctors that don't truely understand sleep apnea.

Weedwoman · January 12, 2008

I agree with Telecia. A good sleep doctor/specialist is essential. I've used first CPAP then BIPAP for ten years, and do okay with that and determination, and some medication. Weight loss would help me a lot, but my sleep doc says it doesn't "cure" sleep apnea. Also depends on whether the apnea is obstructional or functional (central nervous system).

Good luck.

Weedwoman

minpinmom · January 12, 2008

I had severe sleep apnea years ago - and surgery was the only option, it was 100% successful - however it was a horrible recovery and I was only 18 years old when I had it. However, mine was so bad that it wasn't all due to weight - If I had lost weight it would have helped, but surgery was the only option. Go to the otolarynxologist and have them give you their opinion. If you have a choice, I would do lapband first, and see, let throat surgery was bad, they had to break my nose, remove my uvula, 70% of my soft palate, they even severed some of the nerves? around my vocal cords - they said I may have to go through speech therapy classes (I didn't have to) it took 3 months to recover. It was really rough.