UPPP Surgery

[nervous15]

I am a 59 Year Old Woman with HTN (controlled except for anxiety), High Cholesterol (controlled), acid reflux, Hiatal Hernia (small), IBS, and severe anxiety..  I also have sleep apnea, cholking, gaging, daytime sleepiness.  I had a sleep study done and was found to stop breathing about 16 times an hour.  I tried to go on the air pressure devices with no adaptation.  I want to live a productive life, at least the rest of it, like a normal human being.  I went to see an ENT dr who placed a scope down my nose on each side.  After evaluation he stated that I am a good candidate for UPPP sureery....so I have scheduled it for next month.    I am sooooo scared because I have read nothing good about this surgery.  On the other hand I know younger people that have had it and they say they dont regret it....OMG could someone shed some light for me.   The surgeon I have comes highly recomended.

How safe is the anesthesia...even if it is only for 1-1/2 hours?  How about the recovery period...somebody help


Nervous15

[Suri123]

Hi nervous15, how are you? I do understand how anxious you might be as scheduled for a surgery in coming month but do relax and let the surgery be done to releive your symptoms. This is a "surgical procedure used to remove tissue in the throat" you may get more info at this link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPPP

It is common to be nervous, you need to speak with your doctor to be rest assured.
Take care and share your thoughts.

[Suri123]

Hi nervous15, how are you doing? I hope you are now relaxing a bit and both mentally-physicall getting prepared to get operated as days are near enough. Relax! it would be just a procedure and nothing to worry much. Have you update your primary physician of the date of operation? Also have you taken an prior appointment with the attending surgeon to discuss the issue you had in mind about the surgery? Hope to hear from you. Take care and update on your progress.

[KatEyes]

Hi. You've been doing your homework, which is good. I believe any surgery should be approached with full knowledge and understanding. However, ignorance is bliss, because the more we know the more we tend to worry.

I have not had that surgery, but have 3 acquaintances who have. Their apnea was quite severe. They all had it done several years ago when the procedure routinely included total removal of the uvula, and that caused all of them some ongoing problems with management of sinus drainage and swallowing. Now it is more common to modify the uvula rather than remove it, so please talk to your doctor about his plans for that part of the procedure.

All 3 of those I know still had symptoms of remaining sleep apnea afterward. One has now added an oral device to help with it. The others are considering giving the cpap machine another try. The rate of success for the surgery "curing" sleep apnea seems to be tied to how severe the apnea was in the first place.

Most report the recovery to be rough the first several days, but not unbearable. Your apnea does not appear to be too severe, so maybe you'll be one of the ones who actually gets a cure from the surgery. If you are really worried about doing the surgery, maybe you'd like to reconsider trying to use the cpap first. I don't think you'd want to go thru surgery and maybe still have to use one to be healthy again. Ask your doctor the stats on on total cure for people with your degree of sleep apnea, and do some research on your own.

Usually not being able to adjust to cpap treatment is because it was not given enough time and/or enough attention from the provider with trialing different masks until one is found that works. I too gave up and quit cpap for a few months, but when I tried again it was with the support of a forum of cpap users. Now I am totally adjusted and forget I even have the thing on.

When you read online all the negative things about any surgery it is good to take heed. However, do consider that only those who had a problem make their way to an internet forum to state their case. All the "happy customers" are somewhere busy going on with their lives, so the info you're reading is likely very slanted and not representative of the big picture.

I do suggest that at some point in the future if you experience daytime sleepiness you get retested to make sure your sleep is healthy. Sleep apnea is too serious to make assumptions. Best wishes in resolving yours.

[Suri123]

Hi nervous15, how are you doing? Hi KatEyes, thanks for having shared some of your valuable thoughts. Yes, i do agree with you saying to know as much information as possible regarding the operative procedure to be undergoing so that the one need not be too worried upon operation. Success rate and no complication after surgery varies from individual to individual, so considering one odd person experience is not much significance. It is better to speak to surgeon himself. Thanks for info and Take care.