Inspire Implant : My Journey

[SedonaDreaming]

Malloc, are you still around? It's been quite a while for you to share information from your Inspire journey. 

I have lived the last 5 years in complete denial of my supposed sleep apnea (just think I am a snore whore...hehe), had bad experience with in-lab study. Next week, i will either prove or disprove my theory as I have been snoring more than ever, despite position and saw ENT. He wants a 2 night home study, wants to move towards Inspire (as I have failed mouth guards, dont tolerate CPAP well and now has me on Clonazepam to try to tolerate the machine better--something about parasomnia). I feel like I am turning into an emotional grumpy Gus taking these benzos to use the CPAP that I am not convinced I really need. 

In case I am completely off my rocker (quite possible) and actually do have a decent case of OSA, I am doing due-diligence researching Inspire..good/bad/ugly. 

I have a curiosity about the treatment that I can't seem to get answered and it's whether while the hypoglossal nerve is stimulated, is it stim'd high enough to cause your tongue to stick out of your mouth when activated? I would think that would disrupt sleep. I have read that it can be a tingling/zapping and sore feeling. Just curious of the actual tongue mechanics with this thing. 

I would enjoy hearing anything and all you have to offer regarding your experience since your last update here.

Thanks!
Jen

[JC407]

I tried really hard to adjust to being shocked while sleeping for two years but the pain and lack of sleep were too much. My neck, ribs, and shoulder constantly hurt and I couldn’t even do yoga.

I had my Inspire implant removed and would not recommend that anyone get such an invasive procedure! The removal was horrible because of the scare tissue build up around the lead connecting to the nerves in my neck . I now have permanent disfigurement and scarring .

Since the removal the pain around my ribs and shoulder have stopped but I still have discomfort in my neck.

[MrFurley32]

I hope your journey with Inspire has been better than mine. I had it implanted in 2020, used it for a few weeks but got fed up with the constant stimulation of my throat while sleeping. This is a horrible feeling. Inspire constantly stimulates as opposed to turning off and on when it detects the need. I slept better with nothing by far over Inspire. I have made several calls to my ENT to inquire about removal with zero response. This is the absolute worst decision I ever made and all of this after being told I was an ‘ideal’ candidate for Inspire. They did try many settings but once you wake up feeling a pinching in your throat on a 5 second loop it is VERY difficult to get back to sleep. Do your research. This is not for everyone and I honestly believe it is not for most people.

[cronkster]

Thanks, McFurley32
I was qualified for the Inspire also but decided against it.  Although CPAP can be a trial, what with all the messing around with different masks and settings, Inspire has a lot of downsides and it doesn't solve all apnea causes other than tongue collapse.  And it doesn't even solve that adequately in some cases, I don't think.  It seems really invasive, both with reference to the operation itself but also considering the titration and adjustment and the way it interferes with your nerve every few seconds.
I read that they consider an AHI of less than 10 to be a success for Inspire, but CPAP can achieve that for a lot of people.
Inspire may be a case of 'follow the money'.   Costs nearly 30K for it to be implanted and titrated.
Anyway, I know I'm just blabbing without much detail here, but deciding on Inspire sort of requires coalescing lots of disparate little considerations.  For me they told me to stay with trying to refine the way I use CPAP instead.

[MrFurley32]

I think you are doing the right thing. Inspire really bothered me and I would not recommend it at all based on my experience. Surgery and recovery was very easy but when we began to actually use it I was completely blindsided by the constant stimulation and never got to a ‘therapeutic’ state with it. Way too invasive in my opinion. If anyone decides to go that route ask a lot of questions and know that it does not turn off until your turn it off. I was totally disturbed while sleeping with it on and will not use it again.

[Crimson Nape]

This is just me, but I don't like the idea of having something implanted in me. Especially if that device has a lithium-ion battery. . . Afterall, what could possibly go wrong?

- Red

[cronkster]

Yes, that's one of the several little nagging considerations I was thinking of that all go into rejecting this gizmo.
Or how about the fact that I don't feel the size of the module is small enough.  I think they could have done better in shrinking it. Perhaps by having the power come from outside the body.

[MrFurley32]

I agree @crimsonnape. Never considered the downside because I was blindsided by the positive of Inspire. I rushed into something I regret 100%. I don’t know how anyone would be able to use it and not be sleep deprived and upset with their decision. I only posted in the hopes that someone would second guess a quick decision and learn from my experiences. Haven’t even turned it on in 18 months and the sooner I can get it out the better.

[MrFurley32]

I agree @crimsonnape. Never considered the downside because I was blindsided by the positive of Inspire. I rushed into something I regret 100%. I don’t know how anyone would be able to use it and not be sleep deprived and upset with their decision. I only posted in the hopes that someone would second guess a quick decision and learn from my experiences. Haven’t even turned it on in 18 months and the sooner I can get it out the better.

[Marv8776]

I would like to know if Inspire has limited your physical activity. Golf, swimming, or any activity that involves a lot of arm and chest mobility.