[Treatment] Can nasal airway stent help UARS but not completely treat it?

[airwaystent]

Hi,

This is my first post on this forum. I came here to ask, because I was told you are all experts on sleep apnea and such

Question in the title. This is my first time sleeping with nasal airway stent and I was in a really nice mood when waking up, but still a bit tired and experienced that hypnic jerk type uncontrollable automatic breathing in the morning.

I woke up 3 times in the morning, there is no change on that but also I have snorelab and it didn't capture any snoring. I would always have snoring in my snorelab but today there wasn't. So I guess that's something. Also no stomach pain as usual in my mornings.

I will definitely keep testing with it, because I failed both cpap and mad device and I feel some notable improvement, but I am not certain that it is a complete treatment for my case.

Any thoughts?


PS: I have no sleep study done. An ENT told me I have deviated septum, but I didn't do anything about it because of surgery risks.

[BoxcarPete]

It's certainly possible. I used an MAD for a year, and stopped for two reasons. First, I felt the same way you feel, some improvement but never really completely better. Second, my dentist expressed concern about changes to my bite after using it for so long.

My wife similarly reports that with the MAD I didn't snore like I did without it, but I believe it to be insufficient as a treatment in my case. I would not be surprised at all if that was true for you as well with your nasal stent. That's why I joined up here, and my new CPAP is going to be delivered today so with the support of members here I can really do some closed-loop treatment for myself.

Just out of curiosity, why is it that you failed CPAP?

[airwaystent]

Just out of curiosity, why is it that you failed CPAP?

Initially it was promising but after 6 monhts of usage I developed intolerance to it and couldn't get to sleep with it. Also lack of improvement in life quality.
Also I think it made things worse overall, so I have a huge fear of these machines now.


Okay this is the 2nd time sleeping with the stent and it's really working.. I am so glad I found something that works.
First time in 1O years since I feel this way. This is huge. I have had anxiety for so long and it's so calming. I feel at peace.

My body definitely needs time to adjust, because I usually wake up 2-3 times a night and I always go back to sleep because I am so exhausted. But both today and yesterday since I am using the stent I pop open my eyes and can't go back to sleep because I am actually rested.

Shoutout to airway stents!

[SarcasticDave94]

Welcome to Apnea Board,

The CPAP failure may be due to lack of correct setup for you the individual, with a probable dose of improper doctor supervision. Of course, I don't know that to be absolutely certain, however most Apnea patients handed a CPAP are run on default or nearly so. And it's almost guaranteed to be less than ideal. The Auto devices still need tuned as well. Funny how the doctor that might not even use CPAP has a script he follows on how the CPAP must be run, even when it's cookie cutter. Sure, it'll work for a few, but is that good enough for all those that default isn't correct?

The devil's in the data, and we used data here to dictate setup. Default is almost never the right answer.

Just thought I'd mention it. Sorry I don't know anything about the stent or MAD beyond a short web search some time ago. However most cases that involve apnea therapy still has CPAP as the best answer.

[BoxcarPete]

Glad to hear that the airway stent is helping you.

Don't give up on CPAP forever, if your experience is anything like mine you may decide it is right for you after all some day in the future. I gave up on CPAP pretty quickly, after a while I went with the MAD and felt great at first, but after a year or so it became apparent to me that it was insufficient on its own to give me the sleep quality I needed.

I'm now back to CPAP with a new machine recommended by the membership here, working on tracking the actual results of my nights of sleep with the machine to make it serve me better. Stay open to it.

[airwaystent]

Today I was not able to sleep with the stent, because there are few issues.
First, the tube prevents my nose from heating and moisturing the air thus cold and dry air hits my lungs and I experience pain to the point where I fear I would harm my lungs if used long-term.
Second, the smaller tube works less effectively but the bigger one cause discomfort in my sinuses.

I am sad As i mentioned today slept without it. I snored the whole night and I am tired, anxious, and my stomach hurts.

I would opt in for alaxo stent but shipping takes 6O days? I really need a solution fast

EDIT: they just replied back and they don't even ship outside the USA. I guess they want to protect their product... They are really making a huge bank here, it makes sense..

What do I do now?

[G. Szabo]

EDIT: they just replied back and they don't even ship outside the USA. I guess they want to protect their product... They are really making a huge bank here, it makes sense..

What do I do now?

They accepted my stent order over two months ago, and I have been waiting for the delivery from the USA to Canada.

[subconscious]

Today I was not able to sleep with the stent, because there are few issues.
First, the tube prevents my nose from heating and moisturing the air thus cold and dry air hits my lungs and I experience pain to the point where I fear I would harm my lungs if used long-term.
Second, the smaller tube works less effectively but the bigger one cause discomfort in my sinuses.

I am sad :( As i mentioned today slept without it. I snored the whole night and I am tired, anxious, and my stomach hurts.

I would opt in for alaxo stent but shipping takes 6O days? I really need a solution fast

EDIT: they just replied back and they don't even ship outside the USA. I guess they want to protect their product... They are really making a huge bank here, it makes sense..

What do I do now?

Consider ballon dilation of the nasal passages. Also known as nasal release therapy and many other names. You’ll have to google to find them all. Myself and 7 others i know have had immediate results after one or several treatments for sleep improvement and anxiety. I recommend you complete the full course of treatment which is usually up to 10. 

Btw, partial improvements w a single intervention such as an mad or cpap is the more common outcome, not success w 1 intervention. You have to think of the airway like a building, and usually several structures have to become compromised for symptoms to push a patient to seeking help. Think of each intervention as a tool from the hardware store.

For instance,
A mad will help to move the jaw forward to remove the tonuge from the airway and prevent apneas w tongue obstruction and snoring. 
Weight loss will reduce the fat in the neck muscles narrowing the airway.
Nasal dilators or strips enlarged the nostrils to reduce resistance. 
Turbinate reduction and septoplasty fix obstructions in the nasal passage
Nasal release can also fix deviated structures and create symmetrical airflow through 
Nostrils which is necessary for anxiety mgmt. 1 good nostril is not good enough.
Transverse maxillary expanders and sagittal expanders remodel the oral cavity to improve resistance in the nose and pharynx respectively.
An orthothotic splint will reduce tmj and improve jaw pain which fractures sleep, and enlarges the pharynx. 
Myofunctional exercises strengthen tongue and retrain swallowing to move it from the bed of the jaw to the roof the mouth, preventing obstruction from a floppy tongue muscle.
A cpap uses pressure to push through all this w varying degees of success. Its biggest limitation is that it only helps while sleeping, not otherwise. Procedures and some appliance provide 24hr control of the issue of breathing well.

So to aolve your problem you need an airway exam usuaully completed by an oral health provider specializing in airway. Their assessment determine the location of constrictions and benefits of various interventions.

[airwaystent]

Consider ballon dilation of the nasal passages. Also known as nasal release therapy and many other names. You’ll have to google to find them all. Myself and 7 others i know have had immediate results after one or several treatments for sleep improvement and anxiety. I recommend you complete the full course of treatment which is usually up to 10. 

Btw, partial improvements w a single intervention such as an mad or cpap is the more common outcome, not success w 1 intervention. You have to think of the airway like a building, and usually several structures have to become compromised for symptoms to push a patient to seeking help. Think of each intervention as a tool from the hardware store.

For instance,
A mad will help to move the jaw forward to remove the tonuge from the airway and prevent apneas w tongue obstruction and snoring. 
Weight loss will reduce the fat in the neck muscles narrowing the airway.
Nasal dilators or strips enlarged the nostrils to reduce resistance. 
Turbinate reduction and septoplasty fix obstructions in the nasal passage
Nasal release can also fix deviated structures and create symmetrical airflow through 
Nostrils which is necessary for anxiety mgmt. 1 good nostril is not good enough.
Transverse maxillary expanders and sagittal expanders remodel the oral cavity to improve resistance in the nose and pharynx respectively.
An orthothotic splint will reduce tmj and improve jaw pain which fractures sleep, and enlarges the pharynx. 
Myofunctional exercises strengthen tongue and retrain swallowing to move it from the bed of the jaw to the roof the mouth, preventing obstruction from a floppy tongue muscle.
A cpap uses pressure to push through all this w varying degees of success. Its biggest limitation is that it only helps while sleeping, not otherwise. Procedures and some appliance provide 24hr control of the issue of breathing well.

So to aolve your problem you need an airway exam usuaully completed by an oral health provider specializing in airway. Their assessment determine the location of constrictions and benefits of various interventions.

Wow, thank you. I have been looking into that for some time, but wasn't sure if it would help.

I already made some phone calls, but Unfortunately my options are very limited, when it comes to practicioners in my area.

I will try to do this ballooon thing at home

[airwaystent]

Consider ballon dilation of the nasal passages. Also known as nasal release therapy and many other names. You’ll have to google to find them all. Myself and 7 others i know have had immediate results after one or several treatments for sleep improvement and anxiety. I recommend you complete the full course of treatment which is usually up to 10. 

Btw, partial improvements w a single intervention such as an mad or cpap is the more common outcome, not success w 1 intervention. You have to think of the airway like a building, and usually several structures have to become compromised for symptoms to push a patient to seeking help. Think of each intervention as a tool from the hardware store.

For instance,
A mad will help to move the jaw forward to remove the tonuge from the airway and prevent apneas w tongue obstruction and snoring. 
Weight loss will reduce the fat in the neck muscles narrowing the airway.
Nasal dilators or strips enlarged the nostrils to reduce resistance. 
Turbinate reduction and septoplasty fix obstructions in the nasal passage
Nasal release can also fix deviated structures and create symmetrical airflow through 
Nostrils which is necessary for anxiety mgmt. 1 good nostril is not good enough.
Transverse maxillary expanders and sagittal expanders remodel the oral cavity to improve resistance in the nose and pharynx respectively.
An orthothotic splint will reduce tmj and improve jaw pain which fractures sleep, and enlarges the pharynx. 
Myofunctional exercises strengthen tongue and retrain swallowing to move it from the bed of the jaw to the roof the mouth, preventing obstruction from a floppy tongue muscle.
A cpap uses pressure to push through all this w varying degees of success. Its biggest limitation is that it only helps while sleeping, not otherwise. Procedures and some appliance provide 24hr control of the issue of breathing well.

So to aolve your problem you need an airway exam usuaully completed by an oral health provider specializing in airway. Their assessment determine the location of constrictions and benefits of various interventions.

WOW. I just did it for myself at home using a bicycle pump, rubber glove and some thread. There were dozens of cracks!!!! It was amazing!!! just WOW

Thank you!! Yes I feel  most of my problems originate from the nose, but I am not comfortable with surgery. This is what I need