Comments on: New Sleep Apnea Treatment: Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation How You Can Breathe Better, Sleep Better, And Live Better1 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:10:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steven Park http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-39584 Steven Park Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:45:23 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-39584 Mr. Harkins, there's a small incision under the chin, and another on just below the collar bone for the "pacemaker." Leads are tunneled under the skin from the nerve to the controller, as well as for the chest sensors. If you're interested in this study, take a look at the Apnex site. Mr. Harkins, there’s a small incision under the chin, and another on just below the collar bone for the “pacemaker.” Leads are tunneled under the skin from the nerve to the controller, as well as for the chest sensors. If you’re interested in this study, take a look at the Apnex site.

]]> By: Rick Harkins http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-39574 Rick Harkins Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:07:58 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-39574 I'm having trouble tolerating my CPAP (nose, sinus, dry mouth, burning lungs). My ENT is recommending septoplasty, tubinate reduction, and UP3. It's got me scared. The pacemaker requires an incision somewhere on the chest, correct? Is another incision required on the neck to place the electrode for the hypoglossal nerve? Are the electrode wires 'snaked' under the skin from the implant to the nerve, or does it require a continuous incision? Given how the CPAP has negatively impacted my quality of life, and the frightening possibilities of the UP3, I think I'll at least investigate this. I’m having trouble tolerating my CPAP (nose, sinus, dry mouth, burning lungs). My ENT is recommending septoplasty, tubinate reduction, and UP3. It’s got me scared.

The pacemaker requires an incision somewhere on the chest, correct? Is another incision required on the neck to place the electrode for the hypoglossal nerve? Are the electrode wires ‘snaked’ under the skin from the implant to the nerve, or does it require a continuous incision?

Given how the CPAP has negatively impacted my quality of life, and the frightening possibilities of the UP3, I think I’ll at least investigate this.

]]> By: Joe Carbone http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-34583 Joe Carbone Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:17:45 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-34583 Sounds interesting. Last night my breathing was so shallow that I couldnt sleep with or without the CPAP machine/ I'm not sure what will help me.... Sounds interesting. Last night my breathing was so shallow that I couldnt sleep with or without the CPAP machine/ I'm not sure what will help me….

]]> By: Steven Park http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-32603 Steven Park Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:09:51 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-32603 <p>Mr. Lui,</p> <p>It's like a pacemeker, but with leads that go to one side of your neck to stimulate the nerve that goes to your tongue and other leads that go to your lower rib cage. If you're interested, please visit Apnexmedical.com for more information. There are a number of rigid inclusion criteria. If you're in the NY metro area, you're welcome to see me for a consultation.</p> Mr. Lui,

It's like a pacemeker, but with leads that go to one side of your neck to stimulate the nerve that goes to your tongue and other leads that go to your lower rib cage. If you're interested, please visit Apnexmedical.com for more information. There are a number of rigid inclusion criteria. If you're in the NY metro area, you're welcome to see me for a consultation.

]]> By: Benjamni Liu http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-32598 Benjamni Liu Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:57:10 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-32598 Does it require an intrusive procedure to "plant" the stimulant?  I always wonder why someone hasn't think of this and I am willing to give it a try.  Since I can't live with my CPAP machine (it feels like a spider on my face and somehow it creates a throat drying airflow with my anatomy) so for me some help is better than no help at all.  Does it require an intrusive procedure to "plant" the stimulant?  I always wonder why someone hasn't think of this and I am willing to give it a try.  Since I can't live with my CPAP machine (it feels like a spider on my face and somehow it creates a throat drying airflow with my anatomy) so for me some help is better than no help at all. 

]]> By: Steven Park http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-22199 Steven Park Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:21:34 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-22199 <p>Ann, that's great question. I don't remember from the paper if arousals were mentioned, but subjective results were generally positive. Any device, whether a nerve stimulator, oral appliance or CPAP, will cause increased arousals. These are questions that will be answered more fully in the initial upcoming clinical trials.</p> Ann, that's great question. I don't remember from the paper if arousals were mentioned, but subjective results were generally positive. Any device, whether a nerve stimulator, oral appliance or CPAP, will cause increased arousals. These are questions that will be answered more fully in the initial upcoming clinical trials.

]]> By: Ann Emerson http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-22158 Ann Emerson Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:36:07 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-22158 Just wondered whether the AHI was lowered without lowering the totalnumber of arousals from sleep? That is, did the stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve disrupt the patients sleep in and of itself? I think it's important to lower the AHI, obviously. But if a treatment creates arousals of a different type, then the patients' sleep won't be any more restful. Any idea whether this data is available Dr. Park? Thanks for sharing this research. Just wondered whether the AHI was lowered without lowering the totalnumber of arousals from sleep? That is, did the stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve disrupt the patients sleep in and of itself? I think it's important to lower the AHI, obviously. But if a treatment creates arousals of a different type, then the patients' sleep won't be any more restful. Any idea whether this data is available Dr. Park? Thanks for sharing this research.

]]> By: Dr. Steven Y. Park http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-14556 Dr. Steven Y. Park Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:33:17 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-14556 Victor, You're right. By itself, it won't "cure" your sleep apnea, unless it's performed in combination with procedures that address other areas of obstruction. Victor,

You’re right. By itself, it won’t “cure” your sleep apnea, unless it’s performed in combination with procedures that address other areas of obstruction.

]]> By: Victor H. http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-14440 Victor H. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:04:11 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-14440 I would not consider the procedure because the results are poor. Maybe the procedure would lower my AHI to 20.0. I know from my own experience that life is miserable with an AHI of 20.0 and your health is being slowly destroyed. My AHI is 57.0 without CPAP and around 1.0 with CPAP. If I have problems with CPAP and my AHI moves up to anything above 3.0 or so, I feel very tired and sleepy the entire day. It makes sense if you consider that an AHI of 3.0 over seven hours of sleeping, means 21 awakenings and maybe 21 oxygen desaturations plus unhealthy increases in cortisol and adrenaline. I was first excited when these devices were announced, but now I am skeptical that they will ever be very effective. I would not consider the procedure because the results are poor. Maybe the procedure would lower my AHI to 20.0. I know from my own experience that life is miserable with an AHI of 20.0 and your health is being slowly destroyed.

My AHI is 57.0 without CPAP and around 1.0 with CPAP. If I have problems with CPAP and my AHI moves up to anything above 3.0 or so, I feel very tired and sleepy the entire day. It makes sense if you consider that an AHI of 3.0 over seven hours of sleeping, means 21 awakenings and maybe 21 oxygen desaturations plus unhealthy increases in cortisol and adrenaline.

I was first excited when these devices were announced, but now I am skeptical that they will ever be very effective.

]]> By: Sara http://doctorstevenpark.com/new-sleep-apnea-treatment-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation/comment-page-1#comment-14435 Sara Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:53:34 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2933#comment-14435 Just to clarify...the nerve stimulation treatment would be an ongoing lifelong intervention (similar to the use of CPAP)? Just to clarify…the nerve stimulation treatment would be an ongoing lifelong intervention (similar to the use of CPAP)?

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