sleeping like a baby
I had the reconstructive surgery you are going to have after having a UPPP and tonsilectomy, all of which were ultimately unsuccessful in addressing my apnea. I had a tracheostomy in February, and have been sleeping soundly ever since. If I had it to do all over again, I would skip every one of the other procedures and go straight to the tracheostomy. There was very little pain with the trach surgery (but major pain with the other surgeries) and I still have residual numbness from the reconstructive surgery you are about to have. I would strongly suggest that you talk to your doctor about a tracheostomy. The trach buttons that can be used today are very unobtrusive. The trach can be plugged during the day so that breathing and speech are normal, and it can be concealed under clothing so that no one even knows it is there. Then at night it is opened for air and wonderfully restful sleep. I am still adjusting to having the trach plugged during the day, but have found the temporary inconvenience of having to cover the trach with my finger to speak worth the mind-clearing, energizing, life-giving sleep I am getting now. Please check it out with your doc and consider bypassing the reconstruction. The trach is 100% effective in relieving obstructive sleep apnea - nothing else has that kind of success rate! Best of luck with whatever you decide.