Sorry about the delay in getting back to you all in reporting my progress. It has been just about six months since my MMA surgery. My post-op sleep study was accomplished in April and I received the report (see section below). I just got off the phone with Dr. Li, my surgeon. I received a stern and needed lecture from him.
Let me back up a little first. I sent Dr. Li an email this morning in which I exhibited some concern about my post-op sleep study results. The report from the Stanford Sleep Clinic states, “This study shows obstructive sleep apnea.” “Recommend follow-up in clinic for further assessment and treatment options.” My questions to Dr. Li were pretty much asking, “Did we have success?” Now that I reread my email, that was a pretty dumb question. The point I guess I am trying to get at is: No matter what the numbers say in my sleep studies, the bottom line is how do I feel and how am I sleeping?
How Do I Feel You Ask?
Let me back up a little first. I sent Dr. Li an email this morning in which I exhibited some concern about my post-op sleep study results. The report from the Stanford Sleep Clinic states, “This study shows obstructive sleep apnea.” “Recommend follow-up in clinic for further assessment and treatment options.” My questions to Dr. Li were pretty much asking, “Did we have success?” Now that I reread my email, that was a pretty dumb question. The point I guess I am trying to get at is: No matter what the numbers say in my sleep studies, the bottom line is how do I feel and how am I sleeping?
How Do I Feel You Ask?
There is no better time than right now to say I am doing remarkably well post MMA surgery and all of the credit goes to Dr. Li. First and foremost, I am sleeping very well. Over the past three weeks, my sleep has improved markedly. I have had many days (I mean nights) in a row where I have slept up to six hours straight without waking up. Even if I wake up two or three times, I still fall right back to sleep. Since surgery, I have not had one incident where I woke up and felt like I needed air or had stopped breathing. I have been waking up in the morning and feeling like I had a good night’s sleep. That had not happened for the past 20 plus years.
Now to an unexpected blessing: Throughout this past year in preparing and planning for this surgery my whole focus was on stopping the sleep apneas and getting a good night sleep. I never really thought about improvements that would occur during exercise, sports and other daily activities. When I used to swim or play basketball, I would always be exhausted after only two minutes of activity. I would stop and as we would say, “I would be sucking air.” I could swim one or maybe two short laps in a pool and even though I would be breathing while I was swimming, I would still need to stop, stand up and take in some air. Basketball was the same thing.
I experienced a short time ago on my first attempt to swim after surgery, that I could go 6, 8 & 10 laps without being tired or needing to stop and gasp for air. My x-rays, shows that my airway before surgery was about the width of a match stick and post surgery about the width of my large finger. I can’t wait for the first opportunity to play full court basketball again. When I exercise now, whether it is walking or lifting weights, I seem to be more willing to do the exercise and to be able to do so for extended periods of time.
I am back to eating about anything I want, however it takes me about twice as long to accomplish this. So I am usually the last one finishing eating, but that’s ok because they say it is healthier to eat slowly and also you eat less when you eat slower. I have been able to keep off most of the 22 lbs. I lost, even though I probably am taking in the same amount of calories. They say sleep apnea causes weight gain and I believe it.
My upper gum area is still about 50% numb. But this numbness is gradually decreasing and I expect this may take another 6 months before it is close to being back to normal. I have not had any pain in at least four months or more….. check my previous blog postings.
Post Op Sleep Study Results
I received my overnight Diagnostic Sleep Study report and just today I talked with one of the sleep clinic doctor regarding the report. Briefly, the doctor stated I still have what they classify as moderate sleep apnea. My numbers are as follows:
Study Areas_____Post Op___Pre Op
Sleep Efficiency____91.4%___75.4%
RDI_____________23_____27
Apnea Index_______1.5_____8.9
Total Apneas_______10_____54
Total Hyponeas_____139____109
REM Periods_______ 6______2
Stage Shifts________93_____208
No. of Awakenings___29______54
It is important to understand that the pre op numbers are not from a diagnostic sleep study. It was a split study with a CPAP. CPAP machines did not work well with me and caused central apneas. So comparing numbers is not a very good analysis of success.
Conclusions
In the words of Dr. Li, “It is not what the numbers say, but in how you feel.” My MMA Surgery was an overwhelming success. I do not need to sleep with a CPAP machine. My overall health has improved greatly. I sleep much better. I “live” much better. I thank God for my health, family, doctors and friends.
