Inspire Surgery Review Part 3

This video does not constitute medical advice. Please coordinate with your doctor.

[@lisachambers6230]

You are so positive! I appreciate you sharing this journey with us. I’m still nervous. My surgery out a ways, so I have more time to truly prepare myself for it.

[@AftonGroveKnitter]

I’m 74 years old, and this was by the easiest surgery I’ve ever had. I came home from the hospital late afternoon, and finished preparing my dinner for the evening! I have a low tolerance for pain, but never really experienced any! I took 1/2 of a pain pill, as a preventative measure, and two Tylenol in the afternoon, the following day. I’m very sensitive to antibiotics, so healing was a little slow. I think it was about six weeks before the device was activated. If you don’t mind my asking, who’s doing your surgery? I hope your procedure goes as smoothly as mine did! I wish you a smooth and speedy recovery!

[@margaretprice5245]

Thank you so much for taking us on this journey with you. I am having surgery next week and feel better prepared after hearing your ups and downs … Looking forward to your next video !

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

Good luck on your surgery. I’m sure it will all go well. Don’t push yourself too hard and keep up on the pain meds for the first few days. You’ll be glad you did.

[@KarenBarenbrugge]

It’s Oct. 31, 2023 and I’ve noticed you haven’t posted an update since your review 3. Really appreciated reading your reviews. I had mine done almost 5 weeks ago and am waiting a few more weeks to see if I’m ready to be activated. Doctor said my tongue didn’t stick out straight. I’ve noticed my vein in that neck area seems to protrude more. It doesn’t look like you’ve had that issue.

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

I will be posting an update soon. I have had a lot of things happen since my last video. I see my dr the first of December and I hope I have good things to report. I am still not activated but the reasons aren’t all medical.

[@johnniesal7018]

Thanks for the update and I will be tuning in for any future updates. Sending blessings to you on your healing journey.

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

Thank you so much! Blessing to you too.

[@mews1950]

Your videos popped up in my feed probably bc I’ve been trying to improve my cpap use and watch cpap videos. Quite a journey you have undertaken and thanks for sharing it. Currently I’m trying out the Bleep Dreamport pillow cpap mask. So far it is a step above the regular masks that end up off my face in a few hours use. I may even try the iNAP system if I grow weary of my cpap. There are numerous cpap alternatives coming to market for sure.

[@sonyawalden5010]

Thank you so much for your videos. I’m eager to hear if your device was activated. I received a call today from my surgeon office to get scheduled for the surgery around April 2024. Excited but nervous.

[@herrwabbaloo937]

My wife wants to have this procedure, and I ran across your 3 videos about it. Thank you for posting them, they will be very informative! She and I both have sleep apnea, and both hate the APAP. Do your or your doctors know what could be causing your longer-than-normal recovery time? Very glad to see that the pain and numbness have greatly subsided. I’ve sub’d to your channel so we can see any subsequent videos about it. Thank you and good luck!

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

I have always taken a long time to recover from surgeries. It’s just my genetic make-up. There have only been two other cases in my area of people taking a really long time to heal so it’s super rare. You just have to know your body. Good luck to your wife.

[@jasonjones7734]

Just had my surgery 48 hours ago. Have enjoyed watching your videos. Wondering if you have had your device activated yet?

[@lisachambers6230]

And how are you doing? How was your healing? I’m scheduled for 4/11/24. Still nervous.

[@toma2292]

Thank you! I understand, healing can take time.

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

Thank you so much.

[@Christieinthejourney]

Yikes, my surgery is coming up here in a few weeks and hearing this makes me nervous. But I appreciate the feedback and I will be asking my surgeon questions about these things.

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

@@Christieinthejourney Good luck with everything.

[@janetcurrier2117]

Thank you so much for posting your update. This truly can be a long healing process for some. I feel a bit more encouraged that at some point I will heal from this and be able to have my device activated. I hope you are able to be activated before too much longer.

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

Thank you for the well wishes. I hope you will be activated soon too!

[@lisachambers6230]

How has your experience been through all of this? How are you doing now?

[@ricklevy2763]

This is helpful. I talked with my neurologist today about having this surgery but when I went on YT to find testimonials I couldn't find anything that was helpful, then I came across your video. Thanks for posting this. It will give me some good questions to ask when I see my sleep doctor. If you don't mind me asking, what was the criteria for moving forward with the surgery?

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

My doctor said there were three criteria. You have to have used the c-pap for a set period of time and not tolerated it well. There is a weight requirement. People who are overweight (I don't know the threshold) do not qualify. There is also an endoscopy that is done under general anesthesia to determine the type of sleep apnea you have. The nerve stimulator works for people whose throats collapse from front to back if they were sleeping on their backs. People whose throats constrict all around don't qualify. You will have to have a conversation with your doctor to determine if you are a good candidate. There is also the insurance component. The facebook group for Inspire has many comments about individual's experiences getting insurance to cover this procedure. It is my understanding that more companies are covering the surgery as a treatment option for sleep apnea.

[@ricklevy2763]

@@livinlavidaketo3142 Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll go talk to my doc about it.

[@lauracremente4798]

AHI must be between 15-65 which is moderate to severe sleep apnea. If you have central sleep apnea, that has to be less than 25% of the total events you have. In addition, your body mass index much be 32 for most private insurance carriers to approve the surgery or 35 if you have medicare. Also, must be intolerant or receive no benefit from CPAP or Bipap. Those are the requirements. Any BMI above 30 is considered medically obese. So the comment about overweight isn't exactly accurate since BMI of 32 or 35 is considered for this procedure to be covered by insurance or Medicare. I have Inspire and have had tremendous success with it.

[@ricklevy2763]

@@lauracremente4798 Thanks for the reply!

[@kathyschubert9995]

⁠@@lauracremente4798 Could you please tell me which AHI number is used in the Inspire evaluation? Is it your first AHI number when you were first diagnosed with OSA? Or do they give you a sleep study and use that AHI number (which might be much lower due to your recent CPAP use)? How long do they want you to have tried CPAP first? How do they determine that you do or don’t get any benefit from CPAP? My AHI numbers went from 30 without to 2 with CPAP, but I subjectively have not had any discernible improvement at all, especially not with my TERRIBLE fatigue. Thank you so very much for any answers or opinions you can give me!!!

[@yourmoneymatters8425]

Hello, it has been few months since you had this surgery done. Can you please provide some info on how you are doing??

[@astrakalodukas3899]

Glad you are feeling better. Will you be posting updates after activation? All this info you have provided so far has been so helpful. My other concern with this is how the device feels and if I can tolerate it. Also I would like to know if the cpap machine will still be necessary

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

I’ll add an update when I get activated. As far as how the device feels, I spend most of my day not noticing it now. There is still some soreness from the surgery by the end of the day from using my arm but it doesn’t feel like I have something stuck in my chest if that’s what you mean. I still use my CPap because my healing is taking longer than normal. Most people have their devices activated by now.

[@gingermiller2023]

What kind of salve do you use. I’m getting my Inspire on Wednesday 7-10-24. I’m kind of nervous about it.

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

@@gingermiller2023 It is just a natural salve. Nothing special.

[@AH-xr5qj]

Hope you heal soon. I was considering this. I’m out! 💤

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

You have to do what is the right thing for you. Good luck to you.

[@peggybrassfield8133]

So how do you breath when sleeping. Do you use Cpap while sleeping waiting for activation.

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

Sometimes I do. My jaw gets a little sore if I use it everyday so I just use a couple times a week. 😊

[@kathyhurley-wx2qk]

Love mine

[@sgramirez1]

im really scared regaeding the poststop have you since had the device turned on

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

No. I haven’t had it turned on. I’ve had to change Dr.’s though and it doesn’t have to do with my recovery. It will probably be a few more months for me while I wait for my new insurance to start. Good luck to you.

[@MyLakernation]

Did you get activated yet?

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

Not yet. I’ve had to wait due to some life changes. It will be a few months yet. I’m looking forward towards September/October. It will be a year then and I can see where I’m at with my Dr.

[@AftonGroveKnitter]

I’m having the procedure done May 26!

[@lisachambers6230]

How did it go? How was recovery and healing? When were you able to get the device activated, and how are you doing now? My surgery is 4/144/24. I am trying to get as much info as possible to make sure this it is right for me. Thanks for your help.

[@AftonGroveKnitter]

@@lisachambers6230 My surgery was May 26, 2023, and everything went quite well! I came home and finished fixing dinner! No pain, at all. I had the device activated about 4 weeks later. I had a small issue with the incision under my chin healing, because I’m very sensitive to antibiotics, but after it healed, no problems! I highly recommend the procedure to anyone who has sleep apnea!

[@freedakaye6720]

Did it ever get turned on?

[@livinlavidaketo3142]

Not yet. I’ve had some life complications unrelated to the surgery that has set that back unfortunately. I will hopefully be able to get into the Dr. in October and finally get it going.

[@freedakaye6720]

@@livinlavidaketo3142 thank you for responding. My husband is considering the implant.

[@billbeyatte]

Luv ya

[@martiadams1534]