Introduction

I'll begin by noting that I am not a doctor, I am only recounting my own experiences, and any medical information I mention here is only part of my personal decision and does not constitute a recommendation for anyone else.

I had originally intended to describe my efforts to treat my obstructive sleep apnea at bulletin board associated with the American Sleep Apnea Association, but I was permanently banned from the board after a moderator began taking a personal dislike to me, editing my posts, and sending me nasty missives.   Apparently, I rumpled some feathers in that vehemently anti-surgical online community because I knew what I was talking about and spoke out against that anti-surgical bias.  When another poster on the board said their ENT had recommended surgery partly because they had extremely large tonsils, I responded that I was pursuing surgery for similar reasons and mentioned specific study that concluded tonsillectomy could be effective for carefully selected patients.  My post was quoted, dissected, and dismissed through bizarre misunderstandings by a poster who turned out to be one of the forum moderators.  For one example, I was arrogantly told that the person whose ENT recommended surgery had "never mentioned tonsillar hypertrophy as a problem."  I responded, aggressively, and called this person out for not knowing that tonsillar hypertrophy meant large friggin' tonsils.   Guess who picked a fight with me a few days later and banned me?  I don't think anyone interested in surgical treatment of their sleep apnea avoid this online community because you will be dismissed like the bad kid in town, or simply ignored until you go away.  That said, and I'll get into this further, I do think that patients and their doctors need to make VERY careful and informed decisions about who makes a good candidate for surgical treatment.  From this point on I am going to be very clear that I believe my sleep apnea results primarily from three structural abnormalities at the time of my diagnosis: hypertrophic tonsils, redundant soft palate tissue, and congenital deviated septum.

So, here I am, starting a blog in silence rather than participating in a forum as I would prefer.  I am scheduled for my second surgical procedure to treat my obstructive sleep apnea in just two days.  I intend to spend some time explaining my previous symptoms, sleep studies, attempts at treatment, and detailing this upcoming procedure and the recovery from it.  I have high hopes, perhaps too high, but I am firmly convinced that my large tonsils are the main culprits for causing my sleep apnea.  They'll be out in just a few days.


I intend on working with this introductory post further, stay tuned.