Adam thanks for sharing your story & experiences. I especially like learning about some of minor issues that you experienced. I am currently being evaluated pre surgical procedures.
I am ready to roll on getting mine done on this upcoming Friday, very excited . I have laid off watching to many youtube videos of this, its driving me crazy. Ill let you know later how it went.
Thanks. Glad my videos may be helping anyone out there who sees them. I am a nurse in my every day life and enjoy educating people on things that may improve their life and health. Will be posting update Thursday which will be a week since having my device activated and sleeping with it this past week.
@@AdamHeard excellent. I am actually a nurse as well. Out here in Austin, Texas. I have had a myriad of procedures done to try to get this sleep apnea under control. The MMA procedure dropped my AHI from 46 to 22. Hopefully once we are able to activate the Inspire implant in a fee weeks we can knock that 22 way down as well.
@@crybaby5150 now I’m gonna have to look back through my records and see what my AHI was to begin with so I can track any improvement. It hadn’t crossed my mind to look at that score since my last sleep study prior to prepping for the surgery was more than 5 years ago.
@@AdamHeard I actually wish I would have kept better records myself. Originally diagnosed with it back in 2006 I believe. I've tried CPAP, BiPAP, ASV, every mask and attachment and gimmick you can think of, 3 or 4 septorhinoplasty procedures, one with tenting of the nares. Oral advancement appliance, MMA, and now Inspire. I am thinkin this will be my last time under the knife (for sleep apnea anyway). My body did not care for the anesthesia this go around! Question for ya- Are you doing any stretching/ ROM exercises? One if the reps mentioned that I should, but it isn't in any of my DC instructions or the Inspire paperwork. I am definitely noticing a tightening of the right side of my neck, and don't want to lose too much ROM if possible. Thanks again!
@@crybaby5150 I have noticed the tightness on the right too, especially in the morning first thing. So I try to gently stretch that side right when I get out of bed and while I am getting ready for work. Usually a few stretches in all directions and a good hyper extension or two(extreme sniffing position) and then I’m good for the day.
I know this is an old video but as a nurse did you have to take time off of work after the surgery? I heard you can't lift your arm above your shoulder for a while and that would mean I couldn't work during that time.
Yes I will be making more videos on my progress. I have a few already recorded and will be posting them. Newest video recorded today as I went to doctor to have device activated and can begin using it tonight. I will post updates on that as I go along.
@@beltycat5490 so far my experience has been great except for a little setback where my jawline incision opened and was draining unexpectedly. Took some antibiotics for 10 days and had to delay activation for a few weeks but got activated today and will post updates on progress of adjustment of device strength over the next several weeks.
Hi Adam Thank you for the videos as I have been searching for real open and honest feedback. I am scheduled for my procedure ne,t week and can tell you I'm very anxious and have come close to cancelling it. My concerns are infections, toung issues and speaking. Plus I am not confident this will work. Any tips prior would be great, including what you needed to do prior to surgery. Thanks again and you da man!
I did have a minor infection in one of my incisions but was able to clear it up easily with antibiotics. This is always a risk with any invasive procedure. Just be sure to keep incision sites clean and follow your docs instructions carefully and let them know asap if you think there could be an issue. I talked a little funny and had some minor lip numbness for about 3 weeks but nothing severe or that worried me and pretty soon was back to normal. For men, shave no less than 48 hours before surgery so that any skin irritation caused by shaving can be gone before going in. Best advice I can give is do what they tell you and how they tell you. Once the device is activated, don’t try to skip levels but advance according to the instructions you are given. Good luck and God Bless.
They did shave my beard. I don’t know if they could have done it by just shaving a small area or not but if they had there would have been an odd spot in my beard so I’m glad they just did it all.
I did have some pain in the ear and throat for a week or two but it wasn’t unbearable and went away with no issues. They have to manipulate a lot of tissue in the neck to get it in so I’d be surprised if there was no pain.
Thanks for these videos. I'm a few days post-op, and when I chew/swallow it sends a sharp pain through my jaw and into my head. Some minor lisping on S words as well. Did you experience this at all?
Probably shouldn’t be having any pain other than soreness at incisions. If you are having sharp pains I would call my doctor. As for the lisping, yes, I talked funny for about a month and lip was numb and didn’t move correctly until all the nerve endings regained all feeling. Watch incision sites closely for any redness that is expanding or any drainage or bleeding. If this occurs call doc.
Thanks for posting these Adam. How did they approve you for the Inspire? I ask because they say you have to “fail” cpap in order to approve. Did cpap not work for you? Did you still have sleep issues even with cpap?
I failed cpap in that I could not tolerate wearing it, felt claustrophobic and would usually find it on the floor in the middle of the night, having taken it off in my sleep.
Adam thanks for sharing your story & experiences. I especially like learning about some of minor issues that you experienced. I am currently being evaluated pre surgical procedures.
Keep the videos coming, they’re awesome!!
Thanks!
I am ready to roll on getting mine done on this upcoming Friday, very excited . I have laid off watching to many youtube videos of this, its driving me crazy. Ill let you know later how it went.
Thank you! I go in tomorrow for my initial test. Will watch your other vids
Hope and pray all goes well!
Thank you for these videos. I am looking into having this surgery and its great that you are telling us what to expect at the weeks go on.
Thanks. It’s been a while since I made an update. Been very busy. Hope to make another soon.
Appreciate your videos brother. I am 1 week post op myself. Looking forward to watching your progress.
Thanks. Glad my videos may be helping anyone out there who sees them. I am a nurse in my every day life and enjoy educating people on things that may improve their life and health. Will be posting update Thursday which will be a week since having my device activated and sleeping with it this past week.
@@AdamHeard excellent. I am actually a nurse as well. Out here in Austin, Texas. I have had a myriad of procedures done to try to get this sleep apnea under control. The MMA procedure dropped my AHI from 46 to 22. Hopefully once we are able to activate the Inspire implant in a fee weeks we can knock that 22 way down as well.
@@crybaby5150 now I’m gonna have to look back through my records and see what my AHI was to begin with so I can track any improvement. It hadn’t crossed my mind to look at that score since my last sleep study prior to prepping for the surgery was more than 5 years ago.
@@AdamHeard I actually wish I would have kept better records myself. Originally diagnosed with it back in 2006 I believe. I've tried CPAP, BiPAP, ASV, every mask and attachment and gimmick you can think of, 3 or 4 septorhinoplasty procedures, one with tenting of the nares. Oral advancement appliance, MMA, and now Inspire. I am thinkin this will be my last time under the knife (for sleep apnea anyway). My body did not care for the anesthesia this go around!
Question for ya- Are you doing any stretching/ ROM exercises? One if the reps mentioned that I should, but it isn't in any of my DC instructions or the Inspire paperwork. I am definitely noticing a tightening of the right side of my neck, and don't want to lose too much ROM if possible. Thanks again!
@@crybaby5150 I have noticed the tightness on the right too, especially in the morning first thing. So I try to gently stretch that side right when I get out of bed and while I am getting ready for work. Usually a few stretches in all directions and a good hyper extension or two(extreme sniffing position) and then I’m good for the day.
I know this is an old video but as a nurse did you have to take time off of work after the surgery? I heard you can't lift your arm above your shoulder for a while and that would mean I couldn't work during that time.
How are you doing now? Are you going to make any more videos?
Yes I will be making more videos on my progress. I have a few already recorded and will be posting them. Newest video recorded today as I went to doctor to have device activated and can begin using it tonight. I will post updates on that as I go along.
@@AdamHeard I am in the process of qualifying- thank you for the videos
@@beltycat5490 so far my experience has been great except for a little setback where my jawline incision opened and was draining unexpectedly. Took some antibiotics for 10 days and had to delay activation for a few weeks but got activated today and will post updates on progress of adjustment of device strength over the next several weeks.
@@AdamHeard thank you
I'm going to be having the inspire implant for my sleep apnea
Best of luck! I haven’t regretted it.
Hi Adam
Thank you for the videos as I have been searching for real open and honest feedback. I am scheduled for my procedure ne,t week and can tell you I'm very anxious and have come close to cancelling it. My concerns are infections, toung issues and speaking. Plus I am not confident this will work.
Any tips prior would be great, including what you needed to do prior to surgery. Thanks again and you da man!
I did have a minor infection in one of my incisions but was able to clear it up easily with antibiotics. This is always a risk with any invasive procedure. Just be sure to keep incision sites clean and follow your docs instructions carefully and let them know asap if you think there could be an issue. I talked a little funny and had some minor lip numbness for about 3 weeks but nothing severe or that worried me and pretty soon was back to normal. For men, shave no less than 48 hours before surgery so that any skin irritation caused by shaving can be gone before going in. Best advice I can give is do what they tell you and how they tell you. Once the device is activated, don’t try to skip levels but advance according to the instructions you are given. Good luck and God Bless.
Well, how did it go?
I have several follow up videos if you want to check them out but everything went fine for me.
Hello, is the device visible in your chest wall, like does it protrude out?
A little protrusion but not as much as a pacemaker. There is a scar though that is about 2 inches long and a half inch wide
If you have a full beard, do they shave you before?
They did shave my beard. I don’t know if they could have done it by just shaving a small area or not but if they had there would have been an odd spot in my beard so I’m glad they just did it all.
My husband is a week out and has pain from his right ear down his throat? Did you have anything like this?
I did have some pain in the ear and throat for a week or two but it wasn’t unbearable and went away with no issues. They have to manipulate a lot of tissue in the neck to get it in so I’d be surprised if there was no pain.
Thanks for these videos. I'm a few days post-op, and when I chew/swallow it sends a sharp pain through my jaw and into my head. Some minor lisping on S words as well. Did you experience this at all?
Probably shouldn’t be having any pain other than soreness at incisions. If you are having sharp pains I would call my doctor. As for the lisping, yes, I talked funny for about a month and lip was numb and didn’t move correctly until all the nerve endings regained all feeling. Watch incision sites closely for any redness that is expanding or any drainage or bleeding. If this occurs call doc.
@@AdamHeard Will do, thanks for the reply!
What was your total out of pocket start to finish?
$200. Insurance is paying the rest.
@@AdamHeard thank you for the replies- I’m looking forward to more videos covering your progress 👍
Mine was covered under the Dept of Veteran's Affairs CCN program. Sorry, wish I could have given you an actual number.
Thanks for posting these Adam. How did they approve you for the Inspire? I ask because they say you have to “fail” cpap in order to approve. Did cpap not work for you? Did you still have sleep issues even with cpap?
I failed cpap in that I could not tolerate wearing it, felt claustrophobic and would usually find it on the floor in the middle of the night, having taken it off in my sleep.
My husband just got his done a few days ago. He has a bruise under his tongue it looks swollen and black and blue. Did you experience this too?
I did not experience that but would not have been surprised if I had. Probably not anything to worry about but would call his doctor just to be safe.