Email questions or comments to Roger AT Arrick DOT com

Surgeons: Dynamic Duo Dr: Nelson B. Powell and Robert W. Riley
Their web-site: Sleepsurgery.com
Surgery usually lasts about 3-5 hours

If you are not sleeping well, you are not healthy, simple as that. Dysfunctional sleep is proving to be a great medical mother lode with connections to heart disease, SIDS, diabeties, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, acid reflux, ADHD, migranes, hypertension, stroke, joint pain, memory loss, impotence, tachycardia, tinnitus, night sweats, gout, and the list goes on. Because of this, I believe in the future, sleep studies will become as common as blood tests. But, due to the snail-like speed at which bold new ideas are accepted, even in the sciences, this will probably take another 25 years.

Thankfully, the greatest medical advancement of all time is staring us right in the face - the internet. Now, doctors can easily become informed on disorders that weren't covered in school, or didn't even exist - which is certainly the case for many sleep disorders. Also, research can now fly at speeds that our Grandparents didn't even dream about. The simple motion of a few fingers can now retrieve information that use to require a day at the library. Add to that the tremendous power of a new phenomenon I call Patient Collaboration via forums and emails, and you have a medical revolution on your hands. This webpage is part of that revolution.

Sleep, the Mandatory Luxury

One more short pre-op visit was made to have molds made of my teeth. These are used for pre-surgery planning.

How do I feel? Like I got ran over by a truck and haven't eaten for 3 days. BUT, I've slept twice today for short segments and last night many hours. This is a giant miracle. Hopefully it's not just the drugs. About 30min after each pain drug I feel semi-normal and can walk around without moaning :)) Like others that have this surgery, my draining nose is the biggest annoyance. Other things include cracked lips, throbbing head, the usual. I'm able to eat a syringe or 2 of liquid food every hour or so - blendered fruit, yogurt, mashed potatoes and milk, Insure.

Every hour that I endure is one hour closer to feeling normal. Would I do it again? Even at this point? The answer is yes. After careful consideration, I feel not so different than this about 2-3 times a month due to sleep deprivation anyway, so this is not that big of an investment to possibly feel normal for years. Thanks to all that have emailed, wow, didn't know I even knew that many people.

It's important to not skip the pain meds because it sneaks up pretty quick. Margo is crushing up Tylenols every few hours and that helps with how I feel and mild fever. Every day is noticeably better than the previous with one possible exception. Today I'm going to focus on getting some real food down. The first will be a banana smoothie. Looks like I've lost 5 pounds or so, just a guess. If I still feel good, we'll probably go on a short road trip.

Notice on that last picture a little scar on the jaw - that's for access to the back screws. Other than that, there are no external scars. I would really like to know how they do so much work and only make little incisions in the mouth, but Dr. Powell wouldn't tell me the secret :).

So far, all days are noticeable better than the previous. Today we got XRays taken at Dr. Powell's office and will have a meeting tomorrow. Have lost 8# so far. Is my sleep fixed? Not sure, right now I'm dealing with terrible sleep-starts and they act like airway problems. No pain meds today. My attitude at this point is to give myself time to heal. The office crew gathered together in front of the web-cam to heckle me, see below.

Last night was pretty darn good. Woke up a couple of times but not more than 15min. No CPAP. Repeat, no CPAP. Incredible. I did take one of my "pill's", will deal with that after recovery. Slept laying on the side half the night, some on back, some sitting up. Laying on the side requires a little pillow arranging to prevent pressure on the sensitive jaw.

Numbness is the same, bottom lip and below, and a very small patch under the right eye. Everything else is live, neck, cheeks, upper lip, nose, etc. Starting to get prickling feelings from the stitches. Can tell my nose is a tad bit stiffer on the sides. It doesn't collapse like it use to when I inhale. This is because of the maxilla forward movement and a welcome side-effect.

Eating is easier now that I can spoon small stuff in through the front. Takes about 30min to clean out the teeth (still 2 rubber bands on each side) using toothbrush and saltwater rinse.

No pain meds needed at this point. Didn't really need them except for the first 3 days but kept taking them because I had flu-like feeling. Still have that feeling but it comes and goes.

One more major bodily function operational, one to go. Swelling very slightly down. Still congestion with lots of yucky, bothersome drainage.

All days are improvements with maybe 1 exception, and ups/downs in between. If this all works, no question this temporary life pothole will easily be worth it. Getting great response from the sleep forum about my posting, hope it's helpful to someone. Going to see Dr. Powell this morning, will post.

The XRays show that there is a small plate on each side of the lower jaw, each with 4 screws. On the upper jaw there is a similar plate that is "L" shaped. Additionally there are 2 screws on each side of the lower jaw near the back, and an assortment of metal wires running from teeth to bone on top and bottom in the front.

Dr. Powell scanned these XRays for me and put them on a floppy. He said my swelling was way below normal and no signs of infection. He even said we could go home if we want, but we checked and it's very expensive to change flights.

He also removed one set of rubber bands - now only one on each side. Can open my mouth easier now but when I relax the jaw goes back - feels about right. Got to meet Dr. Riley too. He didn't know who I was, but I knew him.

Pre/Post Op XRays Comparisons

MMA Pre/Post-Op XRay comparisons - WOW!

Other Xrays: Xray1     Xray2

Pre-Op CT scan

Yesterday's food intake really gave me a boost. Swelling just slightly there, still a yellow patch on neck and faint blue patches on wrists. No pain meds. Still some nasal drainage problems. All bodily functions now on-line. Today is sight-seeing day. Went to an antique store, hobby store, drove around forever. Ate lunch at taco bell, dinner at Denny's. Avocado and yogurt for night time snack.

I had MMA at Stanford and all I got was this silly T-Shirt!
And some sleep....zzzzz

Today I have another noticeable improvement in energy but still have to rest after walking 100 feet. Eating is going good. Chopping food into little bits, sucking them through a small mouth opening, mixing around (absolutely no chewing), then swallowing. Takes about 30 min to eat 2 tacos (Minus shell).

Today is packing day before the trip back home tomorrow. Margo and I are going to try a movie today if we can find the theater. Thanks to all my friends, family, forum members for all the well wishes and prayers which obviously worked nicely. Peace.

Foley Catheter A few people have asked about catheterization which I haven't mentioned before. For many surgeries a urinary catheter is used. This is basically a thin tube inserted into your bladder to drain urine. After insertion, a small balloon is inflated to keep it in place. The urine drains into a bag and the fluid can be checked for volume, infection, etc. Initial insertion is usually done after you're asleep on the operating room table. When I awoke from surgery I didn't even realize I had a catheter for a while. It was slightly uncomfortable. When mine was removed during the first day after surgery and caused a lot of pain. For me, this was actually one of the worst parts of recovery. I've wondered if this was caused by the balloon not being completely drained, but I'll never know. After talking with others apparently my story is not common and most will experience an uneventful removal. Here is an article about Foley Catheters

10th day
Last night was a short night of sleep because we had to leave for the airport at 4:45. Still, got 6 good hours of sleep and feel fine. Of course, no CPAP. Spent all day travelling from Palo Alto to home (Tyler TX). Stop over in Houston. Glad to be home. 2422 Emails in my in-box. I feel almost normal except for a lack of energy. No pain. Ears plugged up from the plane ride. Weight-loss is 7 pounds so far.

Nightly I put on a second set of rubber bands which holds my jaw more comfortably. But last night I didn't. These small bands go on the little hooks between the upper and lower arch bars. They are difficult to get on and sometimes they snap and pop my lip - ouch! :) I can open my mouth only about 8mm so brushing requires a small toothbrush. I tried to use the water pick but the lowest setting is still too aggressive for sensitive gums with incisions.

Lost another 1/2 pound yesterday in spite of eating very well. Found a way to eat chicken - chop it up using one of this contraptions that looks like an inverted bowl with a spring-loaded handle on top, press down and the cutters do their job. Several chops and you have very small bits, then add some gravy and WOW is that good. Haven't used the syringe for many days since I can spoon in little bites. Even though I'm troubled by last night's sleep, I figure I'm doing so good and recovering so fast that I should ignore it. Two steps forward, one quarter step back.

Roger's Fruit and Energy Smoothie 1 Banana, peeled 1 Peach, peeled 1 Cup milk 3 tablespoons sugar 500mg Ester-C smashed up 1 Teaspoon vanilla (optional) 5 Ice cubes 1 Scoop Whey Protein powder Liquefy in Blender Can also add a scoop of Ice Cream Makes 1 large glass. Enjoy!

2 Weeks!
Below is a picture of our rescued racing greyhound 'GG'.
I'm looking pretty thin.

Physical, Mental, and Emotional Inventory
Worst Part: First 5 days of flu-like symptoms.
Pain: Almost none
Total weight loss so far: 8#
Appearance change: Sightly pronounced jaw.
Swelling: About 85% gone.
Current Energy Level: 90%
Current Discomfort: Post nasal drainage
Impact on marriage: Positive
Regrets: That I didn't do this 4 years ago
Fears: That my condition will somehow relapse
Unexpected positive side-effect: Side of nose doesn't collapse upon inhale
Would I do it again? Yes.
What would I have done differently? Learned how to chop meat sooner
What I'd like to know: How long it will take to relearn how to sleep.
What I wish for: Others to experience a solution to their sleep problems.
Advice to others: Select a surgeon that does this surgery regularly for this condition.
Greatest Lesson: How fortunate I am.

Still recovering. My energy is back 98% but there are spurts of energy and ambition, then bouts of mild depression and malaise. I hear that mild depression comes with surgeries. Some of my strength is gone and I've been doing small workouts with light weights. Have only gained back 1# in spite of eating well. Been going to work most days this last week for a couple of hours at a time. Swelling is 90% gone. Still more swelling on the right side. Chin and lower lip still numb - probably will be for many months or longer. Nasal drainage is less but not completely gone.

My sleep is unusual. Some nights I sleep for 4 hours and wake up ready to go, then lay in bed dozing for another 4 hours. Sometimes I have terrible twitching which keeps me up or wakes me up. I also have bouts of waking up with my heart racing. I can't believe this is an obstructive event, but possibly a central event caused by breathing confusion from going off 4 years of CPAP. Still trying to figure that out. Will report back next week

The Patient Collaboration Revolution By Roger Arrick - A work in progress... One Human Doctor Can't Know Everything We've all heard the stories about a friend or family member that had a strange ailment, went to a dozen doctors who couldn't figure it out, and ultimately discovered the problem and/or solution on their own or with help from a non-Doctor friend. The human body is so incredibly complex that it defies understanding. Various conditions have overlapping symptoms, not everyone has the same symptoms for a given problem, and cause/effect relationships are difficult to pinpoint and easy to get reversed. It shouldn't suprise us that it's impossible for any single human Doctor to know and understand each piece of this giant puzzle. What does suprise many of us is that even a specialist can miss a diagnosis in their field, or have a treatment bias that precludes a successful outcome. Patients Know Even Less It's also no suprise that patients often don't have the faintest clue about the cause of their medical problems. It's easy to miss a condition because of seemingly unrelated symptoms. Sleep-related problems are notorious for this - we're asleep - DUH! To compound the problem - the entire catalog of medical information passed down from our parents could be written on a single 3x5 index card in 18 point type. This might include everything from chicken soup remedies to blood-letting, with a food pyramid thrown in for good measure. No letters about chicken soup please :) Of course the back of the card is blank so we can write additional notes such as "sleeping pills will kill us" and "salt is bad" - or is it good? Can't remember. On the other hand, only the patient has lived in their own body for a lifetime and patients often have unique insight into what's going on inside and what triggers exist. It troubles me to hear stories of patients going to Doctor after Doctor and being told that "it's all in your head" or "it's probably stress", only to find out later that a desperate condition was brewing. I'm sure it troubles most Doctors too. Even though a patient's medical vocabulary and scientific skills are usually lacking, in a perfect world they should be given time to describe what they know, feel and think. It's the Doctors job to decipher. This is a lot to ask of a Doctor seeing dozens of patients a day, trying to keep up on the latest advances, and keeping the front-office running. I'm not sure how they do as well as they do given the conditions. The Changing Face of Research In the past, a patient might start with their GP, then move on to several specialists in search of an answer. After running into a roadblock, they might try an encyclopedia or even go to the library. Sometimes this proved helpful but often not because the difficult ailment was, after all, difficult, and books often only cover the more prevalent conditions due to the limits associated with paper. Even if the perfect book existed, you couldn't carry all 200 million pages of it, and how would you search it effectively without an index twice the size of the book itself? The Internet Microscope When the 90's brought along the Internet, it took the masses many years to finally catch on to the benefit of email and shopping online. Eventually, another thing happened, and continues - people learned to seek out and publish very detailed, specific information about their very narrow interest. We're often shocked there could be anyone else on the planet with this unique, shared interest. But there are, and sometimes thousands of them. The Searching Linchpin The key ingredient allowing this narrowness to succeed is the ease at which searches can now be done on the internet. Without being able to search on "insomnia kicking", RLS (restless leg syndrome) would be difficult to find, learn about, or publish remedies about. Without being able to search on "Apnea" and quickly see a webpage explaining the causes of heart disease, how could people know to take the disorder seriously enough? How Small Can You See? It's important to fully appreciate the proportions of this narrowness. Our parents bought books and saw TV shows that dealt with broad subjects like WWII or automobiles. The current generation reads websites dealing with belt buckles used by WWI solders in Russia, and hubcaps for classic Ford Mustangs. Today, a person can absorb and contribute to a group of information of virtually any width - incredibly narrow, or extremely large. The clear trend is narrowness, and that is a subject all unto itself for yet another article. Birth of Community Contribution A natural outgrowth of these narrow-interest web information centers is the forum - places where people can not only search and read information, but also post their own. Postings can include ideas, problems, solutions, mindless chit-chat, and of course, misinformation and meanness too. The beauty of a forum is its simplicity. One need not be a computer guru or web designer, just an interested person with something to share, encouraging words to give, or maybe even a miraculous cure. The technology simply serves, doesn't get in the way of the ideas and the humans involved - for the most part. Information Freedom Initially, some people were scared of this free flow of information from the general population and called it "anarchy". This is a faulty argument because forums have rules, moderators, and even penalties - or they die from spam and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The forum, in its basic construction, is the same thing as people sitting in a room chatting. Some are listening, some talking. Some are nice, some mean-spirited. Some get invited back, some get kicked out. Some get respected for their opinion, some are ignored due to their reputation. If you're on a forum long enough, you'll see a lot of things - good and bad. Similarly, if go to public gatherings. Our human ability to decern is just as critical on the internet as it is in our daily life. If a case is made for people not participating in forums due to the dangers of information, then the case must also be made for a person staying locked in their house with the TV and radio off. Collaboration Formulation Expectedly, forums eventually appeared for medical issues - typically very specific ones such as MS and Thyroid cancer, but also for remarkably narrow ones like Tinnitis (ringing of the ears) and Marfan syndrome. Forums allowed everyday people who suffered from similiar illnesses to get educated at a level never before possible. It empoweres them, gives them solutions, and shows them they are in charge of their health. While some in the medical community initially viewed this peaceful revolution as a coup d'etat, an uprising, or an insurgency from the troups, the trend towards critical mass continued, and a vibrant, informal, yet effective community of collaboration was born. Besides, who could make a case against patients talking amongst themselves about their ailments on the internet? They've done it for years on the telephone, with snail-mail, and around the dinner table. The internet simply provides a more efficient tool. Monumental Motivation One of the driving forces behind the power of this new collaboration is the unstoppable motivation of patients. There truly is no one on the planet more motovated than a mother with a sick child. Yes, many Doctors are determined and tireless in their quest for medical solutions, but it pales in comparison to a person that's about to loose their job and home because of an illness. This motivation is what drives people to search day after day for the elusive prize, and eventually what compels them to help others in the same boat. Human nature has many flaws driven by selfishness, but one characteristic found in many cured patients is the desire to help others they've never met with the same issue. I'll never totally understand it, but it's certainly welcome in this world and literally millions have benefited from it - patients and Doctors alike. The Future is Near The greatest medical advancement of all time is staring us right in the face - the internet. Now, Doctors can easily become informed on disorders that didn't get covered in school, or weren't discovered until recently - this is certainly the case for many sleep disorders. Research can now fly at speeds our Grandparents couldn't even dream about. The simple motion of a few fingers can now retrieve information that use to require a day at the library. Add to that the tremendous power of the new phenomenon of patient collaboration using forums and email, and you have a medical revolution on your hands. This webpage is a tiny part of that revolution.

4 Week Update

Can't believe it's been 4 weeks. Wow, time does fly. I'm working normal hours these days as my energy has mostly returned. I'm also getting back my ambition as the mild depression fades. I'm now able to emotionally endure problems unlike a week ago - perfect timing :) The twitching that was causing so many problems has subsided. I wish I knew exactly what was helping but I'm trying several things including various vitamins (folic acid, C, Iron, Cal/Mag), getting off ice cream, chocolate, caffeine. It could be easing of sleep debt or surgery stress too.

UPDATE - Source of the twitching was very small amounts of caffeine - Even decaff tea.

Every night my sleep is a little better. I seem to need almost 10 hours, but the mornings contain many awakenings. I try to take naps sometimes but only doze - I'm sure it's the nightly seroquel I take which I'm tapering off of. Of course, No CPAP - a miracle.

Haven't used any rubber bands on the arch bars for the last 5 nights - done with that. My swelling is 95% gone, still more on the right side. Lower lip still numb, no improvement. Have gained back 3 pounds (5 to go). Eating is not nearly as hard as I thought. Getting plenty of food. No chewing. Some of the stitches have fallen out during brushing, but most are still in. Randomly I have teeth pain which feels like pressure. I'm sure this is the feeling that people who have braces experience. I can open my mouth about 10mm. Eagerly awaiting the next surgery on Sept 6th to remove the arch bars, and to say a final goodbye to Palo Alto and Stanford.

Wow, my shirt doesn't look like that in real life - must be a camera thing.

Another week flys by. As you can see by the picture, not much swelling left. My energy is 99%, but still slightly weaker than normal. My sleep is CPAP-less and getting better every night. I wake up about 4am and about every hour after that. Getting 9-10hrs a night. Guess I needed some catchup. I can tell something is happening with my numb chin because of various strange sensations - hopefully it's nerve regeneration.

The arch bars are starting to bug me. Having to use wax to prevent pokes from the wires. Thankfully they come off next week at Stanford. Body weight is steady. Eating without chewing is no problem. Mixing whey protein with pancake mix works great! Can still open my mouth only about 10mm. Life is becoming normal.

We flew to San Jose from Texas on Labor day and drove the short 15min trip up to Palo Alto/Stanford the day before the arch bar removal (Sept 6th). Some doctors do arch bar removal in their office but I've heard from some of them and it's not a happy thing. Dr Powell does this in the hospital as a short surgery to make it easier on everybody. I was completely knocked out, It was a non-event - no pain, nothing. My upper jaw was numb for the rest of the night but I was still able to catch up on eating. It's treated like any surgery and you have to go through admissions, put on the fancy dress, and the whole bit. Seems like a lot for such a short procedure but I'm happy with the comfort it provides.

I saw Dr Powell in the hallway before surgery and asked him how many surgeries he had done that day: His answer - 2!. My surgery was done at 4:30pm and I hadn't had anything to eat since midnight and that was by far the most difficult part. Somehow I got the instructions wrong from Dr. Atkinson about what I could drink. He gave me a C-minus on comprehension :)

The arch bars are connected to the teeth with wires. The arch bars are also connected to the bone above and below with suspension wires and all this is now gone. My mouth is 'normal' now and I think it might be slightly more comfortable to sleep too. My upper lip is not protruding like it did before now that the hardware and wax is gone. I look fairly normal at this point but still have a very slight amount of swelling on one side of the jaw.

The next day I felt totally normal after a good night sleep and we drove up through 'The City' San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge to tour the Marin County Civic center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright - Awesome! Got a parking ticket :) After that we headed back to Dr Powell's office for a post-op XRay. The lateral shows my airway still huge but slightly narrower than the immediate post-op XRay of 6 weeks ago. He said it was normal and that I was still 'over corrected' meaning "BIG AIRWAY". They also show that in addition to the plates, there are some wires above the front teeth that are going to stay - I didn't know that but it's no big deal. I guess I can't dry my hair in the microwave anymore :)

We chatted for quite some time and looked over the XRays. He showed me how to use tongue depressors to wedge my jaw open gently to increase opening. My current jaw opening is 19mm and he said he had never had a patient that didn't regain full opening. He wants me to have a sleep study within 4-6 months for the record. At this point I believe I'm fixed but I still need time for my sleep to normalize. Almost every night is good and the ones that are not can be attributed to caffeine, late night drumming, or lack of decent nutrition (protein). I'll be switching to Monthly updates from now on.

Pre-Op Panic There appears to be a process that people go through with a major surgery and learning about it can help ease the nerves. Here goes my non-scientific take on the subject. Once the emotional commitment is made to have the surgery there's usually a period of several months before the procedure can be scheduled. Committing to a surgery is a bit like offering to help a friend move in the distant future. Since it's so far away, the decision is easy to make. As the event approaches, you start to regret it. A little anxiety, and a lot of 'what-if' thinking is common during this phase. It's very normal to need feedback from your family and friends to confirm that your decision is sound, so go ahead and ask for it. Then, about 1 or 2 weeks before the surgery will come the "Oh My G....!" Phase. This restarts the whole decision-making process, investigation, and questioning if this is really the best thing to do. Some people even decide to bail out and contact the Doctor's office to postpone or reschedule. Rationality usually triumphs as Doctors and family members apply reassurance. You're normal - celebrate. Then, about 1 or 2 days before the surgery will come another phase - panic, doubt and fear. This one is usually easier because you've been down the path before. It's still very scary and can result in disrupted sleep, mild depression, a loss of appetite, and even a full-blown panic attack. If you're able, exercising and staying busy will help a lot. The next phase comes when you're in pre-op. For a while you'll be distracted by insurance paperwork, funny gowns, and endless questions about your medical history. After that, there's a calm time and the brain and emotions move in for the kill. "What have I done?", "Is this the right thing?", "Ok, I've changed my mind!". Don't worry, this is totally normal. If you've decided to change your mind, you'll have several nurses and family members there by your side to convince you otherwise. I promise, you're not the first. The uncomfortable waiting will be over when the anesthesiologist shows up and inserts the Cool-Aid. "Who cares", "do anything you want", and "whatever" will be your new mottos. After surgery you'll give a sigh of relief. No more worrying about whether you should go through with it - it's over, done with. You'll wonder what all the fuss was about. The last phase happens in about 2-3 months. You'll be sitting there and realize that it's all behind you. All that worry was for nought. Glimpses of anxiety in your memory will seem silly and your family might even tease you about it. You may or may not go through each of these phases, and you may have your own special phase or two, but for the most part we all go through this emotional act of self-defense. Isn't it nice to know it's all perfectly normal?

2 Month Update - Sept 26, 05

Are you ready for a story? Two days after returning from Stanford for Arch Bar removal was a Saturday. After another decent night of sleep, I got up and worked all day around the house, drummed a bit, worked out, dinner with the family, the usual. I was very energetic which is a good sign that I got good sleep.

Then, out of the blue, totally unexpectedly, Saturday night was one of the worst nights I've ever had. Constantly being woken up with choking and swallowing. Sunday was a total loss. Fatigued, I laid on the couch most of the day. The following week I worked part time and did slightly better while still having some bad nights. Felt terribly fatigued during the days and had lost more weight - even down below my post-surgery weight - scary.

Finally on the following Sunday I'd had enough, knowing I was unable to go to work the following week, I made a call to Dr Powell's office. I talked to his partner Dr Sesso and explained the situation. Later that afternoon, Dr Powell called and we talked about what might be going on. No pain, no obvious sign of infection, no 'pop' indicating something had come loose. I told him it was impossible to travel since my energy was gone. The next day (Monday), Dr Powell called and said to find a way to come see him. I bought tickets for Wednesday and hoped for energy.

Traveling 1600 miles Wednesday alone was very difficult. Several times during the day I felt so fatigued I almost passed out. Got into town in the afternoon, did the hotel thing, and got to Dr Powell's office around 4pm. Julia took an XRay and put me in a room. Dr Powell came in holding the XRay and said he was going to finish up with other patients first then come talk with me. I said: "Let me see the XRay". He said he would show it to me later. I figured I had a surprise coming :).

Around 5pm he came in and showed me the XRay. My airway looked like it did PRE-MMA surgery! He said he'd never seen anything like it. One difference was that my hyoid bone was located higher than before. We went into his office and compared XRays on his light table with Dr Hester, Dr Sesso and the 2 apprentices (one from Israel and one from Korea I think). Everyone shaking their head.

Dr Powell asked if it was possible that I swallowed during the XRay and I told him probably not. I've had more experience in the last 4 years with XRays than a neutron star! After some more head scratching he told Julia to take another XRay. During the second XRay I made an extra effort to relax my throat and it showed my airway completely fine! In fact, slightly better than the last post-op XRay taken 2 weeks ago. Wow, what a ride :)

Update: After a lot of experimenting I found that this whole event was caused by spray paint exposure. My airway was tensed up during the first XRay due to thick drainage.

But still we had to figure out what was going on with my sleep. After some time it was concluded that I have thickened post-nasal drainage that is causing swallowing and choking during sleep. They concocted some prescriptions including a nasal spray Atrovent (not a steroid), Mucinex (Guaifenesin, 600mg), and Lunesta.

It appears that I got into something on that energetic Saturday that inflamed my airway and made my mucus thick. It could have been a million things including spray paint, pollen, saw dust, dog dander, etc.

I stayed in Silicon Valley for 2 more days and got moderately good sleep although still fatigued. Went to see a customer, a laser cutting shop, and a pre-surgery MMA patient that wanted to chat. Very busy day.

The weather was beautiful. Many of the stores and restaurants leave their doors open. I was told that the day before I arrived there was a massive thunderstorm in the valley that got everyone excited. The outdoor furniture at the hotel was all wet.

Saturday Morning I woke up at 3am to get ready for my trek back to Texas. My flights went from San Jose down to LA, then to DFW, then to Tyler. Hurricane Rita was plowing through East TX and was on track to be there just as I arrived. My hope was not getting stuck in LA. Can't imagine sleeping overnight in an airport, but still it would be much better than my CPAP days. On the first leg I actually slept well sitting straight up and missed the drink cart! Got all the way to DFW but the landing was crazy due to high wind gusts. The Tyler leg was canceled due to high winds. My brother Randy who lives in DFW came and picked me up and drove me to Tyler (2 hours+). There were several wrecks and overturned trucks on the highway as the rain and wind gusts blew us all over the place. Also a big fire. My driveway at home looked like a war zone with tree limbs all over. Very happy to be home. Thanks Randy - You Da MAN!

Last night was an OK night and I have enough energy today to do some home projects. Most of the time I was sleeping with my mouth open. I guess that's OK. I had one breathing event while on my back that jolted me awake but the rest of the night was OK. The nasal spray and Mucinex must be helping some. I still feel inflamed but the drainage is flowing better and that was my problem - I think. Using a nasal irrigator seems to really clear me up too.

In other news: Chewing is becoming possible. Last night I had a steak but had to cut it into thin slices. Can crunch gently on potato chips and the like, but can not chomp a carrot or other hard things. Concerning facial features, every once in a while my wife says that I look virtually normal, or even slightly better. My chin is still numb but sensations are returning and sometimes I get tingling feelings so I think nerve regeneration is in the works. I can still only open my mouth about a thumbs width and have started daily stretching to regain full opening. And, when I sleep a 'normal' night, I don't have the afternoon crash/nap that I use to, which is certainly an indication that my sleep is more restorative than it use to be.

So, here it is 8 weeks after surgery. Besides the recent surprise detour and lost week, I feel like I'm on the mend, and might have found a critical piece of my sleep puzzle - Spray paint sensitivity. Without a doubt, MMA fixed my main breathing problem (tongue collapse), but it looks like I've underestimated the affect of allergies (mainly thick drainage) on my sleep and will begin working on that.

Every week I get more emails about my story. I'm glad so many are finding it helpful.

One trick to getting enough to eat is to chop food into fine bits. A great tool for this is the Pampered Chef #2585 Food Chopper. It works well with fruit, pasta, and even chicken meat. Add a little BBQ sauce, salad dressing, or soup broth and you're good to go. Watch out for spicy sauces because they tend to sting healing incisions. The chopper comes apart for easy clean up too. No, I don't get a commission :)

Even though I haven't used it, Zip-N-Squeeze has been used by many people I've talked to with great success. Basically, it's a flexible bag that allows you to dispense liquid or soft food easily without sucking. It can also help with oral hygiene while the toothbrush is off limits.

I've heard that this company may now be out of business (9/09), so don't just send them money until you confirm.

The thick drainage that caused me so much problem is better and my sleep is back to how it was before this hit me. Fall allergy season is affecting others in my home with sneezing and coughing. Mucinex and Atrovent is doing a good job for me. Felt good all week with good energy and ambition, and gained back a couple pounds.

Quick Update. The surgery is a distant memory. So is CPAP. There is no pain or swelling left. Jaw opening has increased from 19mm to 29mm in the last 3 weeks. (45+ is the goal) Chewing is possible for most things except hard candy and steak. I still have some teeth that feel funny or loose. My chin and a small place on the roof of my mouth is numb but feeling is slowly returning. If it doesn't return completely, I can live with it.

Most people that see me daily do not notice any difference in my appearance but people that haven't seen me since before the surgery notice a slightly pronounced jaw.

Sleeping on my back does not usually work, I wake up with what appears to be a breathing disruption. So, I sleep on my side and with my mouth open. I'm not exactly sure what is going on but it's still only 3 months since surgery and it's possible there's tissue that needs recovery time. Minor allergies definitely affect my sleep adversely and I've been taking meds to help that.

My State Farm Insurance plan has really done good with all this. I am impressed by their speed and they have a customer for life. My goal is to have less medical expenses than I pay them in fees so they can make their money back. I'm on my way to that.

EMails about this blog are still coming in. I'm glad it's proving helpful for people. Hearing someone else's story obviously helps tame the worries of a future surgery.

The Attitude Choice The attitude we have toward a medical condition, or any difficult situation really, determines how well we deal with it, and in part, whether we overcome it or not.  Every human has their own special battles - real and imagined. We have the choice which attitude to adopt even though our nature tries to pick for us. Our attitude choice is: #1 This condition is terrible, I've been victimized, I don't deserve this, why me? #2 I'm fortunate this has been discovered, I have the power to do something about it, and there are people that can, and WANT to help me. Guess which choice our nature wants to choose for us?   #1 of course!   It's impossible to fully win with attitude #1.   Even if you succeed, you've only broken even in emotional terms.   With attitude #2 though, you win either way, makes the journey bearable, and it actually contributes to the solution. The question is, are you going to let your nature select #1 for you, or are you going to take control of your attitude and pick for yourself?  Why were we given the ability to choose if we weren't suppose to use it?  Contrary to popular perception, YOU DO HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE.  Feeling helpless is natural, but attitude selection is one of the powers you have, so exercise it!  I'm not trying to make a big mind-over-matter statement, I'm just saying that we're underestimating the benefit of our attitude in difficult situations.  If you realize you have the choice I'm sure you'll pick #2, who wouldn't?  Yes, it takes some work, but less than you might think, and certainly less than the work of enduring #1.  Remind yourself how difficult it would be if your condition couldn't be diagnosed.  Remind yourself how fortunate you are that you live in the right place and surrounded by people that are capable of helping.  It's even a blessing to live at this TIME, because a hundred years ago this condition was unknown and untreatable.  If you choose attitude #2, thankfulness and happiness will replace fear and anger.  It makes all the difference in the world - for you, for your caregivers, and for your condition. Finally, never feel like a burden to those helping you or resist help for prideful reasons.  Helping people can be very rewarding and one of life's greatest gifts, so don't deny others the opportunity. Roger Arrick,    Fighter of special battles,    Beneficiary of helpers,    Selector of Choice #2

4 Month Update - Nov 26, 05

Heck, I'm not afraid to say "Merry Christmas"! Merry Christmas, SO THERE! :) Celebrating Christmas is not an act of disrespect to others! What's this world coming to?

Ok, now that's all out of the way. Although my sleep is not perfect, I can easily say that this is the first year in my life that my sleep is BETTER than the year before. Much better. MMA was certainly worth it without question.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all of those that have emailed me about this blog - Jeff, Sam, George, Bill, Dee, Tod, Larry, John, David, and the list goes on...

CPAP-less in Texas,
Roger

Creative Things to do with an old CPAP Machine #1 Aquarium pump #2 Drain declogger #3 Inflating pool toys #4 Darth Vader costume accessory #5 Blowing up balloons #6 White noise generator #7 Pond aerator #8 MMA thanksgiving idol #9 Automatic bath tub bubbler And now for option #10.....Drum Roll..... #10 Burp-inducing party activity!

6 Month Sleep Study - Feb 2, 06

Dr. Powell scheduled a post-op follow-up sleep study at 6 months. This is done for all MMA patients even if they feel cured. I had the option of having the study here in Texas but since I've been experiencing events while on my back I thought it would be best to go to Stanford.

Stanford has a special sensor called PES to measure esophageal pressure and that gives Doctors one more piece of information. More information = good.

I showed up at the clinic at 7pm and they sent me to a room promptly. After filling out some forms and slipping into my jammies, a nice tech came in and started wiring me up. Wires and wires and wires. Thought it was never going to end. The glue that they use to attach the sensors is very strong, unlike other studies that I've had that used a vasoline-like substance. The glue, and later the remover, had a strong odor and made me light-headed for a few minuites. Much like paint thinner. I think it's overkill.

After all the wires were hooked up to my head, face, chin, chest, legs, she gave me a tissue. What's this for? She said my eyes may water when she installs the PES sensor. The sensor is basically a small-diameter feeding tube not much bigger than a pencil lead. Into my nose it went and then massive gagging, strange noises, and a flood of water from my eyes. Uncomfortable would be an understatement. Each time I swallowed I could feel the tube - so I quit that.

Into bed I went, downed half an Ambien, and off I went. Minus a few interruptions to adjust the sensors, the night was uneventful and I slept most of it. I pushed the button at 6:45 (didn't know the time then) and the tech came in to "disconnect me". Removing the PES lacks the drama of insertion. The tech said they got enough data but she isn't suppose to tell me anything - that's for the Dr. to do. After a few minuites I was gone.

At 10am I went over to see Dr. Powell. The office crew - Carol, Marieline, Julia - commented that the blog had been helpful to many patients. A quick XRay showed my airway is huge with no noticable change since 4 months ago. No results from the sleep study. Could take a week or 2.

For lunch I went over to the Stanford mall and got my favorite - Tiramisu, and some lemon chicken at Long Life Noodle. At 2:30 I went on the long-awaited tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Hanna House near the Stanford Campus. Absolutely fantastic and we had a great conversation with the tour guide who had many interesting stories about the house, the Hannas, and Mr Wright.

That night I had dinner with a fellow robot builder Chuck - my first time to eat swordfish. Chuck has been a robotics guru for ages and also has one of my synthesizers. Later I realized that I felt good in spite of sleeping at the clinic the night before.

The next day was Friday and I had lunch with another apnea sufferer who's considering surgery, then later that evening had a visit with yet another apnea sufferer in Atherton. The latter has had apnea since he was a kid and just recently discovered it. It explained why he felt the way he did and he was ready to get it taken care of since it was getting so bad. His appt was scheduled for the next week.

This area is difficult to navigate, especially at night, since the roads are not grid-like. After 37 wrong turns, I ended up on the 101 going South....no North. Traffic was going about 5 miles/hour. No sweat, I was on VACATION, and didn't have anywhere special to go.

Saturday was traveling day. Got to the San Jose airport at around 5am, back in Texas at 2pm. Thank goodness for the iPod!

My sleep is SOOOO much better, but not perfect. I'd say I'm 70%+ better. I can certainly live this way but would like to be even better. Before the surgery, I could not live that way any more. Now I have very small events in certain positions and when my airway is inflammed due to allergies or paint, sawdust, whatever. They are just enough to wake me, but taking an Ambien lets me sleep fine and I feel rested most days. The afternoon sleepies cause me problems but I've learned that having a high-protein snack at 3pm helps tremendously. Before surgery the breathing events were drastic and caused heart racing, panic, choking, etc, and a sleeping pill would not cover them up, plus I HAD to use cpap. Now, I've been CPAP-less for 6 months. I'm guessing that the sleep study will show a very few small events. My problem is that I'm such a light sleeper, anything wakes me. We'll see what the study says.

Forgot to mention... I can now open my mouth about 34mm which is an improvement from 29mm 2 months ago - not bad. And I'm having new sensations in my chin. It looks like I'm going to regain some of the feeling in my chin but not all.

The sleep study at Stanford appears to be more exhaustive than any I've had before. An esophageal pressure sensor (PES) was used which is very uncomfortable. I stayed on my back the entire time - worst case. The study showed 44 events per hour - mostly hypopneas, some out-of-bounds negative pressure from the PES, no centrals, no PLMD, and good o2.

After going over this study and a pre-MMA study done TX, it appears these can be compared. In both studies, CPAP was not used, I had 10mg of Ambien, and stayed on my back most of the time.

In the pre-MMA study I had NO REM sleep, zero. Mostly stage 2.
In the post-MMA study I had 9% REM. While not normal (15%-20%), This is probably why I feel so much better.

What's interesting is that the number of 'Events' in my post-op study is twice as many as the pre-op study. Obviously I'm much better, so what's the deal? The reason is that during the post-op study I was actually able to sleep through these events because they were mild, unlike the pre-op study where airway collapse was more complete and kept me from getting into REM. It appears that there are a lot of people with a low number of events, but damaged sleep architecture resulting in severe fatigue. Our brains are adapting by staying out of deep sleep to prevent airway failure. This is characteristic of "light sleepers". Of course we all know about "deep sleepers" that can lay down anywhere, sleep anytime, and snore, choke, gasp through it all. I've written about these "Two Types of Sleepers" on the forums. AHI cannot be used as the ultimate score. This is my un-learned opinion.

The XRays still show my airway is huge and my sleep is definitely much better. I still have some events while on my back and maybe some small ones on my side but they are nothing like before. Before, CPAP wasn't stopping the events (at any pressure), they were much greater in intensity, and were keeping me awake all night. Fatigue was terrible and getting worse by the month. Now, I've slept for 9 months without CPAP. Most days, my energy is 99% with a difficult dip requiring a nap in the afternoons - a great improvement over the pre-op days.

I can't help but think if I had gone step-wise through the phased protocol I would be 95% instead of 70%. I've become suspicious that my previous soft-tissue surgeries may have been less than optimal and possibly harmful. In spite of this imperfection, I'm so much better than before and my life, ambition, concentration, attitude, etc are greatly improved. MMA is difficult, I guess most are, but it was worth it to get some decent sleep.

My jaw opening is still about 34mm so I guess the improvement is going to be slower from here on out. Can't remember to do those stretching exercises! Chin numbness is reduced to a strip about 1/2 inch wide so I'm hoping it will all come back.

Picture of me May 06, in the dungeon, with GG the Greyhound.

We'll it's been more than a year since MMA. I'm sleeping about the same, much better than before MMA, but not perfect. The afternoon dip is really difficult and I'm unable to work through it. After Dinner I'm fine. Thankfully I'm self-employeed and can work my schedule around this.

Mouth opening has settled at 37mm and I have no trouble eating anything. Tough, chewey meat is a slight exception - it tires my jaw.

I lost about 10% of my body weight after the surgery, and it never came back. This story is common.

Haven't used CPAP since the surgery and that in itself makes the whole thing worth it because CPAP was so difficult for me.

I'm having to take an Ambien to get decent sleep. I guess it's not the end of the world but I'd like to be off. Plus, it's about $100/mo ($1200/yr), 30 years would be....$36K ! My State Farm insurance is great but there's no prescription coverage. It's funny to hear people complain about $10 co-pays :)

If I had it to do all over again, I would have gone through the phased protocol step-wise using experienced Drs. It seems like most people that have great success with MMA have done that. I'm happy with my improvement, but it's not what I need ultimately. So, next month I'm going back to have the soft-tissue work done. Not nearly as big a deal as MMA, but still an ordeal.

Looking back over this last year I see that I've accomplished a lot of things around the house including remodeling a bathroom, and at work including replacing our entire accounting infrastructure and a big programming project. All this wasn't nearly as difficult as the previous 4 years. Without decent sleep, everything is difficult.

I'm looking forward to progress in apnea treatment so others won't have to go through all this.

Onward and Upward.

It's been 17 months since my MMA surgery. Left over effects continue to be a small strip of numbness on my lower lip, a bite that doesn't match in the back, and an infrequent clicking in the TMJ (no pain). All of these were expected, accepted, and certainly a small price to pay to resolve chronic sleep deprivation. Eventually I might pursue getting my bite fixed, but only with Dr Powell's approval since I don't want to undo any progress made to my airway.

On Oct 17th, 2006, I went back and had Dr Powell do some soft-tissue work including a modified UPPP (leaving the tonsils), RF to the turbinates, and RF to the base of the tongue. He also inserted small pieces of bone into my nostrils to stiffen them. Since I had no idea how difficult this surgery would be, I arranged to stay the entire week. Surgery was on a Tuesday afternoon with an overnight stay at the Stanford hospital as a precaution. I think it was the exact same room I had last time - #216. I talked to many nice people at the Hospital, some remembered me from last year, and several commented on the blog.

Recovery was very quick. We went antique shopping on Thursday, viewed the Winchester House on Friday, had a nice dinner with Jeff in Los Altos, then flew back home on Saturday. There was no noticable swelling. I could have easily travelled home the day after surgery. The pain was minimal aside from a slight sore throat for about 3 weeks.

An unimpressive picture of the stitches in my soft palate at 2 weeks post-op.

I didn't notice any improvement in my sleep until about a month later. Now, at 2 months, I can definitely say that my sleep has improved. I'm still struggling to get off Ambien but in the last week I've cut the dosage in half and am doing great. The second half of the night is fragmented with lots of tossing and turning but I feel fairly rested. I'm very pleased with this progress. If I can get completely off Ambien I will be a happy camper indeed - and $1500 richer each year.

I would estimate that this final surgery has improved my progress from 70% post MMA, to 90%. My sleep is the best it's been since these problems started in 2001. There are other surgical options, including hyoid suspension, but at this point my sleep is good enough that I'm not considering it. Later I might go for a sleep study and see what the numbers are.

My suggestion for others considering surgery for apnea continues to be to find a good Doctor - one that has many years of experience treating apnea, that does so regularly, and one that will see you through whatever it takes.

Dr. Powell is an incredible Doctor having passion, knowledge and skill that is unsurpassed.
I am very fortunate to have him. I only wish everyone could be so lucky.

This last year and a half has been an incredible ride. While not the easiest thing in the world, it was all worth it to feel normal. The second greatest thing was meeting so many nice people and making so many new friends - at the Drs office, at the hospital, and other apnea patients. Being a geek, I'm an introvert and have never been much of a people-person, but this experience has profoundly changed me for the better. There's something special about being connected to others through a common mission. I've also always been an unconfident traveller. Now with 10 trips to the Bay area under my belt, I'm much better in this area too. Go ahead, look it up, "unconfident" really is a word.

A special hello to Jeff, Todd, Tom, Bill, Michael, Karen; the entire crew at Dr Powell's office including Marieline and Carol; and the Nurses at the Stanford Hospital.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

How time flies. It's been 2 years since I first visted Stanford to get this show on the road, and 22 months since surgery. Can't believe it.

Since the last update in December, the biggest thing health-wise has been a kidney stone. Not fun at all, and certainly more pain than MMA surgery. I opted to avoid lithotripsy out of concern for kidney damage and hoped it would pass on its own. The stone moved down to the entrance of my bladder and stuck there leading to a surgical removal.

I mention this non-sleep-related event because an interesting thing occured. My reaction to kidney stone surgery was dominated by a feeling of being unfortunate. Sort of like a car wreck. This is completely different than MMA surgery where I felt very fortunate. I guess the main difference is that my sleep problems became the norm and a solution, of any kind, was a positive. For the kidney stone, I hadn't had time to accept the condition as the base-line, and surgery was just getting me back to normal. It's interesting how our brains work.

I'm still using 5mg of Ambien to get to sleep. A few attempts to stop backfired requiring several days of catch up. I will keep trying. The patent for Ambien ran out in April and it went from $4/pill to .60/pill. You read that right! A bottle of 30 use to cost $120, now $18. This saves me hundreds of dollars per year.

For those of you that read the Sleepnet forums, you've probably noticed I don't post quite as much as I use to. This is mainly due to my focus moving away from solving my sleep problem, back to real life. I try to resist and return to the forum as often as I think about it.

My bite is still edge-on-edge making chewing difficult. I've noticed some clicking and a tiny amount of jaw discomfort on the left side. It's not an issue at this point but I'll keep an eye on it. Having my teeth worked on is definitely a consideration. I'm not sure how well that will work at my age (45), but I might ask Powell what he thinks. The obvious concern is that I don't want to compromise my airway in any way.

I feel very fortunate to have experienced such a large health problem while young, to experience healing, to feel extreme graditude, and to value feeling normal. Most people experience heath problems later, only after they have taken their health for granted for the majority of their life. This experience has definitely changed my outlook.

Well, that's it for now - back to life. Best wishes to all the nice people I've meet on this journey.

Things are going fine and thanks to all who have written to check up on me. It's fantastic to see all of the new sleep surgery blogs out there shining a spotlight on an otherwise dark corner of our sleep journey.

Not much has changed in the last few months sleep-wise, but I have learned an important thing about recovery of jaw muscles following MMA that I would like to share.

As you might have read above, my jaw acquired a slight clicking sound and even a scary pop every now and then. The pops would occur when I opened my mouth very wide such as a yawn. Thankfully, I yawn MUCH less now than before surgery. There was no pain but the noises were unsettling. These symptoms were gradually getting worse and had me mildly concerned.

Then, I had a molar become sensitive so I headed off to the Dentist. He said the tooth had a slightly exposed root, some wearing of the enable near the gumline, and possibly a tiny cavity - so I had it filled.

After the filling, the tooth was better but still a tad bit sensitive. My natural response to this was to chew more on the other side. After about a month of balanced chewing, jaw clicking and popping went away!

Apparently, I had developed a habit of chewing only on one side and the muscles on that side redeveloped and adapted after surgery much more than the unused side. I can see how this habit developed because early in recovery (8 weeks post-op) one side felt more ready to chew than the other. The more it was used, the better it felt and the more it recovered. The other side got left unused and undeveloped. I doubt this is peculiar to me even though I am somewhat peculiar :).

So, I would say this is something that all MMA victims need to keep an eye on. When beginning to chew, try to use both sides in a balanced way so the muscles redevelop evenly.

If anyone has seen any medical paper dealing with this, please send it to me.

That's all from this side of the tracks. Happy sleeping to all.

Sleep Study Report Bloopers Total sleep time was 312 days with an efficiency index of 62%. Snoring was pleasant during study. Waking up choking and grasping for air. Patient slept peacefully in waiting room, no data. Patient left facility without permission, possibly asleep. Complaints of inflamed memory are common. Patient has experienced disrupted sleep since 1898. Arrived at clinic on time, but without clothing. Insomnia resulting in excessive sleep. No cardiac rhythm detected. A slight noise was noticed upon expiration. Patient brought medicine - M&Ms. Reports normal sleep including short bursts of screaming. Adjusted well to full-face rash. Patient had multiple arousals while awake. Both studies experienced machine failure, please schedule another. Patient claims cannot sleep without waking up, cannot stay awake without falling asleep. His rapid heart rate eventually subsided. Experienced no difficulty in perspiration. Patient complains of constant traffic accidents. PLMD test discovered no limbs. Study indicates destructive sleep apnea syndrome. Patient refused CRAP.

Best Wishes to.. Greg, Craig, and others on their upcoming surgeries.

High-5 to.. Dan, Tom, Matt, Cheri, Hap, Paul, Scott, Michael, Karen, Jeff, Jeff2, Todd, Lucinda, others for getting to the other side!

13 Tips for MMA/BiMax Patients These are in order of importance - Most important first. #1 Realize how fortunate you are to discover the problem and live at a time and place where a solution exists. Literally millions of people around the world have this condition and will never know it. Many that find out are not in a position to get it fixed. This can make a big difference in how you heal and deal with it mentally and emotionally. #2 Be prepaid to be out of commission for 2-8 weeks. The more the better. Your millage may vary. Have a backup plan if you need 3 months. Probably won't, but consider it. You will not be going back to work as an auctioneer at 10 days, and you will not have the energy to continue your Olympic training at 3 weeks, so be realistic. #3 You need someone to care for you, specifically to keep your meds on schedule for at least the first 4 days, and that's if things go well. It's also nice to have someone around to listing to your moaning and offer encouragement. I'll combine this one with 'keep your meds on schedule'. Getting behind on pain meds is a tough lesson to learn. #4 You have to WORK at getting enough food, and the right kind. Protein-dense food is best - my opinion. If you're loosing more than a half pound a day, you're not getting enough. #5 You have to get enough fluid to combat constipation due to meds. I suggest magnesium for this, but check with your Doctor. #6 Sleep sitting up for at least the first week, maybe several more. There will be swelling and your airway needs all the help it can get during sleep, plus it helps reduce swelling, bleeding, etc. #7 Expect swelling and to feel crappy. It's perfectly normal. Some people have little swelling and some have a lot for a long time. Take it one day at a time. Most days will be noticeably better, with some days worse. 2 steps forward, 1 step back. #8 Monitor your progress daily with a camera and a few written words. Improvement is hard to see during this time and it's helpful to look back and see the progress. Record exactly how you feel and what you're able/not-able to do. #9 Don't over-think the situation. Did it work? Am I suppose to be feeling this way? Maybe I'm worse! What am I going to do? This is BS your mind will try to pull on you - tell it NO. Stay busy and engage with people and life. If it's less that 3 months post-surgery, it's too early to be asking these questions. #10 Watch for post surgery depression. This catches people by surprise. Doesn't happen to everyone but you may feel depressed for no reason shortly after, or even several weeks after surgery. It might be feelings of loss, fear, or being out of place. It's normal and it doesn't last, see #9 #11 Work at slowly building up strength. This takes work. You don't want to start for a week or so, and you don't want to push it. Get up, move around, fix some more food, brush your teeth, etc. Don't just sit there in front of the TV. Your body needs to move to keep the healing process going and your mind healthy. #12 Thank caregivers. Bet you forgot that one. Give them the gratitude they've earned and let them know you will be there for them when they need it. This surgery is a big deal for both patients AND caregivers. #13 Help others. Really, it's a tad bit selfish to go through all of this - the condition that lead to it, the discovery, the decision-making process, the panic, the healing process, and all that without sharing your experience with others. Not only will it help them, it's a form of healing for yourself, and offers closure. Good luck on your journey - Roger.

It's hard to believe it's been 3 years since the surgery. I guess I'm an ole-timer now :)
And what about 36000 miles? It's not just a word play, I've actually travelled to the Bay area from TX about 11 times in 3 years (not all for sleep) and that totals about 36000 miles.

In Sept 2008 I headed back to Powell for a grand fanale sleep study and to join a meetup of other sleep sugery survivors who meet on the SleepNet forum. The meetup has been in the works for more than a year and it was gonna be the first of its kind.

My study was at Bay Sleep in Menlo Park unlike the other one which was at Stanford. It's not quite as fancy but the Tech did a great job and I liked the electrode paste which didn't require a toxic concoction to remove. No PES either. Sleep didn't go quite as well as it would have at home, but I did finally get to sleep and got a good long stretch. I made sure to get some sleep on my back and my side.

The next day I meet up with Powell for the results.
Apnea index is .5 and hypopnea index is 6. AHI=6.5 = PASS!
REM is up to 12.5% and o2 is normal. So, this is good news indeed.

After that I just killed time by going to Feldman's Book store, checked out the new Tesla electric car dealership, and attempted to find a death certificate for my genealogy research at the Redwood City county clerk. I failed that last task due to parking.

The Meetup with other patients started out on Friday night then we rejoined Saturday. It was great to meet all those people and to connect with others that have been through a similar battle. Check out the pictures of the meetup. It was such a success that we will probably do it yearly.

Roger and Seattle Bill at the Meetup

While in CA, Hurricane Ike slammed into south Texas and headed right for my house. I had no idea what to expect, but thankfully it petered out about 50 miles from my house and we only got scared dogs and a broken shortwave antenna. In spite of all that, my flight made it back without delay, but it was depressing to learn my backup protein bar slipped out of my bag while under the airplane seat. 837 Emails in my inbox - back to work.

I'm not sure I'll do any more updates. I consider this journey complete and this battle as won as it's gonna get, but it will never be forgotten and has changed me forever for the better. Who knows what life has in store for me next.

Best wishes to all.