Hypopnea and Enlarged Tonsils?

It just occurred to me......

Before I moved back to the US from Germany in 2008, my ENT/Allergist in Germany wanted to remove my tonsils because of them being chronically enlarged (probably related to my chronic allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, along with recurrent strep and chronic bronchitis). Well, I still have my tonsils currently and they're still enlarged.

My son had his tonsils and adenoids removed when he was 2 or 3. What prompted it is what I now recognize as apnea symptoms in him. I had horribly enlarged tonsils and adenoids as a young child as well due to all the allergies, but in the 70s they wouldn't remove tonsils in children who were mouth breathers (which I was primarily due to my allergies).

So maybe this is MY missing link with all the issues I've been having. Could my hypopnea really just be being caused by my enlarged tonsils? And I am overweight. That combo could be responsible for the hypopnea I'd think. I was originally told I have mild sleep apnea, it was only later that it was clarified that I have hypopnea. I've never done any flailing around in my sleep nor do I snore loudly (more of the heavy breathing kinda snore). I prefer to sleep with my face half buried in the pillow but I have a tendency to jut my lower jaw forward (when I'm not grinding the hell out of my teeth) in an attempt to breathe. This just makes a lot of sense to me. Potentially even with the bruxism (grinding).

Thoughts? Experiences? Opinions?

If there were any connection in your case, your doctors would have acted on it already.
With your fibromyalgia, no stone would have been left unturned.
It saddens me that you have such a hard path ahead, with no shortcuts, and are running out of motivation.

chunkyfrog wrote:If there were any connection in your case, your doctors would have acted on it already.
With your fibromyalgia, no stone would have been left unturned.
It saddens me that you have such a hard path ahead, with no shortcuts, and are running out of motivation.

LMAO!!! So that makes me laugh ONLY because......I've NEVER seen a doc for sleep apnea/hypopnea. Only the techs in the sleep clinic. There was never a part of this process that included even asking me about such history.

chunkyfrog wrote:If there were any connection in your case, your doctors would have acted on it already.
With your fibromyalgia, no stone would have been left unturned.
It saddens me that you have such a hard path ahead, with no shortcuts, and are running out of motivation.

Additionally, like I mentioned on my other post, I don't have a fibro doc. So my fibro goes pretty much UNaddressed at all. The VA system is SOOOO screwed up.

Get yourself into an ENT doctor for his thoughts/opinions as to how much impact removing the tonsils might have on the sleep apnea.
How successful it might be is going to depend on a lot of things...like how bad your OSA is (and just because you had mainly hyponeas doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't bad because people can still have severe OSA that is mainly hyponeas) and how floppy the airway tissue is in general.
Given your problems with cpap therapy....I would sure at least talk to the doctors about a surgical solution. Even if it wasn't a perfect solution it's better than no therapy at all. From what I have read about people who do opt for a surgical solution that ends up being successful it's a short term success and the floppy airway tissues return but if it buys you some time that would be good and maybe if you need cpap later on you will have more success.

I wouldn't let them do anything else besides the tonsils though. I wouldn't let them cut on the tongue or trim the uvula or any of the other UPPP surgery stuff.
Tonsils only...don't get lured into a full UPPP. Success rate is poor and often the OSA returns and is worse and people need more pressure than they would have needed the first time around.

Pugsy wrote:...like how bad your OSA is

I was initially told I have very mild sleep apnea. It was only later explained that I actually have hypopnea. I'm hoping that means an increased likelihood that removal of the tonsils would help. And yeah, no more cutting things off than just the tonsil removal.

You really need to see the ENT doctor and discuss the surgical (tonsil) option for your OSA.
It might be enough. It also might not be enough but anything is better than abandoning all therapy.

Oh forgive my poor manners I have been meaning to say this but always seemed to get side tracked.....thank you for your service.

Pugsy wrote:Oh forgive my poor manners I have been meaning to say this but always seemed to get side tracked.....thank you for your service.

I appreciate that Pugsy. You are welcome. Thanks for the advice.

DebiB wrote:Before I moved back to the US from Germany in 2008, my ENT/Allergist in Germany wanted to remove my tonsils because of them being chronically enlarged (probably related to my chronic allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, along with recurrent strep and chronic bronchitis). Well, I still have my tonsils currently and they're still enlarged.

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Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are a common cause of snoring and sleep disruption in children. Although less commonly a problem in adults, some adults can receive excellent resolution of snoring through removal of enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids.
http://www.entnet.org/content/treatment ... ts-snoring

Below is a photo of enlarged tonsils. You can imagine that this could cause difficulty in breathing. If I had enlarged tonsils and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), I would have a consultation with a trusted ENT to discuss surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids.

ChicagoGranny wrote:
Below is a photo of enlarged tonsils. You can imagine that this could cause difficulty in breathing. If I had enlarged tonsils and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), I would have a consultation with a trusted ENT to discuss surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids.

Definitely thankful mine aren't like THAT! LOL At least not presently.