Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation

Hello @jonjacobjingleheimerschidt, and welcome to Connect. I did some of my own digging about Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation treatment. It would appear that upper airway stimulation is approved for people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who can't tolerate CPAP or BiPAP. Is it safe toe assume you have obstructive sleep apnea?

While we can't endorse any product, you may find this information from MayoClinic.org on treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea useful, http://mayocl.in/2rzGCvq. You may notice there is a portion on that page under surgical options that discusses upper airway stimulation treatments. As always, it would be best to present your questions to your sleep doctor, especially since the implantation of this device requires surgery and calibrating.

I would also like to invite @vickiw, @beatricefay, @patreats5674, @upnorthnancy, @hosta, as they all have sleep apnea and have discussed having some issues with their CPAP machines and masks. Have any of you heard of, or discussed with your physician, an upper airway stimulator?

I have not heard of the inspire upper airway stimulation treatment. I did get a new mask and it has helped for a while, now I am starting to have air leaks again. So discouraging. I have both obstructive and central sleep apnea. I am on a BIPAP machine.

I am doing well with my CPAP machine. I use the cushion pillows and have no air leaks. I don't expect to make any changes.

The mask seems to loose some of it’s springieness with a few months use. What are sponges? I will have to check into that since replacing masks every few months could get costly. I just had a motor vehicle accident and ended up with cervical ruptures etc. I hope it does not lead to worsening of my apnea as cervical disease get’s worse. I wonder if inspire the stimulator for those whom can’t tolerate other apnea devices will be the answer for me and others. Any body have any thoughts or experience with the inspire yet? My health insurance would only pay for at home apnea study. So not even sure if mine is obstructive or central. Maybe auto insurance will eventually help me get the full apnea study to see. Apnea is such a newer discovery that I don’t think we
even know for sure how common it is but I bet a lot more common then we think and causes a lot more further health issues then we are aware if too. Anyhow I am interested in any thoughts or wisdom anyone has. Thank You

Has anyone had any experience with "INSPIRESLEEP" for apnea approved by FDA in 2014? No mask or hose! Has had great reviews. A small electronic device placed during same-day, outpatient procedure. I tried CPAP twice and just too cumbersome for me. It seems like a wave of the future. I appreciate your thoughts or experience. Thanks, Happy Thanksgiving. Joe B

Hi @wgatap21, What in particular do you find cumbersome about the CPAP?

Just way too cumbersome as I seem to move too much around as I sleep!! Thx

Hi, @wgatap21 - are you finding you are rolling over the tubing at night, or what part of the CPAP was feeling cumbersome as you slept?

It’s uncomfortable as I’m sure it is to everyone at first and it actually you woke me up and a few other things. It’s just not for me !!

Happy New Year to you too @wgatap21! It does sound promising if you read all of the hype produced by Inspire. This article was from 2017 points out some of the problems.

How solid is the evidence for an implantable sleep apnea device? NBC’s story doesn’t say
-- https://www.healthnewsreview.org/review/how-solid-is-the-evidence-for-a-new-implantable-sleep-apnea-device-nbcs-story-doesnt-say/

On the other hand if would be nice if I didn't have to use a CPAP every night. The decision for me would boil down to cost, risks involved and if it works for me based on the cause of my sleep apnea. Here is what Inspire says....

Inspire - In Their Words
-- https://www.inspiresleep.com/testimonials/