About this topic
Sleep apnea is a common sleep problem. Your breathing stops or gets very shallow for 10 to 30 seconds while you are sleeping. There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. ‚
With either type of sleep apnea, the amount of oxygen in your blood may drop. This results in poor sleep and makes you tired during the day. ‚
For obstructive sleep apnea, surgery may be done to remove part of the soft palette, the uvula, and tonsils to open up the airways to ease breathing during sleep. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- You may still need to use your CPAP breathing machine even after this surgery. Talk with your doctor.
- You may have some minor bleeding once you are home. Rinse the back of your throat with ice water.
- Drink lots of liquids. Sucking on ice and popsicles may help with pain and swelling.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent infection
Will physical activity be limited?
- You may have to limit your activities for a while. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you.
- Ask your doctor when you can go back to work or driving.
What changes to diet are needed?
- For the first day or two, stay on a liquid diet. Then, try soft foods like jello, yogurt, and pudding. When you feel you can add other foods, start with pasta and bread.
- Take your pain drug 30 minutes before you eat. This will help to make swallowing easier.
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Injury to other tissue or blood vessels
- Breathing gets worse
- Sleep apnea problem gets worse
- CPAP breathing machine may not work as well after this surgery
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Lose weight if you are too heavy.
- If you smoke, stop.
- Avoid drinking beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) at night.
- Do not use drugs like sleeping pills or sedatives to help you sleep.
- Try not to sleep on your back.
- Use your breathing therapies as directed.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- More bleeding than expected
- Coughing and throwing up blood
- Very bad pain that does not go away after taking your drugs for pain
- Upset stomach and throwing up
- You cannot eat
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain and swelling.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more bleeding, upset stomach and throwing up, or I cannot eat.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Otolaryngology ¢ ˆ ’ Head and Neck Surgery ‚
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Surgery-for-Obstructive-Sleep-Apnea.cfm ‚
American Sleep Apnea Association ‚
http://www.sleepapnea.org/diagnosis-and-treatment/treatment-options.html ‚
Canadian Lung Association ‚
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/apnea-apnee_e.php ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚