Sleep apnea clinics and doctors in Munich

Getting fed up with waking both myself and the mrs with my sleep apnea. Have been waiting over a year for surgery in the UK - and can wait no longer!
Any one of you - or someone you know had the laser surgery to correct the problem in or around munich???
If so please help me out...it is seriously starting to wreck my relationship!

Thanks

Although I don't reccomend her services as she deliberately did loads of unnecessary tests on me when I went in with a simple ear blocked with wax to bump the price up (I'm privately insured and seen that happen before...) there's an ENT doctor on Candidplatz who has a clean, modern and well equipped surgery. She offered me the same operation. See here.

don't know how to link to another thread, but I got good recommendations when I posted about this. The title of my thread was Neurologists for dealing with sleep disorders, Info and personal recommendations.

good luck

tina

I did find a place that deals with sleep disorders here in Munich. Its on Possart str in Bogenhausen, München Vorsorge Zentrum or something like that, found it!

http://www.mvz-bogenhausen.de/

Last month (in the States) I got a CPAP machine for this. I feel soooooooooooooooo much better having slept well since then! For me the sleep specialist doctor, who has a lab in a major research hospital, did NOT recommend surgery for three reasons:

1. It hurts like hell.

2. It usually helps some, but not a lot.

3. The benefits of the surgery are usually reversed within 18 months as the throat adjusts back to its earlier state.

Whatever you do, I would encourage you to consult with a doctor about having an overnight sleep observation and, if needed, getting a CPAP or BIPAP machine. Happy to share more about this, if you wish.

@ Mr runner

pls share , I'm all up for a bit of chop chop but if there's a better way then let me know.

Also how much does one of these things cost? (the machine).

Because my snoring was so bad last fall (once waking up a neighbor in the apartment next door), and for most of two months I had a sore throat, I was prepared to have my tonsils taken out at Christmas. I first went to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor, who said my tonsils didn't look that bad. That doctor said I should get checked for sleep apnea.

Without insurance my CPAP machine would cost $1200 in the States. My US insurance initially pays for the "rental" of the machine and requires that I mail them a memory card proving that I use it regularly. After a year of renting, the machine is mine to keep. Once a year or so I should go back for an overnight sleep observation to see if the settings on the machine are still correct.

At the overnight sleep observation (required to assess if a CPAP is needed, and at what level it should be set), the lab techie said I was sleep deprived, especially for the REM sleep that the apnea can so easily disturb.

Apnea is more common in middle-aged men, people who are overweight, and/or people with large necks. I'm 37 (young for having this), have a 17 inch (43 cm) neck (this size and above are at high risk for apnea), and put on weight (8ish kilos) when I moved here last summer. On the long term, the condition could go away, at least for a while, if I lose 10 or so kilos. However nice in the long term it would be to lose weight, it would have been very unwise for me to not get the CPAP machine right away.

@James, can you translate CPAP and BIPAP for the unwashed...

I already have a cpap machine - and you are right it does work wonders! Problem is - it makes a noise no two ways about it! My girlfriend is getting fed up with sleeping with Darth Vadar...it does nothing for the bedroom antics! I lost two stone last year...which has helped.
I spent €7000 in a specialist clinic in Brussels and only came away with a CPAP machine and no cure!
I have had colleagues and friends of friends who have had the laser op and it has revolutionised their lives (and those of their partners!)
I have been waiting for ages to get it done in the UK but am fed up with being f´d about!
Hence the urgency of the post on here!

I have a cousin that stayed with me last summer, she has one of those machines, and she is also a Tech at a Sleep Center, and she finds she sleeps so much better with the machine and so do the people around her, as she no longer snores, and the machine doesn't make that much noise, just a low hum.

You'll find those two (and more) here: Positive airway pressure.

CPAP is an acronym: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device

BiPAP is also an acronym: BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure device

Honestly, I would be guessing if I speculated about the difference between the two devices. I'm sure the doctor would know which is needed. The CPAP machine pumps air in through the nose, preventing the throat from closing (and the cessation of breathing) during sleep. It is a bit of an adjustment to sleep with such a device, but I find the inconvenience very minor compared with waking up with the very uncomfortable sensation of gasping for air and, in general, not feeling particularly rested after having "slept" (term used loosely) 8+ hours the night before.

Again, I'm just some guy being treated for this and not a physician. But if you think you may have it, do get checked out! Untreated sleep apnea has been connected to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and even sudden death.

Here's a link to the American Sleep Apnea Organization.

Question to those who've been to see specialists - did anyone suggest you try sleeping on your side?

wheel,
Sleep Apnea is not just about snoring - its about bits in your throat (usually a flap of skin and also overgrown asophligus) actually blocking you airway and causing you to stop breathing! This results in the body naturally ringing alarm bells - and waking you up...usually with a very loud noise as your body clears that airway! Sleeping on your side does not really help.

sleep apnea also destroys the sleep of the partner too. I had a long termin BF that had sleep apnea, when he spent the night, I got no sleep, and not in a good way. As their body jerks and they cough/gasp for air it wakes you too, and you can sense when they stop breathing too. Its really scary.

No.


I agree.


Well said.

It obviously has a positional aspect otherwise it'd happen when you are upright.


I'm talking about a position which makes sure the mouth is closed and throat is in a neutral position, not just lying down any old way. Still, you've answered the question, thanks.

Am in the industry myself, so without trying to plug anything in particular:

For those wanting to see a good flash animation that shows the underlying causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, please look at the following:

http://www.resmed.com/en-us/patients/under...ish-640x380.swf

From the site of one of the main therapy equipment manufacturers. The diagnostic process and provision of treatment devices (CPAP and Bi-Level machines) in Germany is fairly well covered by the public and private insurance system.

On the comments about the noise of the machine, the latest generation of products are extremely quiet and they are a definite improvement over the alternative (snoring, snorting, gasping and partner staying awake to listen for you to start breathing again).

I would also back-up previous comments that currently CPAP is considered the gold-standard treatment and surgery options are typically only temporary solutions.

Anybody interested in more specifics on diagnostic or treatment can feel free to PM me.

Just to add to this earlier thread, I recently received the bill for the overnight sleep observation ($2500 USD) that was necessary to diagnose sleep apnea and to justify the cost of a CPAP machine to the insurance company. Most of this is covered by my (American) insurance company. Although the diagnosis is not inexpensive, neither is chronic sleeplessness in terms of stress, emotional exhaustion and other health risks. Using the CPAP machine these last 10 or so weeks has made a huge difference in my sleep and quality of health in general. Time for bed!

My husband had the laser surgery a few yrs. ago. His snoring volume was greatly reduced for about 18 months. He was in complete agony for 2 wks. following the surgery and couldn't eat or drink. He did it while I was traveling. He would never do it again and I would never ask him to.

He refused to get the CPAP although I believe he has sleep apnea. Hasn't wrecked the relationship - I choose to sleep elsewhere. Rumor has it that I snore occasionally myself.

FF