Obstructive Sleep Apnea Roadmap to Getting Better
The sleep surgery team at UChicago Medicine is committed to helping you find your way back to a restful night’s sleep. There are four major steps you should anticipate as we develop and implement an individualized treatment plan.
Step 1: Diagnosis
The first step will involve a consultation with the sleep medicine team. For those living outside the Chicagoland area, please inquire about our 360 sleep surgery evaluation.
Expect a call from a nurse or coordinator who will help you prepare for your visit. This will include reviewing your past treatments and testing and helping you gather necessary records. Be prepared to bring any old sleep testing records and recent scans of the head or neck, especially ones performed in the last five years.
Complete the pre-visit questionnaire to help the physician understand more about the current state of your sleep health.
Your physician will discuss your relevant medical history and most importantly your personal goals for your visit and examine any signs of obstruction in the upper airway anatomy.
Your sleep medicine team will help you determine the next steps in your diagnosis and treatment, including some of the following:
- Drug induced sleep endoscopy with PAP
- Airway CT scan – a special x-ray to examine for blockages in your upper airway
- Sleep testing
- Insomnia treatment referral
- Consultation with the sleep medicine team
- Consult with oral surgery or dentistry regarding teeth malalignment
Step 2: Develop a Plan
After your diagnostic workup is complete, you will meet back with the sleep medicine team to review your treatment plan. This will include reviewing your different test results and recommended treatment options.
If surgery is recommended, you will learn about the procedure and next steps.
Step 3: Treatment
Treatment can involve both medical and surgical options – or different combinations of treatments.
Step 4: Recovery and road back to wellness
Successful treatment doesn’t stop after leaving the operating room. We believe the recovery period is critical to achieving good outcomes, especially for those with an Inspire implant.
Expect your sleep medicine team to be there for you as you recover and most importantly to help troubleshoot any issues that may arise.