QI’ ve had visits to my sleep doctor and my regular doctor after a scary experience I had last week when I awakened gagging and it wouldn’ t stop. Then I began to spit up blood. I went to an emergency room, where the examining physician said I had an inflamed uvula and very large tonsils. He and my regular doctor both recommended seeing an earnose-throat specialist. The sleep doctor scheduled a new sleep study— I was diagnosed with OSA five years ago, but haven’ t been using my CPAP lately even though I am no better. Now this gagging thing has cropped up. My question is, Should I take the referral to the ENT?

AIf you get a little more insight into what is causing your apnea, cool. Apnea could stem from issues along the entire airway— from the nose to the throat. Your sleep doc likely won’ t know, or care, what is causing your issues. An ENT might be able to give you a pretty good idea. Armed with that info, you can decide if there is a better treatment than PAP therapy for you.

I found one study regarding tonsils and apnea on pubmed. Probably more, if you care to look. http:// www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov / pubmed / 22498953

Adapted from an exchange on the ASAA Apnea Support Forum, www. apneasupport. org. The answer is by themonk, a Forum regular.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS M. Elizabeth Johns, Chair of the Board

Michael P. Coppola, M. D., President and Chief Medical Officer

Nancy Rothstein, Secretary Burton Abrams, Treasurer

Richard Bren, C. P. C. U., C. I. C. David Rapoport, M. D. Ann Pickett Croft

Tracy Nasca Rochelle Goldberg, M. D. Michael Simmons, D. M. D.

Kathe Henke, Ph. D. John Sotos, M. D. Judith A. Owens, M. D., M. P. H Vicki Thon, Ph. D.

Kingman Strohl, M. D., Director Emeritus

Wake-up Call From The American Sleep Apnea Association

Fall 2012

Published by The American Sleep Apnea Association

Edward Grandi, Executive Director Kalimah Ashby, Director of the A. W. A. K. E. Groups Network William R. MacKaye, Director of Communications and Editor of Wake-up Call J. R. Melvin, Grunt Advertising^Design, Designer

This newsletter provides general medical information about sleep apnea. Individuals with personal health concerns about sleep apnea, or other sleep disorders, should seek advice from a doctor who concentrates in sleep medicine.

American Sleep Apnea Association

6856 Eastern Avenue NW, Suite 203, Washington, D. C. 20012 202.293.3650 n fax 202.293.3656 www. sleepapnea. org n asaa @ sleepapnea. org

Is Your Membership Up to date?

I’ d like to be enrolled as a member of the ASAA, and receive a subscription to Wake-up Call. Enclosed is a check for $ 25( one-year membership).

Self Gift

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ name

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ address

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ city STATE ZIP

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE

E-mail

Please accept $__________ as a contribution in memory / honor of __________________________. Send an acknowledgment to the name below.

Mail this form with your check made payable to The American Sleep Apnea Association. ASAA, 6856 Eastern Ave. NW, Suite 203, Washington, DC 20012

The WAKE-UP CALL Fall 2012 | Page 4