For years, Air Force Veteran Deanna King struggled with fatigue and exhaustion. After seeking help at Michael E. DeBakey VA in Houston and receiving a new device designed to treat sleep apnea, she sleeps like a baby.
“I was a walking zombie. I would often wake myself up because of snoring, but I really thought I was getting plenty of sleep. It wasn’t until my daughter brought up my snoring that I decided to get it checked out.”
King participated in a sleep study which revealed a diagnosis that almost six-million people in the United State have received. She had obstructive sleep apnea. King was quickly given a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine but knew it was not for her. “The CPAP machine was a total no-go for me. I brought it back the next day.”
That’s when Dr. Supriya Singh, director of Houston VA’s Sleep Disorder Research Center, stepped in. After hearing King’s story, Singh suggested she may be a great candidate for Inspire, a newer device designed to treat sleep apnea. The Inspire device is a nerve stimulator placed under the skin above the chest during a simple medical operation.
“This device works with the patient’s natural breathing process to treat obstructive sleep apnea,” said Singh, who is board certified in pulmonary disease, internal medicine and sleep medicine. “It stimulates the tongue and the palate to move them forward to open up the airway allowing oxygen to flow naturally.”
Device designed to not wake the patient up
The medical procedure to implant the device is about two hours long and consists of one incision under the jaw where an electrode is placed. A battery is placed under the skin on the chest which connects to the electrode. The patient is then given a remote control to turn the device on before they go to sleep and off when they wake up. The stimulation is subtle and is designed to not wake the patient up, meaning it shouldn’t be painful or uncomfortable.
“Since I got this new device, my quality of life has improved so much. I sleep great and wake up refreshed. The remote is so easy to use. It really is a life-changer,” King shared.
Despite being just a minor annoyance, there are several potentially serious side effects to sleep apnea. Left untreated, they include high blood pressure, strokes and heart issues. According to Singh, sleep problems such as insomnia, nightmares and sleep apnea affect everyone, but they are particularly common among military Veterans. She says her team at Houston VA is thrilled to offer Veterans the latest technology to treat sleep disorders.
“We see thousands of Veterans every year in our sleep clinic. Numerous clinical trials have found this new device to be safe and effective and we are excited to see such wonderful results in our Veterans. Our goal is to improve the lives of each and every Veteran we see,” said Singh, who is also an assistant professor of Medicine-Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.
Now that she is getting plenty of rest, King—retired from the Air Force with more than 20 years of service—is planning trips to Spain and Morocco later this year. “Travel is what I enjoy in my retirement and I’m looking forward to many more trips,” she said.
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Great Can I get this done at the VA Hosp. in Long Beach CA?
I was had a sleep study through Community Care at a local Hospital, referred by KC VA. I was told I qualified for the Inspire, after reviewing the results of the Insspire, I decided the risk of the Inspire was to great. Only 114,000 over 10 years, can effect tongue motion, speech, may have to be removed as cause to many side affects. Do your research. I have been using a RedMed CPAP machine over 14 years. VA supplies the machine and necessary hoses etc, new Machine at 5 years, Most new machines are optional, use with or without distilled water. If results improve on Inspire I will then reconsider my decision.
What do I have to do to get/try one of these procedures? I currently have an A-pap machine which works, but leaves me with facial sores/scars from the mask!
Does every VA Hospital offer this therapy?
I’ve been dealing with sleep apnea for over 10 years and could not cope with the CPAP equipment. My VA doctor put me on oxygen because you only need a tube wit a 2-prong cannula and my wife said the machine is fairly quiet (I lost some of my hearing in both ears.) Oxygen is a great alternative if the CPAP choice is too intrusive.
I had an inspire implant done four years ago, not by VA. It does have some effect on apnea, which was not my main problem. It has not helped at all with chronic insomnia which was my main problem. In fairness it is not advertised s helping with insomnia. I tried it out of desperation as nothing else had worked. And to date nothing has. After about a year I ceased use of he device. I was never able to come to grips with a CPAP and its hose/mask. So, if apnea is your problem I would recommend Inspire.
I inquired as to the viability of such a device in my own VA sleep clinic several years ago. I was informed that they were only effective in ~20% of cases. Has that number changed?What’s the latest?
I believe this device would be very beneficial to me since I have been struggling with my CPAP for quite a while. I have very sensitive skin and can’t use just any mask. I have sinus issues and can’t breathe well through my nose causing me to be a mouth breather. I am currently having severe ear problems and haven’t been able to use my CPAP for weeks because it increases the pressure in my ears which makes the pain so much worse. My local VA here in NH has been horrible for any kind of care over the last few years. The doctors just don’t care about what the patient needs or even listening to the patient (at least the doctors I have seen in the different departments), to the point that I had to put in a complaint before getting a phone call to move forward with an appointment because the specialist did not want to see me again after only 1 visit. Over 5 months since first contact, 5 1/2 weeks since call saying doctor would approve community care visit, still no appointment, but excruciating pain and getting worse. That’s the type of care here in NH, so I don’t see them doing any kind of Inspire implants.
I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in 2017. I was fitted for a CPAP machine I could not wear as I felt smothered and claustrophobic using it. I now have a Phillips BiPap machine it worked for a while it limits how I sleep at night.
I would like to improve my quality of life by having the Inspire device available to me but it’s not. VA facilities are not doing the surgery only Inspire consultations here in Oregon.
If someone could reach out to me if they know where I can get the Inspire device please contact me. Community care hospitals are booked out up to 18 months due to staffing shortages.
Thank you!
Wonderful news! I had heard of the Inspire system, but until reading this report, I didn’t know exactly what was involved. Thanks for explaining it so clearly. I was given a CPAP Mask but kept knocking it off when I was asleep. That was 9 years ago.
Although this does sound great for us veterans with sleep apnea. What they decide to leave out of the many commercials for Inspire and this article is that most people with severe or or central sleep apnea cant use it. I tried to get it and was told that its basically for mild sleep apnea. It’s advertised as if anyone with sleep apnea can get it but unfortunately that’s not true. So until something better comes around most of us will be stuck with the Cpac. Congrats on those who qualify though!
I have a cpap that I got from the Providence VA, around 9 years ago. I used it for a very short time. I always removed the masks. This might be the way for me.
I was diagnosed with Severe Sleep Apnea several years ago where I stopped breathing 36 times during a night.
I chose a dental device and a local dentist that dealt with only sleep apnea patients in the Scottsdale Arizona area, Stacy Layman.
She as well as all her staff have been excellent in assisting me with my device. It took a couple of weeks to get accustomed to the device but has been no problem for me since and cured my sleep apnea from day one!
Good for her! The CPAP has worked well for me for five years. Just got a battery to use when at the cabin, hunting, fishing, and camping.
Inspire isn’t for everyone. It’s easy to figure out. Unfortunately, I’m not a candidate for Inspire because I have too many central events, which is to say my brain/central nervous system is my major problem.
Good luck and sleep tight.
I use the CPAP machine, since I started using it my blood pressure is down and I awake refreshed.
I have talked to my Sleep Medicine Drs. A few times. They kept telling me I’m not a candidate for Inspire. My CPAP machine doesn’t help me sleep, I have sleep apnea and insomnia. How do I tell them I need this. My tongue rolls back and covers my wind pipe ever with the CPAP.
Would love to check this option out. Have been using a c-pap for about 15 years and would like to travel without having to constantly buy distilled water.
That is a very interesting story. I’ve been on the C-Pap for quite some time. I have the same question as Paul Schoen, is it worth it to go from the C-Pap to inspire? I’ve gotten used to the mask but I am curious about Inspire. Surgery is not a pleasant thought unless the results are worth it.
How can i see if I can get this implant?
I have a CPAP and OSA which has been diagnosed twice by the VA. However, when I requested this because I can’t use the CPAP, the told me no because my sleep apnea wasn’t bad enough. I’m also a 100% DAV
The Carl Vinson Veterans Medical Center, located in Dublin, Georgia was responsible for my INSPIRE placement. This was roughly three years ago. So far, I’m pleased with the outcome. My apnea is better, but the snoring continues to be an issue. Overall, I’m pleased that I chose to allow the VA to help with my sleep apnea.
I have had sleep apnea for many years now and have been using a sleep apnea device. Mask etc. It is like a sleeping pill to me. I sleep great with little or no wake ups during the night. I am 79 years old. I take d to the VA about this new device and they thankfully talked me out of it. One thing about the mask. It does take some time to get used to, but once you have the rhythm down it works well. No further operations or battery changes. I lie my unit.
Can I make an appointment?
Wearing a full mask is uncomfortable. The tube is twisted and wakes me up. Been wearing a mask for years every day and sometimes if power goes off, I still wearing a mask but the machine has stopped. Comfort is needed, sleeping on one side only. I would like to move around and have freedom.
This is awesome, I’m so glad Veteran King had this done through the VA, and her quality of sleep has improved without the use of a CPAP. We’re told that the VA here in El Paso TX no longer does this procedure. Is it possible to get it done in Houston. My husband did not use his CPAP as he cannot sleep with it. Who can we contact to see about having it done?
I’ve been fighting this CPAP machine for several years. I have mixed sleep apnea (both central and obstructive sleep apnea), but obstructive is the main problem. Now, if the Audie Murphy San Antonio VA hospital can implant this device for me…. That is the next hurdle I’ll need to get past. I’ll drive to Houston if that’s what it takes to have this done.
I have severe Sleep Apnea, and have been using C-Pap for many years. What safe machines are being issued by the VA at this time. My original Phillips machine was recalled and replaced by a new model Phillips machine. There is a lot of anecdotal information stating that Phillips is taking back all of their machines and leaving their serving the VA ! If so, What will be replacing Phillips machine if this is true.
My CPAP machine is a Res Med Air Sense 10. It does the job and it’s reliable (five years and counting). Very little snoring now and my apnea events went from 55+/ hour to two/hour most nights.
I have successfully used CPAP for about 20 years and have had NO problems. I am just wondering if there is any potential advantage to using the Inspire device sufficient to make it worth a surgical procedure.
I’d check with your doctor. I did but am not a candidate for Inspire – nuerological issues…
There is also the eXciteOSA device, which is a tongue stimulator. When I used a CPAP I used the nasal pads so I didn’t have to wear a full mask.
Thanks for the update on OSA. Maybe this could help all with Sleep Apnea for Future Results. Keep us the good VA work. I can now talk to my Doctor about this Problem and Procedure. Thanks for Sharing.