Hi Dr. Park,
Thanks again for all the great information and interviews. I recently decide to go ahead with surgery for my UARS, so I really appreciate your interview with Dr. Li. I'm having sliding genioplasty and hyoid suspension. I am going to a major university medical center, I've met a doctor who shows a lot of understanding and concern, and I 'm pretty satisfied that I'm doing the right thing. I've tried CPAP on and off for about a year and a half (on the basis of three titration studies), and never seemed to get any improvement in my sleep.
Anyway, here are two of the many things I've noticed and would love your comments on:
1) I've had sleep problems for 35 years - since I was 15. But I was always a wound-up tired person, not a sleepy tired person. I've had a lot of insomnia. I think the reason I am a wound-up tired person is because I have daytime airway symptoms, too. I carry my head up and have a chronic stiff neck. I exercise, stretch and generally try to stay aware of my posture, but I can't avoid adjusting my posture in a way that appears to open my airway. (Of course, I frequently sleep this way, too) During the day, I find it almost impossible to relax my upper back and neck, despite doing yoga. Is it possible that daytime airway resistance could also be disruptive to my autonomic nervous system, which is why I am wound-up and tense?
2) I have always felt much better running or engaging in vigorous physical exercise. I used to think it was endorphins, but now I think it might be because of the natural dilatation effect that exercise has on the airway. You have mentioned exercise as a kind of self-treatment. Perhaps this figures into the picture?
If you have seen any research about this, can you point me in the right direction? Thanks so much for giving this any thought, Doc!