Think twice before surgery

Surgical procedures are so commonplace, it’s easy to forget that in non-emergency situations the option for surgery should very weighed very carefully – with many questions, research and a second opinion.

I was reminded of this when I read an e-mail responding to an e-Alert I sent you last week about sleep apnea (“Sleepy Head” 5/8/03). Discussing ways to treat sleep apnea, I said, “surgery is an option, although it should probably be considered a last-ditch effort when other methods have failed.”

I would revise that comment, however, after reading this poignant warning from an HSI member named Marilyn:

“You mentioned surgery as helping sleep apnea. My husband went that route. We thought all was fine as we could no longer hear that he stopped breathing after the previous snoring and snorts. The specialist never admitted to us that they now know the next part of the throat also collapses and so that surgery was only useful to stop the snoring – not the apnea. My husband died from an extremely enlarged heart because we didn’t know until too late that the surgery is now considered worthless. Only one doctor told us that and he is upset that the medical profession doesn’t like to admit their mistakes.”

I appreciate Marilyn sharing her tragic loss as an important warning to those who are coping with sleep apnea, and anyone who may be considering surgery for this or any other condition. Surgery is serious business, and when the surgical option is recommended, great care should be taken to insure that it’s absolutely necessary.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute