Inspire for Sleep Apnea Experience

Thanks Melissa.
Have already had extensive voice and swallowing therapy for a long while. Online during Covid.
No real improvements.
As I said to Lori.
The hypoglossal nerve under the tongue was nicked or cut in some way. I was diagnosed with tongue atrophy as a result. By several surgeons.
The inspire surgeon in NJ said everything was fine. Just do the swallow and speech therapy. Had I known that that therapy was even a remote possibility I’d never had done this Inspire surgery.
Which it turned out was not needed.
I was told in medicine they say “above all else do no harm.”
In my case there was life altering harm to me and my family. We’ll never be the same.
And neither Inspire nor the NJ ENT who performed the surgery nor the Hospital give a damn.

Thanks Lori.
The damage to me from Inspire unfortunately cannot be corrected.
The Inspire surgery was done in NJ. Immediately I knew there was something wrong. Which was not improving which the NJ surgeon in Morristown NJ and Inspire told me and my primary care physician would happen. That all problems would resolve with time.
They did not.
Afterward, since I live close to NYC I saw over time about 35 specialists all totaled by now. Hoping desperately to get back to where I was before this awful Inspire surgery.
I was seen at Columbia, Cornell, NYU and JFK Rehab in NJ.
The specialists at NYU and Columbia said the surgery was the cause. And said it had triggered in addition some autoimmune response.
I went to every specialist in my area.
Several specialists confirmed I didn’t need the surgery at all because at that time I no longer had sleep apnea.
Many didn’t even know what Inspire was.
Though it is said the FDA approved this device in 2014.
To date, my medical bills for all this are over $300,000!
In Morristown NJ where my surgery was done they had only done a few. I didn’t learn that until later.
The surgeon told me Inspire device was like the diabetics patch on their arm to follow the glucose level.
This Inspire surgery is definitely not “minimally invasive.”
Finally at Mass General in Boston, 4 mos after the surgery the Inspire device was removed. They call it “explanted.”
The only improvement was ability to turn my head to the left which I could not do before.
Months after the surgery all this eas reported to FDA. No response from them or Inspire.
No improvement in either speech or swallowing. I choke frequently. So now I’m stuck.
Can’t go to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow because I need all food puréed now.
I don’t know how many viewers you have but please let all know about this experience.
Maybe I can prevent another unnecessary Inspire surgery.
Later a friend told me there have been hundreds and hundreds of reports of adverse effects to the FDA.
In addition many, many calls to Inspire the company in Minnesota that makes this thing for help. No response.

What a horrible experience, . My heart goes out to you. I have heard so many mixed reviews for Inspire that I would already have been reluctant to try it. We appreciate that you shared your own experience. Is there anything that can be done in the future to correct your issues? Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experience. Wishing you the very best. - Lori (Team Member)