British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hi everyone

I would just like to say from bitter experience to anyone who is tempted to undergo an op at the Private Clinic - Don't do it! Not only does it not help with snoring, but I was left in severe pain and had to take anti-convulsant medication following nerve damage. The Private Clinic ignored most of my phone calls, I eventually got to see the surgeon again almost 2 years after the op, he wanted to refer me to a neurologist as I had asked for a refund (it was a 2 part op - he said he wouldn't do the second part after the complications of the first and no way would I go through that again!) The referral was never made, I wrote, kept getting told replies were in the post, they never came. Basically they were playing for time, trying to get to 3 years after the op so that I wouldn't be able to claim against them. Cynical. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has had any positive experiences with these radiofrequency or laser assisted ops, but I know there is no way I could go through it again.

Dan

I visited the private clinic three weeks ago and had LAUP which I must say was a very unpleasant experience. I have a really strong gag reflex
even though it only lasted under 10 mins I felt dreadful. The pain lasted about a week, and it was really really painful. The surgeon explained that I snore for a combination of reasons, 20% nose, 20% tongue and 60% soft palate. I was booked in to have my throat and nose done asI have a
slightly deviated septum. After examing me he said that he would not do my nose as laser treatment would not help, my nostrils collapse so I would need a dilator or I could get my GP to an NHS ENT specialist as you can have an operation where they insert cartlige to the outside nostril to strengthen it. I have opted for a dilator since the thought of more surgery horrifies me. So for my part I have to say that he wouldnt take the money for my nose op as in his opinion it would not work. I also have to say that the surgeon refused to do an LAUP on the other patient who was waiting with me - he said that she didnt need it and told her to go to her dentist to have a mouth guard fitted.
My husband says that my snoring has decreased and is less loud but I dont know as I'm asleep. Ive also bought a nasel dilator so that could be helping as well. I've also started sing for snorers (which is good fun!)

I do wish that I had researched other options before surgery - and would advise anyone considering it to do the research first to see what type of snorer they are, as it is only going to help if the soft palate is the main or major problem area.

hi Guys, i went to the private clinic yesterday, and i sign a client treatment form. i wanted to know if i did get into any engagement by signing that form. As English is not my first language and i am a bit lost with the term and condition, i just want make sure that i didn't take any engagement with them. please help me. thank you

Hi Guys, I have been suffering from severe snoring which ment i wasnt getting any restful sleep. I tried all the sprays and potions but nothing has worked. The options were a CPAP machine which I didnt want to have as its so uncomfortable. I do have an overbite which means I am prone to snoring with my tongue and had a very long uvula which was so long it was either resting on my tongue or dowm the back of my throat.

There does seem to be alot of negative comments about the private clinic on here and you have to remeber that some procedures are not available on the NHS which means going private and everyones experiences are different. Private clinics of all types have to make money and are businesses but its the way a clinic gets thier patients which is the most sensitive part and The Private Clinic are slightly agressive at doing this.

I finally visited the private clinic as I was exhausted from poor sleep and the consultation I had was good and bad. The nurse was excellent and answered all my questions so I booked my appointment. The gentleman I spoke to about booking the prodecure etc was not good and did come accross as a salesman which I suppose is his job but I got home and did more research into the surgeon and the operation and was happy to then have my Uvulo-palatoplasty.

The main issue is the lack of honest information given about the procedure and the aftermath of the operation.

On the day I was seen very quickly, had accupuncture in my ears to ease any tension and to help me relax (which it didnt I dont think) I had anasthetic sprayed on to the back of my throat then a series of injections to numb my sof palet and uvula, not pleasant but necessary.
Now the part I think should be explained more, The surgeon began to lazer the back of my throat 20 minutes or so of distressing uncomfortable and at time terrible pain. I was given more anasthetic and he continued. The smell of burnt flesh was stomach churning and the taste for two days afterwards was enough to make me feel physically sick.

I was taken to the recovery room after the op and was in shock, shaking, sweating and choking on what can only be described as pints of mucus being produced in my throat. Not at all pleasant and after some glucose tablets and some water I was able to head off home with help form a friend. You need someone with you if you are getting this done.

I understand that these things effect everyone in different ways but that was just the beginning. It is the worst pain and discomfort I have ever had and I was in no way told that it would put me off wok for 10 days. The man who gave me all the ifno at my consultation said he had had this done and he had a sore throat and was back at work the next day. Im so suprised by this as the medication (16 in all, a mix of pain killers, anti fungal, paracetamol etc) made me dizzy, sleepy and I started to hallucinate then on top of this I managed to get an infection which made swallowing totally impossible so a course of antibiotics was prescribed after a visit 7 days into my recovery. Im at day 11 now and it is healing well but the roof of my mouth is so bruised that swallowing is still painful.

The positive side - my snoring has nearly stopped completly and I am sleeping though the night for the first time for over ten years. I used to wake myself up from snoring and was never rested and I have already seen a massive improvement and I am not fully healed so I hope to see continued improvement.

The sad part is that the NHS in my case really had nothing to offer me in way of curing the problem which is why so many people choose The Private Clinic to have this done and at £1950 it is expensive. I may have to have a dental splint for sleeping as I may snore due to my overbite but so far its all positive and there are always going to be risks in any type of operation and discomfort but The Private Clinic need to update thier patient information and be honest about what happens.

Thanks and I hope you all find solutions to your snoring and apnea.

Paul.a.Young

rip off- waste f money more like a sales experience- u need to do a proper sleep study to determine cause of snoring as LAUP will only work for certain types of snorers- also hey do LAUP on NHS. thus saving u a large amount of money!

Well I am really really over the moon as I am sleeping all night without waking up or snoring, the difference is fantastic after only two weeks. I run my own business and was struggling for over a year with excess tiredness and exhaustion due to my lack of restful sleep.

I did visit my doctor and because I didnt have sleep apnea I wasnt then refered to have a sleep assesment. I had excess soft palet and a over sized uvual which both needed reducing.

Everyones experience is different but I am thrilled even though there were some complications, but there are risks with all surgery.

thanks

Paul

Guest you need to go back and see exactly what you signed. Usually a signature is a contract between you and them - their treatment for your money. GO BACK AND SEE THEM.

NEVER EVER sign anything you don't understand fully ................ and I speak as a Brit living abroad.

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PS My post crossed with yours, so it might seem a bit out of place. I am delighted that you found the solution you needed, but it doesn't hurt to remind people not to sign things unless they are 100% clear about what they're signing .................

After years of not sleeping, suffering depression, severe snoring and my partner telling me that I stopped breathing in the night and me keep going to the doctors only to be given sleeping tablets I went to the clinic. Yes the salesman did his patter which started to put me off, the results of my epstein test or whatever its called were too high and he wanted me to change the numbers. Then saw the nurse..she was OK but felt that she wasn't fully qualified.
Luckily, I felt uneasy about the salesman so contact my Occupational Health doctor. Visited him and within seconds stated that he would stake his career that I had Sleep Apnoea. He told me what to do, I contacted my doctor got a referral to the NHS hospital, had a sleep study and wow!! I had Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and was stopping breathing at least 55 times an hour. My oxygen levels were dangerously low too! I was given a CPAP machine, which is not perfect but I am now feeling like a different person and my oxygen levels are back to normal and I do not snore!
The Occ Health doctor and the hospital both stated that LUAP would not have helped at all and could have been more dangerous.
Avoid the clinic like the plague and insist that your GP refers you to your local sleep clinic!!