re: Sleep Apnea Cure

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So could it be considered genetic?

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Jaw size? From what I've read, I believe it's diet.

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The genetic predisposition to having it, and I guess yes, jaw size/ facial structure could certainly be genetic, look at the Habsburgs.

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I think genetics are secondary.

This melted face look, and airway disease, occurred overnight. Which suggests genetics are not the primary reason for it. And it coincides with the change in our diet.

From a historical perspective, if you compare modern skulls, to people who lived even 200 years ago, the differences are striking.

On a modern skull, there's less forward growth in the maxilla, and the mandible droops down. You also see the emergence of the antegonial notch.

Apnea became an epidemic too quickly for it be caused by genetics.

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melted face look

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Have you met someone who's chin is set backwards, behind their upper lip? And who don't have a jawline?

That's what I'm referring to.

I’m 6’, 160 pounds and never been over 170 in my life. Never smoked, exercise, eat a good diet, and I also have sleep apnea.

My jaw moved when I was 18. I went from having a normal jawline to having a mild underbite (no one notices besides dentists) in 2 months. Since then my jaw hasn’t moved in 17 years.

On top of that I can’t breathe through my nose unless I really try hard. It is not remotely natural.

I think that combo along with my extremely stiff tongue (not a sexual reference!) have caused my sleep apnea. I’m going to be outfitted with a CPAP soon, but my doctor talked about a new surgery where they put some sort of sensor on your tongue that allows it to relax more easily.

I don’t think that will work for me because of my poor nasal breathing but could for others.

It’s funny because in this description above I sound like some genetic freak who is on the precipice of death but I am otherwise as healthy as can be.

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use a CPAP now. I’m always congested, though not badly.
The CPAP has been a game changer for me, but I’d be interested in this

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You probably get the sales calls from my company. Haha.

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I'm 6 foot and I weight 162 pounds

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That's impressively thin. Congrats!

I'm a long distance runner. I've been running consistently since I was 8 years old. I'm 23 now, so I've been at it for 15 years. I'm 5'9", 148 lbs. You've even got me beat in the BMI department.

I take no credit

I can eat all the fried chicken, and biscuits and gravy, in the entire world, and stay the same weight.

It didn’t even budge I was training for OCS, and trying to max out my PFT score.

You’re thinking of CPAP?

That was an option, but I didn’t want to be tied to a machine for the rest of my life.

I do understand they help a lot though.

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Until I saw your post, I always wondered if my records were framed by my doctors because of how much I stick out from most sleep apnea patients.

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I think we may be very common, if that makes sense?

People like us are probably much less likely to seek treatment.

They look very similar. They’re probably made in the same factories by the same machines.

The difference is that they’re not one piece of plastic. They’re two or three pieces, with adjustable screws set in the center.

As you turn the screw, the pieces separate, and the device gets wider.

The pressure from the expansion triggers bone growth along the alveolar ridge, and in my experience along the palantine suture. It also trigger bone growth through the rest of the face though, the less developed side of your face tries to “catch up”.

And that may be the best way to think of it. It helps you get closer to what your normal should have been.

Most orthodontists would say that’s impossible, adults can’t see that growth, but cone beam scans show what they show.

One of the theological problems with these devices, if you believe they work, you also have to conclude that braces are bad for us.

Comfort wise, it’s painless. I do slur my words when I’m wearing it, but you’re only supposed to wear it at night. So it’s not really an issue.

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As for my nasal issue, I’m not sure how much can be solved but we’ll see.

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I think it’s all connected.

As my upper jaw expanded, my mandible moved forward, and my overbite disappeared.

The roof off my mouth also dropped as my jaws moved outwards, which opened up my nasal chambers. Which is why I breathe more easily.

I had a high vaulted mouth before treatment, which apparently is common.