This is Part 3 of my Inspire Implant joirney. If you are interested in replacing your CPAP this is worth reading. There is so much more to an Inspire than it appears. I’ve learned so much along the way that I want to share with others to take some of the mystery out of it!
If you would like to read Part 1 and Part 2 of my Inspire Implant Journey here are links to those posts: If you’ve already read them just skip this part and go to the new stuff!
January 2024 Rosalyn’s INSPIRE IMPLANT JOURNEY Part One, March 2023 to December 2023
June 2025 Rosalyn’s INSPIRE IMPLANT JOURNEY Part Two, January 2024 to May 2025
Over the course of this journey I lost 50 pounds. Not any of it was associated with my Inspire Implant but it happened during the time since the surgery. This fact will become important near the end of this post. One of the things that qualifies someone to have the implant is not being over a certain body mass index. You will see how the less you weigh the better the implant can help you.
We left off in Part 2 with an at home sleep study scheduled for June 17, 2025. It was done to find out if increasing the strength of the tongue pulses helped and how the at-home sleep test goes. The results of that study showed I had 46.3 apneas in an hour. That has a diagnosis of Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. That is way out there high. It appeared the Inspire Implant was not helping me. I had only lost 18 pounds at that time. My lowest oxygen saturation while sleeping was 83%.
On October 7th I had an appointment with Dr Davis and the last home sleep study was done that night. It was different than all the previous ones.
Going to Covington to see Dr Davis is a pretty good little ride from where we live. Because of that she recommended that I have the WatchPAT One test. This wonderful young lady, Nikole, explained how to do the test with that equipment. I loved this picture of her holding the equipment box like a model on a game show!!! Since this test transmits the results to Dr Davis and is disposable there is no need to return the equipment to her. It saved us two trips there and back! I really appreciated Dr Davis coming up with that option for me.
The WatchPAT One from Sleep Doctor is a disposable sleep apnea test administered at home. Each device consists of finger, wrist, and chest sensors that connect to a smartphone app.
This last visit was wonderful, both the outcome and the experience at Dr Davis’s office.
Each visit always starts out with the Inspire representative. Today’s representative was Kasey. She downloaded data from my implant and reviewed how I am using the implant. I use it every night for many hours which always makes them happy. She could tell what my inspire level was and made some adjustments after consulting with Dr Davis. The level they put me at is a very comfortable tongue pulse for me. I can make level changes myself and tried going pretty high which made my tongue shoot out pretty hard and wasn’t terribly comfortable. It was nice to know that I don’t need it that high!
At the time of this last sleep study I had lost 42 pounds and that seemed to make all the difference. The study shows me only having 5.4 apneas per hour which is very close to what a person without sleep apnea experiences! My lowest oxygen saturation was 86%. This diagnosis was Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
I am doing so well that it is considered a success (my words, not the doctor’s). I can stay with my Inspire Implant and don’t have to go back to a CPAP!!!! That is what all these sleep studies, adjustments to my Inspire levels and doctor visits led to. My journey began March 2023 and I am now at the end of this part of the journey! I will still see Dr Davis every six months, but all the uncertainty is over!
This is Dr. Davis’s amazing staff. The young man in the middle of the second row is Andrew. I speak to him on the phone and he helps me at the window when I arrive. Last time I called he ended the call with “Be careful getting here.” What? How kind! He’s always so very friendly and I leave with a smile each time! Someone that kind deserves recognition!
Since this may be the last time I write about my Inspire Implant I want to recommend my two Inspire doctors.
Dr. Kevin McLaughlin who educated me about Inspire Implants, did my evaluation, testing, Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy, the actual implant surgery and follow-ups. He was informative, a wonderful surgeon and the perfect doctor doing this type of procedure. I don’t know if he is still the only doctor in this part of Louisiana doing the implants, but he’s the one I would choose again and the one I highly recommend for you! I may not need to see him again but my entire experience with him was a great one!
Dr Lauren Davis is the sleep specialist whom I have seen since the surgery several times and who I will see from now on if the need arises. I always feel like she knows all my history and am not just another patient she is seeing that day. Her care is so personalized and whether you want an implant or other sleep related help she’s the lady to call! Her staff is exceptional. They are all knowledgeable, kind, attentive and just a pleasure to talk to!
Here is their contact information so you don’t have to look it up!
Dr. Kevin McLaughlin
350 Lakeview Court
Covington, LA 7043
Phone 985.845.2677
Dr. Lauren Davis
350 Lakeview Court Suite B
Covington, LA, 70433
Telephone: 985.845.1799
I hope these three posts have helped you become knowledgeable about the Inspire implant so that you can make an informed decision about your sleep apnea treatment.
Feel free to share any one or all of these posts with others.
Ya’ll come back now, ya’ hear!!
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