Sleep Apnea Stories

Emma is joined by Professor Vik Veer, a leading ENT surgeon based in the UK, who serves as Head of Sleep Surgery at the Royal National Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital in central London. He also practices at Queen’s Hospital, Romford. Vik has a popular YouTube channel where he discusses sleep apnea/apnoea along with other ENT topics.

In this episode:

* Prof. Veer discusses how he began his YouTube channel during the pandemic.

* When people with sleep apnea should see an ear, nose, and throat surgeon.

* The drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) procedure and why Vik finds it so helpful to find exactly how and why a patient's airway is collapsing or becoming blocked.

* The challenge of finding a skilled ENT who specializes in sleep surgery.

* Hypoglossal nerve stimulator implants and the differences between Inspire and Genio implant options. The new, smaller hypoglossal nerve stimulator implants being developed by Restera.

* Vik discusses why he wanted to invent his new "Side Sleeping Pro" pillow - for people with positional obstructive sleep apnea.

* The importance of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team with a range of specialists to work out the best treatment option/s for specific patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

* The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and issues arising from putting too much emphasis on using one number to assess the severity of OSA.

* Moving away from a one-size-fits-all treatment option and towards choosing the right treatment or combination of treatments for each individual patient.

Connect with Vik Veer:

https://www.consultant-surgeon.co.uk/

Free Sleep Questionnaires

⁠https://form.jotform.com/vikveer/sleep-questionnaires⁠

Newsletter

⁠https://cheerful-knitter-8774.kit.com/35648c37b6⁠

Tonsillectomy book

⁠https://cheerful-knitter-8774.kit.com/f629b09fa4⁠

YouTube

⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/VikVeerENTSurgeon⁠

Side Sleeping Pro

⁠https://www.iwantgreatsleep.com/⁠

>>

Download Project Sleep's PDF toolkit on Sleep Apnea Treatment Options: https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-treatment-options/

Join Project Sleep's Sleep Apnea Squad by signing up for e-updates here:

https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/

>>

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Disclaimer: This podcast episode includes people with sleep apnea discussing their experiences with medical procedures and devices.  This is for information purposes only and you should consult with your medical professionals before starting or stopping any medication or treatment.

Emma's giving a shorty summer update to let all her podcast listeners know about a YouTube Live session she is hosting on "New Medications for Sleep Apnea" on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET on Project Sleep's YouTube channel. Tune in live, set a reminder, or watch the replay here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/s8oEXL30taE

Find the Sleep Apnea Squad program here:

https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/

Find the YouTube lives, podcasts, and PDF toolkits by clicking "learn more" under each topic graphic.

Learn about "Sleep Apnea: Let's Face It!" here:

https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-lets-face-it/

Order a t-shirt to support the campaign here:

https://www.bonfire.com/sleep-apnea-lets-face-it/

Contact Emma:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleepapneastories/

and https://www.instagram.com/project_sleep/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emma-cooksey-sleep-apnea

Emma gives an update on her upcoming Sleep Apnea Squad session on "Making CPAP Comfortable."

Sign up for email about all of Emma's sleep apnea resources she is developing at Project Sleep, click here:

https://projectsleep.salsalabs.org/sleepapneasquad/index.html

Read more about it here:

https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad-making-cpap-comfortable/

To set a reminder or join live at 2 pm ET on Tuesday 11th February, click here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/bW80v00fyBg?feature=shared

In this shortie episode, Emma checks in to share details of a YouTube Live discussion she is hosting on Tuesday, December 10th at 2 pm ET. Find all the details here:

https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-treatment-options/

Click this link to join us live at 2pm ET on December 10th: https://www.youtube.com/live/g3lIRIcm9XU - you can also set a notification so that YouTube will remind you when we go live.

Can't join live on Tuesday? No problem, the video will be available on YouTube after we are live.

Join the Sleep Apnea Squad email list to stay up to date with every upcoming event and all our free sleep apnea resources: Sign up for email

Want to look at future Sleep Apnea Squad topics? Check out this page: https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/

TIME Article: https://time.com/7176245/sleep-apnea-treatments-cpap-machine/

Join the Sleep Apnea Squad!

1) Sign up for e-updates from Emma about the Sleep Apnea Squad - click here

2) Join Emma this Tuesday for a live stream on YouTube!

Could I Have Sleep Apnea?

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET

Join us as we share about sleep apnea symptoms and bust some unhelpful stereotypes along the way!

To join LIVE click here: https://www.youtube.com/live/cRIzAOpaJK8

3) Check out the upcoming topics and mark the dates in your calendar.

https://project-sleep.com/sleep-apnea-squad/

Thanks for being part of my new squad!

Emma co-hosted an event called "Rise, Shine and Share" in Houston, Texas to bring together a group of great sleep people in one place.

My co-hosts:

Mollie Eastman

https://www.sleepisaskill.com

Teresa Palmer

https://www.sleepbetter.nyc

Featured in this episode:

Nathan Blamick

https://www.4thquarterfocus.com/

Dr. Allison Kole:

https://www.askthesleepmd.com/

Dr. Valerie Cacho:

https://www.sleephoria.health/

Kristen Cascio:

https://www.instagram.com/meandmycpap

Dr. Carleara Weiss:

https://www.carlearaweiss.com/

Drew Copeland

https://www.instagram.com/slumberjackdrew

Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown

https://www.therestfulsleepplace.com/

Dr. Sahil Chopra

https://www.empowersleep.com/

Matthew Allard

https://www.instagram.com/somnomed_northamerica/

https://www.instagram.com/sleepingaroundthepodcast/

This episode and our "Rise, Shine and Share" event were sponsored by Aeroflow Sleep - learn more here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.aeroflowsleep.com⁠⁠⁠

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Click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/1KUzY0O⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the US or search your Amazon store for the title in your country.

Disclaimer: This podcast episode includes people with sleep apnea discussing their experiences with medical procedures and devices.  This is for information purposes only and you should consult with your medical professionals before starting or stopping any medication or treatment.

Emma answers listener questions.

In this episode:

Q) How can I stop air leaking from the mask? I can't wear it any tighter.

Q) How can I keep the mask from irritating my face? Any liners that work well?

Q) If there's no leaking, do I still need to change them every 3-6 months?

Q) Do you wash new CPAP supplies?

Q) How do people manage camping/adventures with their kids and using CPAP?

Q) 2 weeks using CPAP, when should I see a change? I honestly feel more exhausted than before.

Q) Suggestions for having a big tongue that could be causing sleep apnea?

This episode is sponsored by Aeroflow Sleep - learn more here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.aeroflowsleep.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Research on nasal pillows masks: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5014980/

Mask Liners:

https://www.padacheek.com

Emma's Amazon Storefront

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sleepapneastories

Emma's Favorite CPAP Battery (10% off)

https://www.exppropower.com/discount/emma

Vik Veer's video on tongue procedures:

https://youtu.be/DAvt3sc5NSI?feature=shared

Positional Therapy options:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/sleepapneastories/list/3S85ZEI4N1VB1?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfsleepapneastories_26ZX6K0ZQQN5ADRW99XG

Amazon page links: please note these links earn a small commission for the podcast at no additional cost to you. It's a great way to support the podcast!

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Click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/1KUzY0O⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the US or search your Amazon store for the title in your country.

Disclaimer: This podcast episode includes people with sleep apnea discussing their experiences with medical procedures and devices.  This is for information purposes only and you should consult with your medical professionals before starting or stopping any medication or treatment.

Emma is joined by Dr. Adam Goldberg M.D., a Cardiologist at Electrophysiology at Cardiovascular Associates of Charlottesville and at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In this episode:

* Dr. Goldberg shares about his medical training and his exposure to patients with sleep apnea.

* Adam explains atrial fibrillation and the irregular rapid heartbeat that people experience with that condition.

* Studies showing that management of sleep apnea can improve AFib.

* Adam shares the exhaustion he felt being a young doctor and how he was unsure if that was owing to a sleep problem or just working long hours.

* Experiencing worsening reflux and Adam's decision to seek treatment after his wife complained about his snoring.

* Seeing a pulmonologist at the hospital and being tested for sleep apnea at a hotel specially equipped for sleep studies.

* Receiving a diagnosis of severe sleep apnea and being set up on CPAP.

Connect with Dr. Goldberg:

https://cvilleheart.com/staff/adam-goldberg

This episode is sponsored by Aeroflow Sleep - learn more here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.aeroflowsleep.com⁠⁠

Connect with Emma:⁠⁠⁠

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Click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/1KUzY0O⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the US or search your Amazon store for the title in your country.

Disclaimer: This podcast episode includes people with sleep apnea discussing their experiences with medical procedures and devices.  This is for information purposes only and you should consult with your medical professionals before starting or stopping any medication or treatment.

Emma is joined by Dr. Eric Thuler, an adjunct Professor in sleep surgery at the University of Pennsylvania.

In this episode:

* Dr. Thuler explains how he trained in medicine and got into otolaryngology for his residency.

* Eric explains research into DISE and CT scans of OSA patients.

* Research with myofunctional therapists and how tongue positioning could change the airway.

* Joining the group at University of Pennsylvania to develop a way to measure upper airway collapsibility.

* Questioning whether AHI is the best measure for OSA when it is really the effort to breathe which depends upon collapsibility.

* Research into soft tissue volume and how that didn't show a relationship to increased collapsibility. However, they found that increased tongue volume did indicate a higher collapsibility of the airway.

* Using the Da Vinci system to do less invasive surgery.

* Looking at narrow and underdeveloped jaws and how that affects whether there is enough room for the tongue.

* Dr. Thuler explains that obstructive sleep apnea requires choosing the right treatment option for the right patient.

Dr. Eric Thuler:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eric-Thuler

https://oto.med.upenn.edu/research-clinical-trials/clinical-research/sleep-surgery/

Connect with Emma:⁠⁠⁠

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Order "The 6-Week CPAP Solution Workbook" by Emma Cooksey

Click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/1KUzY0O⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the US or search your Amazon store for the title in your country.

Disclaimer: This podcast episode includes people with sleep apnea discussing their experiences with medical procedures and devices.  This is for information purposes only and you should consult with your medical professionals before starting or stopping any medication or treatment.

Emma is joined by Ginny Oliaro, a young woman sharing her journey to diagnosis and treatment for severe obstructive sleep apnea.

In this episode:

* Ginny shares about the loud snoring and daytime sleepiness that prompted her to seek help from her doctor.

* Snoring running in the family and being treated as not a big health problem.

* Ginny explains struggling to keep her eyes open on her short, 15-minute drive.

* A sleep test showed Ginny was having 101 events per hour and receiving a diagnosis of severe obstructive sleep apnea.

* Starting CPAP and enjoying better sleep almost immediately.

* Switching to Aeroflow Sleep for future CPAP supplies.

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Aeroflow Sleep - learn more here: ⁠⁠https://www.aeroflowsleep.com⁠⁠

Aeroflow Sleep videos featuring Ginny:

https://youtu.be/nw5t1i83wak?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/OIFYh5cueCc?feature=shared

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Order "The 6-Week CPAP Solution Workbook" by Emma Cooksey

Click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/1KUzY0O⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the US or search your Amazon store for the title in your country.

Disclaimer: This podcast episode includes people with sleep apnea discussing their experiences with medical procedures and devices.  This is for information purposes only and you should consult with your medical professionals before starting or stopping any medication or treatment.