Inspire® therapy helps Indiana man dream again

Tony Santacana has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Indiana man didn’t suffer from exhaustion or brain fog though.

He became aware after his wife noticed he stopped breathing up to 90 seconds at a time while sleeping.

This knowledge made him take a sleep study. That confirmed he stopped breathing 40 times per hour while sleeping.

Santacana spent about 15 years searching for options after the diagnosis.

He tried a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine first.

Santacana’s doctor also removed his adenoids and tonsils. He had polyps in his nose taken out and his tongue brought forward, as well.

Nothing worked.

He returned to his doctor in 2014 due to his sleep problems.

He next tried a new CPAP machine and a Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) machine.

Santacana’s oxygen saturation levels still dipped into the 70s and 80s at night. Normal levels are 95-100%.

He began using an oxygen machine to help.

“I was waking up in pain,” he said. “The pressure was so high, and my chest cavity would only expand so much, it felt like I was having a heart attack.”

Santacana’s doctor next removed part of his jaw. He said it is the most severe pain he ever felt.

“My breathing got better, but it did nothing for my sleep apnea,” he said.

Santacana then found out about Inspire therapy and went through the qualification process. He received Inspire therapy in December 2019.

He felt better soon after starting it.

“Within a few months, I started dreaming again,” Santacana said.

His oxygen levels rebounded into the high 90s. He also lost weight and wakes up with more energy.

“I was completely unable to get my sleep apnea under control until I found Inspire,” Santacana said.