Marseilles Woman Getting Sound, Safe Sleep After Inspire Therapy
Dr. Rajeev Mehta, Otolaryngologist, and Dr. Salah Lababidy, Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist, will be presenting a lecture on Inspire Therapy at Silver Cross Hospital Wednesday, March 13, at 5 p.m.
Charlotte Caputo suffered with breathing problems for years. After her doctor suggested a sleep test, she learned her breathing stopped often during the night.
Some 25 million Americans go to sleep at night and don’t realize they may stop breathing 15 to 65 times an hour. They are victims of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and it’s about as dangerous as it sounds.
OSA occurs when soft tissues in the airway collapse during sleep and block the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then the body falls back asleep.
Since she lived alone, Caputo had no idea her breathing was stopping throughout the night until she went on a rafting trip with some girlfriends.
“One of them woke me up and said, ‘Your breathing keeps stopping.’ Well, I got in for the test right away. That can affect your organs and overall health.”
The first remedy was a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which Caputo said worked fine. But then she heard that particular brand was recalled after being linked to cancer.
“I already had cancer, and I didn’t want to have it again,” said Caputo, 76, of Marseilles. “I heard about the Inspire therapy in ads. My doctor referred me to Dr. Rajeev Mehta .
Dr. Mehta, a board-certified otolaryngologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, performed his first Inspire therapy procedure there in November 2021. Caputo was intrigued when she heard about how it works…and that she could get rid of the cumbersome mask.
To be a candidate, Dr. Mehta said OSA sufferers must have been diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea, cannot use or get constant benefit from a CPAP, are not significantly obese (BMI 35 or less), and must be 18 years or older.
The Inspire device system, implanted during a 1 ½-hour surgery, delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, allowing the airway to open during sleep.
Caputo had her surgery Feb. 8, 2022, and never has regretted it since.
“It is wonderful,” she said. “I have a little implant, and when I push the button, a green light goes on, and I can feel it working.”
The Inspire implant delivers gentle pulses that move your tongue out of the way each time you take a breath, keeping your airway open while you sleep soundly. No mask or hose is required.
“It is the best thing I have ever done,” she said. “I would recommend it to anyone.”
Dr. Mehta and Dr. Salah Lababidy, Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist, will be presenting a lecture on Inspire Therapy at Silver Cross Hospital Wednesday, March 13, at 5 p.m. For more information about sleep apnea or to register for this free lecture, visit silvercross.org
