After been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea I started using the TAP 3. I have been using it for nine weeks moving the hook gradually. As of today the hook is all the way at the front and I do not have any relief. I keep waking up and it takes me hours to go back to sleep. Is this normal? Should I try with a CPAP? I do not like the idea of the mask but I need to find a solution.

What does your sleep dentist suggest at this stage?

Oral appliances work best for people who have mainly tongue obstruction.  You may have obstruction at the palatal level.  Here is a good website for surgery www.sleepapneasurgery.com.  Do not get the UPPP.  They have more conservative procedures such as the uvulo-palatal flap that have the same results.  You should definitely try CPAP.  It takes a while to get used to so be patient.  I thought I never could get used to a mask but now I sleep with it with no problems although it is not 100% effective for me because the mask leaks

helter wrote:

What does your sleep dentist suggest at this stage?

Yesterday I talked to her assistant. She said they could send the oral appliance to the lab for adjustment but she is going to call me back after talking to the dentist. I expressed my concerns about going too far because the right side of my jaw makes a sound when I eat (this is a very old problem not a consequence of the oral appliance).
Yesterday night I made the last possible adjustment to the hook, only a quarter of a circle, in other words 90 degrees; it cannot go farther. I'm very happy because I woke up once and went back to sleep right away. Let's see what happens tonight. The dental assistant is going to call me tomorrow.

phoebe368 wrote:

Oral appliances work best for people who have mainly tongue obstruction.  You may have obstruction at the palatal level.  Here is a good website for surgery www.sleepapneasurgery.com.  Do not get the UPPP.  They have more conservative procedures such as the uvulo-palatal flap that have the same results.  You should definitely try CPAP.  It takes a while to get used to so be patient.  I thought I never could get used to a mask but now I sleep with it with no problems although it is not 100% effective for me because the mask leaks

The Pillar Procedure is also an option. I had my AHI reduced from 28 to 12 after I had the Pillar. I am now using an oral appliance EMA and feel further improvement but haven't scheduled another sleep study as of yet.

I would be curious to know what your sleep study results were.  If your case of apnea is central in nature (brain stops sending signals to breath ), neither the TAP 3 OR CPAP will help with that.  They only help with obstructive apnea.