Loud snoring? Waking up tired?

Our ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors can check whether something in your nose, mouth, or throat may be affecting your breathing while you sleep.

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Call (205) 838-3755

  • Board-certified ENT doctors
  • In Birmingham since 1998
  • CT imaging in our office
  • 4.7 Google rating with 200+ reviews

The doctors, nurses, and staff at Southern ENT & Sinus Center.

Do any of these sound familiar?

Some of these happen while you sleep. A bed partner or family member may notice them before you do.

At night

  • Loud snoring
  • Breathing that stops and starts
  • Waking up gasping for air
  • Getting up often to use the bathroom

During the day

  • Feeling sleepy or tired, even after a full night in bed
  • Trouble focusing
  • Dry mouth
  • Headaches
  • Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

These can have many causes. Only a doctor can tell you what’s going on. If one or more sounds like you, an evaluation is a good next step.

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Where your care happens

Some steps happen in our office. Surgery happens with our doctors at a surgery center just down the street. Sleep studies happen at a sleep center. Here’s what to expect.

In our office

  • Your visit with an ENT doctor. Talk about your sleep and your symptoms.
  • CT imaging, if your doctor orders it. A CT scan is a type of X-ray that makes detailed pictures. Ours is done right here.
  • Talking through surgery and Inspire®. If one of these may be an option for you, your doctor can explain what’s involved.

With our doctors, at a nearby surgery center

  • Surgery and Inspire® procedures. Our doctors perform these at a surgery center just down the street from our office.

At a sleep center

  • Sleep study. A test that tracks your breathing while you sleep. We’ll refer you to a sleep center for it.
  • CPAP. A CPAP machine uses air pressure through a mask to help keep your airway open while you sleep. If you need one, you’ll usually get it through the sleep center when you have your study.

How it usually goes

  1. Visit us. Tell your doctor what’s been going on with your sleep. If you’ve had a sleep study in the last 3 years, bring it with you.
  2. Get tested if needed. We’ll refer you to a sleep center for the test. If you need CPAP, they’ll usually fit you for it there.
  3. Talk through your options. If CPAP doesn’t work for you, your doctor can talk with you about other options, including surgery and Inspire®.

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Using CPAP and finding it hard?

Many people find it hard to keep using CPAP over time. If that’s you, talk with one of our doctors about other options, including surgery and Inspire®.

What is Inspire?

Inspire is a small device placed under your skin during outpatient surgery. Outpatient means you usually go home the same day.

While you sleep, Inspire sends mild pulses to a nerve that controls your tongue. This is designed to help keep your airway open. You turn it on at bedtime and off in the morning with a small remote.

Inspire is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for some adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. It is for people who have tried CPAP and couldn’t use it or didn’t get enough benefit from it. A sleep study shows how severe your sleep apnea is. Your doctor can tell you whether Inspire may be an option for you.

Our doctors perform Inspire procedures.

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Inspire is a registered trademark of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.

What is sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when your airway gets blocked again and again while you sleep. Air can slow down or stop for a moment. This can keep your body from getting enough oxygen.

A sleep study is a test that tracks your breathing while you sleep. It’s often needed to find out if you have sleep apnea.

Learn more about sleep apnea.

Meet our doctors

D. Trent Lowery, MD

Dr. Trent Lowery

  • Board-certified in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat)
  • Medical degree: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine
  • Residency: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
  • Performs Inspire® procedures

Matthew M. Fort, MD

Dr. Matthew Fort

  • Board-certified in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat)
  • Medical degree: University of Mississippi Medical Center
  • Residency: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
  • Performs Inspire® procedures

Questions about insurance?

For your convenience, Southern ENT & Sinus accepts insurance. Call us at (205) 838-3755 or visit our insurance page for more information about the insurance we accept.

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