Question:
Sleep apnea diagnosis before surgery.....
In the pre-op testing process I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, its borederline but enough that the dr that read the results thinks I need cpap. It is highly likely that the surgery will correct the apnea and I won't need the cpap, but thus far I am still waiting on insurance approval for the surgery. So has anyone had this experience and what would you advise...getting the cpap although it may be temporary or wait until after the surgery then if the apnea doesn't correct itself get the cpap? — Jjeaner (posted on January 27, 2006)
January 27, 2006
I had the same situation and my degree of sleep apnea was marginal and
would not affect me having surgery. I was scheduled for a sleep study the
week after my WLS but I cancelled it. It was a decision I made for myself
and may not be best for you. The doctor was very up front about the fact
that my surgery would alleviate the need for a cpap but that it would help
my overall health and help with my weight loss. Before surgery I snored
like no tomorrow but a few weeks after surgery it completely stopped. My
husband was amazed at the difference it has made. This is only what I did
and I know you know the decision is up to you. If I had continued to snore
and being exhausted during the day I would have gone ahead and done the
study but both of those things went away. Hope this helps and good luck to
you.
Deb
— dksws
January 27, 2006
Foolish assumption, apnea is not just about snoring, it creates a low
oxygen norm level in the breathing sensor for your brain, during your
surgery you will be on high ox. your blood will be saturated, and you will
have some narcotics , morphine in particular, post op, the air in a
hospital is ox enriched, goes with the territory, but your system is used
to a lower operating system, so it say, got enough, say at 94% ox sat,
instead of 98 like normal folk. (a 88 sat is like a empazema on their death
bed, for a example of what the numbers mean. ), so your brain says, dont
need to breath, you are pumping morph for pain, and your brain is lala, and
your heart is dying, your not breathing and the nurse are yelling crash,
code red, the anesthetist, says ,non smoker, why is this happening, well
babies can be born with apnea, and I had apnea before i was obese, actually
apnea can cause obesity, not always obesity causes apnea. babies with
apnea, can suffer SIDS. if apnea was just snoring it would not be liable a
co morbid,and insurance would not pay about 3k for the sleepstudy or 25oo.
for the machine and maintenance for your snoring. I have a very good
article on how apnea often kills and is unexplained especially in post op
for anything. but it is on my work pc. write me and i will send to you from
work.
— walter A.
January 27, 2006
I found that the surgery and loss of weight does help or get rid of the
sleep apnea. I feel you will have success of losing the sleep apnea after
surgery and the weight drops :)
— Angelfirewithwings
January 27, 2006
Walter is so right about the Sleep Apnea. I have Sleep Apnea and have used
a CPAP Machine for 4 years and just a year ago, was switched to an Auto
PAP, as I need adjustable pressures throughout the night.
I personally have known 2 people who have died because of Sleep Apnea. A
friend of mine, who I went to church with. She passed with her 6 year old
son, who was in the room with her. She was a single mom, so the son was
with her for about 12 hours before it was reported. She was a single mom.
Do not take this lightly. I rented a machine monthly for a whole year. I
think it was around $35 a month. A small price to pay. In return, you can
sleep knowing you will wake up.
Good luck on your upcoming surgery.
Normie :)
— Normie
January 28, 2006
Julie, I no longer use my C-pap machine. The doctor took me off of it the
day of surgery and I am doing great! I had it bad. There's a very good
chance that after your surgery you will not need yours...
Robert
[email protected]
— RobertMiller
January 28, 2006
the surgery will probably correct the apnea, but as others have pointed
out, you will have a low oxygen count, plus it causes depression and lack
of energy. I would fight someone who tried to take it away from me before I
lose the need for it. It makes me feel so much better.
— geneswife
January 28, 2006
Hi Julie,
Chances are, if a doctor says you need the cpap, you should get it. It will
be covered by your insurance,a nd you can get rid of it later.
That said, I too was diagnosed with sleep apnea, but my doctor didn't push
the cpap, saying that it would correct itself after surgery. He was quite
right. There was a very profound improvement within a few weeks of
surgery.
That said, though, my O2 levels that were read in the hospital were
downright scary. They kept waking me up and forcing me to breathe deeply,
afraid for me. The CPAP might indeed have been a good idea. Not to mention,
your body heals better with proper O2 levels.
So if they're suggesting it, I'd say using it temporarily wouldn't be a bad
idea. You're getting rid of it soon enough! :)
— christied
January 28, 2006
My surgery did not alleviate my need for the cpap, although the doctor and
I hoped it would. I think you should get it and use it, then stop if you
no longer need it. Mine really helped me presurgery and continues to,
although I lost over 150 pounds.
— Novashannon
January 28, 2006
WLS doesn't "cure" sleep apnea. Plenty of people in normal weight
ranges suffer from it also. I had a sleep study before my WLS and had no
apnea, now 3 years later I do, mine is related to severe asthma, and I
don't snore, I never have. Any reputable WLS program will insist on sleep
studies and a visit with a pulmonologist and using C-Pap for at least 60
days before surgery if you're diagnosed with apnea. It's in your best
interest to use the C-Pap if needed. Untreated sleep apnea can kill you.
The only way to know if you no longer have sleep apnea is to have another
sleep study. Most WLS programs will not operate if you have untreated
apnea.
Amy
— goldroses
January 29, 2006
I agree with the others about the sleep apnea. I was almost sure that my
excess caused the apnea. When I was first diagnosed I was 250lbs; at
surgery I was 308; Now I'm at 172 and post op close to 2 years. I still
have the apnea. Of course it is not as severe but I still have and still
have the cpap. Would love to get rid of it but so far I haven't.
John Fortenberry
LAP RNY 6/12/04
— jforten
January 29, 2006
Julie,
I had a bad case of sleep apnea before my surgery. I went away almost
immediately after the surgery. I think I may have used the Cpap machine
for one or two nights aftertward and then packed it away. Good luck.
— [Deactivated Member]
February 27, 2006
Hi I manage a sleep lab in MA, so I know all about cpap and apnea. Apnea
is usually caused by weight gained!!! In the beginning it is VERY
important to use a cpap machine. One thing that happens when you get a
good nights rest is your body burns fat in the deepest stages of sleep. If
you are having continuous apneas then your brain is not getting complete
rest and is waking up every 15-30 seconds. Which leads you to not getting
a complete nights sleep and you wont go through all you sleep stages for
the proper amount of time. I would suggest getting and using your cpap
machine now and after loosing some weight reevaluate. Sooner or later you
wont need it anymore and you can always sell it on ebay ;0
— Mugzy2k
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