Question:
Could someone tell me what a CPAP machine is I have sleep apnea
but I have a terrible fear of ng tubes and anything being inserted in or down mt throat, when I have my open RNY will I have to have one of these and for how long? Please help!! Thank You Sharon Thornton — Irishlass2154 (posted on August 29, 2001)
August 28, 2001
A CPAP is a small breathing machine. I use one, and I have a small mask
that fits over my nose. It is attached to a tube that runs to the machine,
which flows the filtered air. Its takes a few days to get use to, but you
will feel better. I am no longer able to sleep on my stomach though. Also
you will not be able to talk with the mask on, there is too much air
pressure. You dont fell or relize the pressure until you pull the mask
away from your nose. I hope this helps.
— Leon K.
August 28, 2001
Good morning, Sharon. Until I had WLS surgery, I had (fairly severe)
Obstuctive Sleep Apnea. I assume you know what that entails, as you didn't
ask about this. The CPAP machine (which I used for 4 years) is a device
used to ensure someone with Sleep Apnea is able to get a good night's
sleep. How does it work? Mine was a rectangular box run on electriciy
(about the size of an old Kleenex box). From this is a "plastic
hose" that leads to a mask. This mask, you will wear over your nose
(there are straps that fit around your head to keep it secure). This
machine will blow air thru the hose and into the mask (and therefore into
you). This keeps your "breathing passage" open during the night,
allowing you to get a good night's sleep. The amount of air being pushed
thru is determined based upon the severity of your Sleep Apnea. Please
note that it takes most folks a couple of weeks to adjust to sleeping with
this mask on - and some people never get used to it. But if you can
somehow learn to sleep with this mask, it is remarkable how much better you
can feel. But remember, as I mentioned earlier, if you are having WLS
surgery, your Sleep Apnea will likely disappear in a matter of months
(weeks???). Good luck to you. Kevin
— meilankev
August 29, 2001
Don't be afraid. I have used one since 92 and now can not sleep without the
sound. My husband travels and he misses it too. It is soft breathing
sounds. CPAP is constant air pressure which keeps your throat from closing
and you from snoring and stopping breathing when asleep. It has a little
mask that goes around your nose and various other types you will have to
experiment. It keeps you breathing which prevents strokes, heart attacks
etc from the lack of oxygen when you don't breathe. I am hoping that
someday I will not have to use mine anymore as I am losing weight from the
surgery. It takes a bit of time to get used to especially if you are a
mouth breather by nature. I had to get a chin strap as my mouth
automatically opens when I fall asleep. This helps alot. You wont win any
beauty contests, but it will save your life and it is not that bad. Debbie
— Debbie S.
August 29, 2001
I'll add one more answer. It doesn't go IN you, it goes ON you. Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure--CPAP. WE had his 'n hers. It blows a gentle
sream of just room air into your airway to keep it from closing. Like
pulling a drapery out of the way to let someone pass through. You don't
feel the "breeze" once your mask fits right. My CPAP became my
very best friend in 4 hours flat. I was NOT giving it back to the sleep
clinic! Best 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep I'd had for years. Of course,
post-op, both of us lost our sleep apnea, but we were inseparable from our
CPAP's until that time.
— vitalady
April 10, 2002
Sharon, a CPAP machine prevents the long pauses during sleep when an
individual doesn't breath as he or she should. CPAP means (Continous
Positive Airway Pressure). Several symptoms of sleep apnea are: 1) You have
an uncontrollable hypertension (high blood pressure) not relieved by
conventional means: medication, exercise, change on eating habits; or 2)
snoring. An NG tube has nothing to do with CPAP, so there is no need to
worry there. The use of an NG tube during your surgery I presume depends on
the type of gastric bypass/surgery you are having. It would also, more than
likely, depend on what your surgeon feels is necessary. When you see your
doctor for pre-op, be sure to ask questions and see if there is an
alternative...I'm not sure that there is though. Hope this helps!!!
Hadiyah
— yourdivaness
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