question about apnea/CPAP

Hello All! Last night I had my sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea . I had the CPAP on for a few hours and it drove me crazy! I felt like I was smothered! Do any of you have suggestions for getting used to the CPAP? I had a bit of chest congestion afterwards too. Let me know any advice or pointers. ALSO- what do they do during bariatric surgery for those with sleep apnea? Is there less of a chance the doctor will perform it? Any info at all will be helpful! Thanks so much! Sincerely, Kim

I USED THE CPAP FOR A FULL YEAR IT TAKES TIME TO GET USE TO IT. ALSO WHEN I HAD MY SURGERY I HAD TO TAKE THE MACHINE TO THE HOSPITAL AND WAS PLACED ON IT IN RECOVERY ROOM.

Kim, I was also diagnosed with sleep apnea prior to my WLS. I never got used to the machine! I never slept a whole night with it and just stopped trying to use it all together. I did have to bring the CPAP to the hosp. with me, but again I couldn't use. I wish you the best with your CPAP and hope it works out better for you then mine did! MICHELLE

Thanks michelle! They are coming tomorrow to set it up and fit me for it. Hopefully it will work out. I have been so tired from not sleeping properly! Thanks for the input. How have you been?? Happy Holidays! Kim

Kim- It did not take my husband any time at all to get used to his CPAP. I, on the other hand, went through a little bit of trouble. I knew the difference the machine had made for my husband so I was motivated and committed to using it. Every night I put it on and left it on. If I woke up in the morning with it ripped off I did not fret -- I would just try again the next night. After a while I got used to it. I did have to try several different masks to get one that worked for me. Actually the one I ended up with was one of my husbands old ones. It was a size bigger than the one the therapist fitted me with but for me it worked like a charm. Maybe it was comfortable because it was my husbands. I have replaced it a couple of times with the same type and size. I can not even think of sleeping without my CPAP now. If I take a nap I put it on. One interesting note. My eye doctor told me to put liquid tears in my eyes when I get up in the morning. It seems that because of all that air rushing around --your eyes may get dry. I have not had that problem but I thought I would mention it.

Thanks for the info. I hope it works out! I have been sooo tired from not sleeping well. I have also been getting migraines from my apnea. Thanks for the tear drop tip. I have severe allergies, so getting used to the machine should be interesting. Thanks for the support! Happy Holidays. Kim

I think there are different types of things that you can place over your face, some are less obtrusive than others. I've even heard of little pillows you place in your nose that are small and easy to deal with. I didnt have this comorbidity although I'd bet my last dollar that I was borderline because of my snoring, headaches and everything else that goes along with sleep apnea. I just wasn't as honest with myself about it pre-op and managed to avoid the sleep study. Bad, Amy...Bad, Amy Having apnea shouldn't hurt your chance of having surgery. I know you are self-pay but for many it helped them get approved thru insurance. Hang in there, find a way to tolerate the cpap as best as possible , it may take several weeks but everyone I know that has used it says they feel so much better after they get used to the machine. Good luck

Hey amy! How was your holiday? Mine was good, quiet and nice.I have been in denial about the apnea for awhile too. I didn't want to deal with it either but I have had such bad migraines and sleepiness. I have also been driving my fiance nuts because I wake up a lot. I do not snore loud he says, but I toss and turn a bunch. I have severe allergies, so getting used to the machine should be interesting. How have you been doing? Thanks for the support! Happy Holidays. Kim

Hi Kim, Happy Holidays! Good luck with the initial cpap machine set up. You know it isn't going to be easy to adapt to it, but you have to be committed since this is your health and probably impacts you in ways more than you already know. The recent death of Reggie White should have everyone who has sleep apnea or suspects apnea a little fearful of what can happen if you dont utilize the methods provided to keep you here with us. My hope is that his death will not be in vain and might bring this illness to the forefront because I know there are many people who don't know anything about it. I didn't know anything about sleep apnea until someone from work was diagnosed with it a few years ago. I saw how badly they suffered until it was treated. Although I wasnt officially diagnosed, I will tell you that after losing my first 50lbs, I was sleeping better, had stopped snoring and my frequent dull headaches were gone. So you might not need the machine for long after your surgery. How is your experimentation with new foods coming along? Have you found any new veggies you like yet? I hope so ! Keep us posted on your consult with Dr. Murr. Talk to you soon. Amy

I've had my c-pap 2 yrs and I cheated a little and turned my c-pap into an aromatherapy tank by adding a couple drops of KAZ vaporizer solution, it has euchalyptis and lavender in it for congestion and relaxation. It helped to take the claustrophobic feelings away.