CPAP

Hey, about how is "normal" for the sleep apnea to go away and do you have to have another sleep study for them to take the god awful machine away?? thanks!

Darcy, My pulmonologist said he wanted me to lose about 70lbs before I quit usng it. I too, hated the machine. Once I had my surgery, and my surgeon could no longer hold it over my head and refuse to do the surgery, I never used it. It went right into the closet when I came home from the hospital. I returned it to the rental place about a month after my surgery but had to get permission from the pulmonologist to do so. In my case, I never felt I needed it & never slept well using it. That may not be the case with you. It may be important that you continue. Why not just keep using it until the doctor says you can stop & be safe? I'd hate to be the cause of someone's demise. You will notice as you lose that you are sleeping and breathing better. I did. Dixie

My sleep dr said it could be 4 to 5 months. She also told me that I had one of the worst cases of sleep apnea she had seen. So maybe you could get rid of yours sooner. Don't know if you will need to have a sleep over first. My cpap has been a blessing, I have so much more energy. They thought it would bring down my blood pressure. No such luck.

My pulmonologist said to come back for another sleep study at 3-4 months post op. I'm like you---I can't wait to get rid of that damned thing!!

Darcy, I too haven't really "bonded" with my cpap -- got it Feb 1-- and had surgery March 7. I can't say as I really feel more rested with it -- but then it's hard to tell -- I"m tired from the surgery and from some other issues I've had since then. HOWEVER -- I've seen enough of my sleep study results to know that I really DO need the cpap (at least for now). I'm down about 35 lbs in 30 days post-op, but know it will be a while yet before I can get the docs to say it's "ok" to consider getting rid of the (@*&!*&! machine LOL. I start out with it on every night -- but "somehow", that mask ends up on the floor by 4 or 5 am most of the time :-X Good luck -- and just keep telliing yourself, "I CAN DO THIS" Cheryl

In the beginning, I hated my machine more than life. I then didnt pass the 4 hour requirement that I need for clearance so the machine was on at all times I was home. I wore for like over 12 hours every day for like 3 weeks long and they finally gave me the clearance. Funny thing is, it started to work for me. I was less sleepy during the day (I didntwant to take naps) and had more energy. After I was approved, I stopped using it but now I am using it again so I can be totally rested and in the best of "health" for my surgery. I just would like to not have to have it. Does that make sense? I hate falling alseep with it on and most of the time I find it above my nose in the morning. I depise everything about it and wish like hell that it will be taken away. Thanks for repsonding, and I hope that it only takes a few months. Thanks again!!

I too have obstructive sleep apnea (140+ episodes in 45 minutes) and am hoping to be off the machine 4 to 6 months after my surgery (doctor's guesstimate). I use a bi-pap, not a cpap. The difference in my case is tremendous. If you have trouble using a cpap, such as throwing it off at nights, or are claustrophobic consider a bipap instead, especially if it is a rented unit. Also consider a different kind of mask. I could not tolerate the nasal pillows or the nasal masks but do fine with a full face mask. If you are a mouth breather there is also a unusual mask that fits in your mouth and has a nose clip to keep you from breathing through your nose and lessening the effectiveness. Good luck. Hawkeye Mike

Gee, Mike, I wish I had been told about the mask for mouth breathers when I was using mine. Maybe we would have become friends after all. One of the things that I hated most was the roaring sound whenever I opened my mouth & I am a mouth breather. I had to work so hard to make sure I kept my mouth shut that I think I was awake more than asleep. Dixie

They also make chin straps for mouth breathers to keep their jaws from dropping while sleeping. The mouth breathing device was called an Oracle if I remember correctly. Odd thing was I had to find out on my own. The respiratory techs and home health people didn't seem to know a whole lot except the stuff they keep in stock. Hawkeye Mike

I'm glad to hear your doing better with the CPAP. I hated that thing. I did make it the full 30 days so I could get cleared for surgery but I could not sleep very well with it on. I would wake up in the morning and most of the time it wouldn't be on me. I would check the time to make sure I had it on the required time. I was so happy once I got cleared. I didn't use mine after surgery, but they did tell me to use it until the sleep doctor said it was ok not to use it anymore. I do think mine has went away with the weight lose. I sleep so well now and I get up earlier then I use to and I have more energy now. Good luck with your surgery it is coming up really soon!!! Melissa 337/186/170