Sleep Studay WTF?!?

Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition, most people who have it don't even realize that they have it.  It can cause a number of problems in other parts of your life. Your family doctor may not have concerns, but you may have not known the symptoms to let him/her know so that they were concerned.  My father had severe sleep apnea and was on a CPAP machine until he passed away (from cancer).  Prior to being tested, he had numerous symptoms, including snoring and being drowsy during the day.  He might have been diagnosed earlier if he had known what to look for and not had so many problems.

Your anathesiologist will need to know if you have any breathing problems, so that they can ensure that you have a safe operation.  As was said, sleep apnea will affect how you take to anesthetic, and how to you take to oxygen. 

Most people on this board have had a sleep study done.  There is a higher risk of having Sleep Apnea when you are a larger person.  It does not mean that you have sleep apnea (I was a BMI of 53 and I didn't and I slept on my back during the test which is apparently the one position that shows wether you have sleep apnea or not the best) but if you do, getting treated now will help with surgery and with recovery.

When you get your appointment for your study, call the clinic and ask to be put on a wait list for it.  You can get in quite quick as they have cancelations quite often.

Cathy

As frustrated and pissed off as you are, I think you understand now why this test is so important? I will add to these great replies. I didn't know I had sleep apnea and literally died in my sleep one morning. It must have been horrifying for my family to say the least. I suffered a cardiac arrest which was apparently brought on by my undiagnosed SA. Imagine your husband waking to see you gasping for air and falling out of bed and dying? Now, add to that my boys standing watching while their Dad is histerical trying to do CPR on their Mom. Not a nice thing to imagine right? 

This sleep study test will be a crappy a night, but it is worth it. All these steps and tests are for you, your health and safety and to possibly save YOUR life. I go for my forth follow up with my respirologist next week. Over the past months since my wls they have lowered my cpap settings. I am hoping to be told I don't need my cpap any longer.  So, if you have SA and have wls, there is a good chance you will not need cpap for long either. 

Good luck on your journey, it's an amazing ride!!

Annette 😄

I have severe OSA and the mask has probably saved my life so don't think it is a stupid test. 

Sleep Apnea has a direct affect on weightloss and health, there is plenty of research here, on the interwebs and from your clinic team. They want to set you up for success, you meet the criteria for the test based on the GB surgery program.

Just do the test, suck it up, get your surgery and start your new life. Don't sweat the small stuff now because you will need the energy for after surgery.

when i got surgery it was mandatory to get a SA test done.  in london when i got it, it was 2-4 month wait, i was diagnosed with moderate sa at 25 times an hour and was required to get a cpap, after being diagnosed they sent me a letter stating if i do not buy the machine i will loose my liscence to drive becuase your a danger to drive with untreated sa.  i was pretty mad at that point because i couldnt afford the machine the goverment covered $700 but i had to cover the rest which ended up being $1500 plus supplies after that.  i had to get it and sure enough it helped a lot once i got used to it.   but i only used it for two years before surgery and havnt used it since surgery so i have this $2200 machine lying around.  i wish they would offer wls patients to rent it if they are having sugery instead of buying it. i wasnt given that option. 

the posters above are right, it will save your life if you need it.  however if your sechduled for surgery this year i can see your frustration because it kinda is a long process i had my sleep test done, waited a month for followup then had to go for another sleep study with my machine two months after that too see the improvement.   but i honestly would get it done just in case?  cuz if you get to preop and the anastesioloigist asks you and your not sure if he sees a prob he will require it before surgery.  you may get lucky and they dont ask for it like you said you were told if you were under 50bmi it wasnt needed. 

i was meeting my surgeon for my surgery date and she delayed me for a colonoscopy so i left with a colonoscopy a month later apt and was delayed surgery 3 months.. it happens.  when i had surgery i waited 3 years it was horribal  soo much waiting.  now your in and out in 8 months.

I also required a sleep study and I passed the questionnair that they typically ask you. However it is all part of the process. So I did the sleep study and did not and do not have sleep apnea. However in your reference to having had surgery before. This surgery is a lot longer of a surgery and they need to make sure they can keep your oxygen up during the time spent in the recovery room.  You can check out the questionnair here if you want to get an idea of what helps them determine who needs one. Also some sites require everyone to have a sleep study done before being cleared for surgery

http://www.stopbang.ca/

I had severe sleep apnea, dreadful snoring  but after I lost a 100 pounds it has improved and I am having my second actually third sleep study.  I am going with the hopes that I do well and won't need the CPAP machine any longer.

I am from Kingston and I had to have the sleep study and found out that I had severe sleep apnea, stopping breathing 60 times an hour. I had no idea, but since the CPAP machine, I have a lot more energy !

and my BMI is 39.5 biut everyone her in Kingston has to have the sleep study. And you actually do sleep at the lab once you are there :)

I'm going through Guelph and had my first nurse appointment yesterday.  Here they gave us a questionnaire for us to go over with our family doctor and if 3 or more answers are yes then you will require a sleep study.  I had 2 answers yes but I should have had the doctor sign/initial the form somewhere so now I'll have to go back and have her sign it so they know I did do the survey with her.  It's no big deal really.  My bmi is 44, 50 or over at Guelph always requires a sleep study.  If I did have to go for a sleep study I would, like I told the nurse, I'm willing to jump through any hoops I need to in order to get this done, so bring it on!! :)