Sleep Apnea Test

I am just curious, I have never had any issues with sleep nor do I think I have sleep apnea.  When do they recommend this test and is it always recommended? 

Helen

The sooner you have it done the better, most surgeons want a sleep apnea test done. If you wait til later and they request a sleep study it could hold up your file and surgery date.  I believe if you have sleep apnea and you get put under for surgery it can result in not being easily woken up from anestetic (someone else will confirm this)  I went and ahead and asked my Dr for a referral to the sleep lab 2 months after my referral.  I did not think i had any issues, but turns out i have mild sleep apnea, every time i hit REM i stop breathing.  When i seen the sleep Dr for my results he explained that because I am going for RNY I have no choice but to treat my apnea.(this dr had gastric bypass himself) As much as I did not want to treat it I can not imagine sleeping without it.

Thank you, I will look into it

Just a tip, when you get your appointment, call the clinic and ask to be put on a cancellation list.  I did that and instead of waiting a month or more, I was in the clinic in 2 days.

Cathy

Thanks, good info....does everyone need this test?  I have had two surgeries prior and never had any issues, one was gallbladder, one was appendix, the last one was 2013?

Hi hiom I had my surgery (ries) Feb 4th and 6th 2015 out of Toronto East General, but my Centre is Toronto Western Hospital.  I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2001.  The minute I had my first appointment after orientation, I went to my family doctor and had her book a sleep apnea test for me, as at orientation, I was told that the team would require an updated sleep test that was less than 2 years old.  (I hadn't been in over 4+ years).  It definitely sped up the process as when I went to the nurse practitioner appointment, I brought a copy of the test results.  The reason they need to find out if you have sleep apnea or not is because if you do, you need a CPAP machine while you are recovering in hospital, and they also take extra precautions for anaesthetic.  Hope this helps!

I am out of TWH and don't have my nurse appointment until next week. Knowing that they may request a sleep test, I had my family doctor book one for me and I have the results to bring to my nursing appointment. For me, it was two fold, a) I didn't want to delay things by going to my nurse appointment and them requesting it and b) I didn't want to do it out of TWH as I live in Mississauga. I prefered to do it close to home which I did at Credit Valley.

All this said, I didn't think I had sleep apnea either and while I am not severe or anything, they did find that I do have moderate sleep apnea which I would have never guessed without the test.

Thank you, I am calling the family doctor today to book one, just in case.