c pap machine

HI all, After reading Shelli's post, I was wondering if anyone who has had wls is still using thier c pap machine. I stopped using it the day i got home from the hospital. Actually I only used it once in the step down unit. I used the oxygen nasal tubes instead while I was in the hospital. Now I have the c pap machine and it's sitting in my closet all packed up. I got a call from the Home Health center asking if i was using it. I was honest and told them i wasnt. The woman asked me to call Dr. Mellman and speak to him or his PA Lauren (thats who I was seeing) and tell them I am not using it. Then to call them. I havent done that yet. I dont know but I hate to call the PA and tell her I am not using it. But I also dont want to do another sleep study to see if I still have sleep apenea. I dont think I have it much now, because I wake up in the same position as i fell asleep in. Plus hubby says I dont snore that much now. So my question is, did anyone one of you, call Dr Mellman and tell him or Lauren you arent using the machine???? If u did what happened?

Hi Carol......how have you been doing? I see Dr. Mellman's PA, Lauren, too. She's awesome. Dr. Mellman did come in and tell me that the apnea was bad enough that as soon as they take the breathing tube out of my throat after surgery, then they stick the cpap right on me instantly. He says that overweight people with apnea (especially after having surgery) can just lose the ability to keep the throat and airway open and several people have died from that. They didn't die from surgery, ...they died from the apnea. That scared me. So I keep trudging through with mine (pain in the a$$ that it is) cause I don't want to succomb to respiratory failure.I was also told that Lauren wanted us on the cpap for about 4-6 months after surgery and then.....YES.....we'd have another sleep study. Your hubby said you arn't snoring as much, but I'm assuming you're still snoring some. Carol, talk to Lauren. She's a VERY nice person. Also, weren't you assigned a respiratory therapist from home health care? Gloria is my respiratory therapist and I can call her anytime when I get frustrated with the cpap. Talk to Lauren. Just tell her what's up. They're not going to be mad at you or anything......maybe they can help you find something different. I know you're a few months out, but just be safe. Make the call. Hugs. Shel

Thanks Shel, I will call Lauren and tell her that I am not using the c pap and see what she says... I cant stand that thing..and i have the c pap that has nasal tubes and with this summer weather, I just couldn't do it any more. Carol

Carol.........I could NEVER use those nasal canula thingee's.....not ever. They tried em on me and I could tell instantly that they would make me nuts. I have a very, VERY lightweight plastic nose cover and I can hardly feel it. My problem is that I don't sleep well and every time I roll or move, I wake up cause I know I have the cpap on.....so my sleep has decreased from the already low level of before. Ask them if you can try different nose covers....or even a nose/mouth cover. I even considered that one, just in case my mouth did open sometime in the night. I'm glad you're at least going to call..........be safe. Take care. Shelli

Hi Carol, DH has been using a CPAP for years (long before I met him). He can't do the nose things, either, and uses the mask. I'm sure it takes some getting used to but now he's lost without that machine as it's the only way he gets any good sleep. On the other hand, he does say that the couple times he's lost a bunch of weight he finds he doesn't need it every night and can ween himself off it. So even if the doc tells you to keep using it for now, you won't have to use it forever as the pounds come falling off. Trace