Sleep Apnea Diagnosis -- What Should I Do?

Alright, I know I already posted about this a couple of weeks ago, but ... The pulmonologist's office called me today, and told me that I had sleep apnea, which I wasn't happy to hear.  I should have asked more questions, like what type, how severe, etc., but I was just getting ready to leave for an important meeting, and the call surprised me and I wasn't prepared for it. Well, anyway ... I don't want to do this.  I don't wan to be treated for sleep apnea at this time. I don't want to go back for another night of torture in the sleep lab, I don't want to wear one of their cpap machines, and I definitely don't want to buy one if my insurance won't cover it (I don't know).   I just want to get on with the bariatric surgery and get it over with, and they keep throwing more  hoops at me to jump through. I still stick by my original statements I posted on here a while back -- I don't snore  loudly or very often, I don't have any problem with daytime sleepiness, I don't fall asleep driving.  Yes, I am short of breath with exertion, but then, I'm 250 lbs overweight, no big surprises there.   Is this test for real, or does everyone get diagnosed with "sleep apnea" once the "sleep lab" people get their hands on you? So anyway, I need opinions -- what should I do.  Just play along, or try to fight it and see what happens.  I think in America I still have the right to refuse treatment with informed consent.   Should I contact the bariatric surgeon's office and tell them why I don't want treatment for this  condition at this time, and see if they'll refuse to do the surgery.  From reading the OH board and others, it seems like most people who are given one of these CPAP machines don't benefit from it or can't stand to use it anyway, and then abandon it within months of surgery. Frankly, I thought that WEIGHT LOSS was supposed to be the best treatment for sleep apnea, so why can't I just have the surgery and let weight loss take care of this "problem."   Danny, Minnesota

Danny, your insurance will cover it.  Sleep apnea is very serious and shouldn't be taken lightly.  Treatment will be required by your surgeon but the good news is in about 6 months or less you won't have it at all any more.   BTW, don't think it is not serious.  Reggie White died of sleap apnea about 2 years ago.  Reggie Roby (former Dolphin Punter) the year before that.   Sorry you have to go through this but you will need to deal with this before surgery.

As someone who's slept with a CPAP for years, I can tell you - you get used to it.  You get to like it. Three things about sleep apnea: 1.  It can kill you.  I can't remember the football player's name, but not to far in the recent past, a fairly good football player died from a sleep apnea induced stroke while he slept.   2.  The sleep tests are torture, but necissary.  'Nuff said. 3.  Sleep apnea can KILL you.  Dunno how to stress that other than to list it twice. The weight loss will definitly help with the sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea isn't always weight related, but usually is.   Sleep Apnea is extremely dangerous.  It can cause high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke.  It's not something to play around with.  It's so common among those of us that are overweight that it's kind of a non-issue as far as doctors go, as long as it's being treated.  But if it's not being treated, they can't know exactly what to do for you in the OR to keep you breathing, as everyone's Sleep Apnea treatment is customized for them.   Tossing all of that aside, Sleep Apnea also makes it so you can't fall into a deep sleep.  Yiou're tired all the time, whether or not you realize it.  You're not as alert, which impacts your performance at work, at home, driving, and every other single aspect of your life.     if you suffer through the sleep test, get the CPAP and let yourself get used to it, you'll notice a HUGE difference in your energy level.  Seriously - when I first got used to mine, it was a huge difference. Get it treated, man.  No doubt.  Get it taken care of.  Deal with the sleep tests.  Get through it, get your CPAP or BiPAP .. whichever they give you.  It'll make a huge difference in your life, let alone make the surgery about 300% safer.  This isn't just a hoop to jump through - people die from sleep apnea all the time.  Stroke, heart attack / heart failure .. not something to mess with.  Especially if you drink or are a smoker .. that increases the risk ten fold at least. Good luck!

According to my wife, I didnt' snore 99.9% of the time.  I thought I slept fine.  Sure enough, got the test, came up I had it.  I 'hesitated' in my breathing over 300 times in a 6 hr period.  I argued with them that it was bull crap.  But, since the diagnosis was there, and my insurance was willing to pay 2K for the stupid machine, I tried it.  At first, I couldnt' stand it.  Dang farting thing on my face, got in the road, I pulled it over, dumped water etc.  Then one night, I was extra tired and couldn't rest. I needed to lay on my back due to pain, and realized it was making me 'hitch' my breath now and then.  I put the mask on again, tightened it up, and went to sleep... I woke up a solid 6 hrs later, feeling rested. Dang it. It took me quite a while to get used to it, but now I don't sleep with out it.  I can sleep with out it, but I go to sleep faster, and sleep deeper with it.  And, I've begun to dream again.  Hadn't really realized I wasn't dreaming, until I started doing it again.  After doing some research, I discovered if you don't dream, that usually means you're not getting to deep sleep.  Dreaming is a sign of restful sleep. Now, I sleep 6-8 hrs most every night.  As much as I hate to admit it, I guess they wer right.. even tho I didn't snore! So, snoring is not always the tell tale sign.   Do you wake up still tired? Are you not dreaming? Do you wake up a lot during the night?  Those are the signs I had. Dale

Is this really true about not dreaming and sleep apnea? If so, I don't have that problem, because many nights I have very vivid dreams which I remember the next morning.   I only wake up a lot in the night if the dog hears deer in the yard or noisy neighbors coming home at mindnight, in which case the whole household and probably the whole neighborhood wakes up.  Or, consumption of about half a gallon of any beverage after 8:00 PM or so.  Otherwise, I sleep throughout the night. Danny

You have two choices.  1. Tell them to go to hell and do nothing adn assure yourself you'll NEVER get approved for WLS.  2. Play the game, go through the motions get the Cpap and deal with fro a few months until you no longer need the cpap.  For me the CPAP saved my life, even after WLS I will have hard time mentally giving it up

YDM, To get my surgery date, I had to not only do a battery of tests but I also had to produce proof that I actually purchased or my insurance purchased a Cpap or BiPap for me to use with my sleep apnea.   They will send you home if you can't prove you have this machine AND  you are using it.  So, you're probably going to have to have a followup appointment with the pulmonologist in order that he can read the machine to make sure you are using it properly!!!!  GeeZuz   I put off the followup visit thinking it was merely for the dough.  My surgeon's office called and said either go to the followup or forget about the surgery!!!

I was sure I had sleep apnea a number of years ago, having a whole collection of risk factors and symptoms.  They wired me up and sent me home for the test.  They then said I didn't have sleep apnea.

I had a real love/hate relationship with my CPAP. In all honesty, it probably saved my life. I was on one from many years and dragged that SOB all over North America with me traveling on business. 100% search rate if it is in your carry on roller. I felt like Darth F'in Vader being dependent on the thing, but it probably saved my life. Once you get used to it, you sleep like a baby and wake very refreshed. It is kind of like going to a good chiropractor, you never knew how bad you felt until things got better. Getting off the F'in thing was my primary goal of having RNY, but it probably saved my life. Make no doubt about it, sleep apnea it is a killer. My advice, play the game, get the approval. Or, tell the insurance company to stuff it and go to Puerto Vallarta for a week, if you have the resources. Hang in there. JP

What the heck is wrong with me?  I had it for several months now, and I can honestly say I don't feel any more refreshed with it than without it.  I just use the ugly thing 'cause the docs SAY I need it...