I am so Embaressed

I am having open gastric bypass surgery on Friday morning and one of the dr's I saw last week for pre surgery clearence thought that I should be take a sleep test for sleep apnea. As it turns out I do in fact have sleep apnea. When showing me the different face masks, The first thing that came to mind was Hannibal Lector. My wife has sleeping issues of her own now she is going to have to look over at me with a face mask and a tube, I can't help but to be embarssed. Am I wrong for feeling this way? Is this something that last forever? Any thoughts or insights?

Having a c-pap or bi-pap machine is a blessing, not a curse. After a few nights, the white noise will help you both sleep, and the benefits to you will be awesome. I never realized how tired I was until after I got my bi-pap machine. It takes a few nights to get used to it, but once you do, you don't want to sleep without it. The biggest difference for me was around mid-day. I used to get so tired at lunch that I would fall asleep at my desk or in my car. After the bi-pap though, I'm good for the day. You should be able to sleep without the mask once you lose enough weight so that your breathing isnt constricted. I'm still on mine, and the first week after surgery it was uncomfortable due to the deep breaths you take with it. After that I was fine.

I have to agree with else - it's nothing to be embarassed about, and it works wonders for you.  You'll be glad you have it once you get adjusted to it - you'll notice an increase in energy and alertness. After you've lost your weight, most likely you won't need it anymore.  However, there is a chance you still will - but again, it's nothing to be embarassed about.  Sleep Apnea is a serious issue - it will shorten your life.  I can't remember the guy's name, but a big time football player last season died because he had untreated sleep apnea and had a stroke in his sleep. So - it's nothing to be embarassed about.   Good luck!

The c-pap was a lifesaver for me. I was falling asleep all the time , even while I was driving... which was the scary part.

My wife found it weird at the beginning and but said that I was moving a lot less while I was sleeping (she could get better sleep because of that), that I wasn't snoring anymore (which was a great bonus for her), and I didn't wanted to go have a nap right after a meal.

Bottom line, I might have a mask and sound like Darth Vader but it is a positive thing to have a c-pap!

I think Reggie White was the name of the football player someone was looking for.

Thanks,

It will improve your health and rest whici will help you feel better.  It not any good for smooching or foreplay but, youi'l be giving it up after you lose the weight.  I had mine for 5 years and haven't used it since WLS.  Its the right thing to do for your longevity. 

I honestly believe I would have died, had I not gone on the CPAP machine years ago. I felt 100% better almost overnight. Joint pain, fatigue, and a whole slew of other issues went away once I started getting some quality sleep. I also lost about 70 pounds in the first year. I understand your concerns, I referred to mine as the "darth vader" mask. However, Make no doubt about it. Sleep Apnea is a killer and not to be ignored. I had over 10,000 hours on my machine when it was retired earlier this year, when I fell below 250. Tough it out with it. You will be glad you did. JP

Matt, Most people find their Cpap or Bi-Pap machines to be a life saver, literally. And, many find they don’t need them once the weight comes off. So the "Last forever?" Probably not. Have the Greatest this Friday! Best Wishes- Dx

Hey Matt... just wait, till you pull that mask off in the middle of the night, and your wife rolls over and smacks you, and says...you're makes too much noise....put your snorkle back on.... Kelly snores like a feind when i some off...I wake him up to put it back on... Friday you are in our thoughts Russ

SNORKLE!! Funny you said that. That is what the wife and I call my mask as well. During the testing I had 160 occurences an hour . So I also beleive this saved my life!  I have lost 100 lbs thus far  however I am at the weight of which i was first tested. I need to drop another 100 before i get retested.

You'll be embarrased for a whole 2 minutes in the beginning, and after that, you'll both have gotten past it.  This is you wife you're talking about!  She married you for bad or for good, so she can simply adjust along with you without any problems. She's going to sleep alot better too since she doesn't have to sleep next to a sawmill anymore. (The snoring and other various noises you prolly made while sleeping would've been more embarrasing to you had you known she was listening to them) How bout this....  I work in a fire dept. and put a mask on every night in front of the guys when I'm at work.