Sleep apnea, CPAP, and weight loss surgery = results?

 Hi All:

I was curious to know if others suffered from sleep apnea before their surgery.  CPAP just about saved my life when I was heavier (38.4 BMI), but I've found that since I've reached about 31 BMI my sleep apnea has completely abated. No more snoring and no need for CPAP -- I wake up refreshed and without the trademark sleep apnea headache.  This has been a great improvement!

So, what are others' experiences?  I know this is one of the issues that I was really curious about before I had surgery.

Best,
Roger

I was diagnosed with APNEA during my sleep study and had to log 200 hours pre-op (Im sure several of you remember my whining abou that).

Even though I was not diagnosed prior I KNEW I had apnea and snored like a man for years, and never ever felt I actually slept.

My starting BMI as 42.2 (270lbs) and after losing 20lbs the apnea seemed to vanish. Now I'm down 82lbs and I sleep like a baby and NEVER snore (although my husnband now does)

I have not officially take a sleep study to rule it out, and I actually don't plan to.

Hi Roger - I had 'moderately severe' sleep apnea - knew I snored but didn't know I had apnea until I had to have a sleep study required by Dr Boe. Miserable things, those sleep studies, but it did help, that's for sure. I wore a CPAP for several months - got thru most nights the whole night but once in a while I would wake up and find that I had taken it off sometime during the night!

I no longer use the CPAP - my sleep apnea is gone. My BMI was twice what yours is now - I no longer snore - I get GOOD sleep now.

I'm also off all my asthma meds, cholesterol meds and only take a very small dose of blood pressure medicine every day - something I may always have to take.

Using  the CPAP even prior to surgery helped my surgery immensely - I was more rested and healthier going into the surgery.

Kathy

I've been on CPAP since November 2006 and like you, it has saved my life.  I lived for many years in a fog, letting the affects of sleep deprivation cumulate and trash my health.  The morning after my titration study i woke up feeling the best i had felt in years!!!

Today makes 2 weeks in my surgery and I havent noticed any changes with the CPAP yet, but I am hoping to not need it as I lose my weight.  Even if i am one of those persons who will still need CPAP no matter my weight, I will gladly continue to be a "hose head" if necessary...It really does help.

to you for not needing the PAP any longer

~Denise

 Thanks Denise... Well, it sounds like many folks have benefitted from the surgery in terms of CPAP

I'm glad to hear that folks no longer have apnea after surgery.  I swore up, down and sideways that I didn't have apnea.  That apnea I don't have?  I learned yesterday that it's moderate to severe!!!  Boy, am I shocked!!  I'm not happy that it will push my surgery back, but I know it will help with the approval process.  And I'm looking forward to getting some decent sleep and waking up without a headache!!!! 

I don't know about my sleep apnea since it was never that severe and I couldn't sleep with the CPAP, but from the time I came home from the hospital my family and friends say I've stopped snoring.

I was told to have another sleep study done after I lose 50#.  I have been using a c-pap since 2002. I would love to get rid of it.

Good luck to all

ellen

 Yes, CPAP can be so claustrophobic! Ughh. Glad to be finished with it, but couldn't live without it.

Roger,

I didn't have to use cpap but I know MANY others who have successfully rid themselves of the darth vadar machine after WLS and weight loss.  Some surgeons/primary/pulmonary doctors require a future study to determine if you still need it or not - some go by what the patients say.

Great job!

Pam