Sleep Study Pre-op Question

I just had my in-lab sleep study this past Sunday night. I knew going in I likely had sleep apnea, but it was definitely confirmed as they woke me up midway to put a mask on.

My question is if they find you have sleep apnea pre-op, do you have to wait for surgery clearance until you've seen neurology and gotten your machine? Or is this just to confirm you have it for anesthesia?

I do have a follow-up appointment with Neurology booked, but it isn't until October. I will be done with my insurance requirements for surgery next week.

I also went back through my online appointment notes from my appointment with medical clearance and it looks like he just gave me a referral, but not for surgical clearance for the sleep study? This was the only thing noted for surgical clearance:

"- May proceed with bariatric surgery if the baseline ECG normal. No further noninvasive cardiac testing needed as the patient has no intermediate clinical risk factors, (IDDM, renal failure, CHF, CAD, and CVA) and has a normal functional capacity. "

Anyone have any idea if my sleep study results will hold up my ability to get a surgery date?

Of course, I cannot answer for certain for your surgeon, clearance or insurance requirement -- but I can share with you my experience.

My sleep study results were like yours. I was awakened to put on the mask during the study (confirming that I did have apnea) and waited two days for the doctor to write up the full report including my prescription for a machine and it's settings. Compliance is logged via the machine and was required for surgery clearance.

Additionally, I was required to bring the machine/mask to be used after surgery and while coming out of anesthesia. I also had a more detailed review with the anesthesiologist before surgery -- both to obtain clearance and to confirm compliance.

I believe that your DX of sleep apnea is very important -- but it will not cause you to lose clearance, but possibly delay it (not likely) -- but is important to be addressed for your safety.

Thank you, that definitely helps!

I am definitely looking forward to being able to get a machine, as the sleep I got for the little bit of time I was on it was light years better than any sleep I've had in a very long time. Here's to hoping I can get my cpap before my follow up with neurology to go over my results.

I know how you feel. So many people hate their cPap -- but to me, it was amazing! I slept so well -- and I had no idea that I hadn't been.

YES! I was so concerned from all the bad stories I've heard about people hating it when they masked me, but honestly it was great! And I opted for the full face mask!

Same here!

I can't speak to your insurance situation, but if you're confirmed to have apnea, you will probably want to have a CPAP before going into surgery.

I was on a CPAP for a year before having my surgery. I brought the machine to the hospital, as requested, but somehow it never made its way in to the OR. Shortly after they put me under, I stopped breathing and it took them nearly an hour for them to stabilize me, plus another hour after the procedure to wake me up.

Scary stuff, but best to be safe if it turns out you need the equipment.

The thing for me at least is that the sleep apnea has been undiagnosed for years, and I have been under 4 times in the last 5 years with no issue. So while I definitely want it for the restful sleep, I don't have anesthesia issues not having it.

Not to be a downer, but unless you've pulled your actual surgery notes, you may not know.

I, too, was undiagnosed for years and had multiple occasions with anesthesia -- and was never told there were any issues. In fact, I'd always believed everything was super easy.

Complications can include irregular heart rhythms, oxygen deficiency, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and even death.

It wasn't until I pulled the actual surgery notes from all my surgeries that I learned that while I was under I had several periods of tachycardia (rapid pulse) and some minor issues with respiration in recovery.

None of these issues occurred during my RNY due to using the c-Pap in recovery and the anesthesiologist being prepared beforehand.

Oh no, I know, and I have. I have an extreme family history of heart disease, so I'm a bit insane about my medical related things. My only issue with surgery has been extreme nausea. My rhythms all stay solid, and no weird fluctuations thankfully!