CPAP...for what???

LisaAC
on 10/23/06 1:29 pm - Philadelphia, PA
I have to say that I can't think about this without getting angry. Just found out I am getting a CPAP machine. The pulmonologist made me go for the sleep study before he would clear me for surgery. The only "symptom" I have, which made him insist I do this, is snoring...I have seasonal allergies and lifelong sinus problems. Of course I snore! The only time I am tired during the day is if I deliberately stay up later than I should - or I have a high blood sugar episode. The only thing that will wake me in the night is a leg cramp - muscular - have also gotten these all my life. I figured going in to it that they would find Something Wrong, as doctors seem to feel vindicated when they find something wrong with overweight patients. I swear they are always disappointed when they find my cholesterol levels are good and my blood pressure is always between pretty good and perfect! I did not sleep normally during the study. How could I, hooked up like Frankenstein's monster? I was keen to every sound, every unfamiliar flash of light. I have to turn/move a lot till I'm sleeping, as I have sciatic pain. The first night's tech was so freaked about the possibility of me pulling out wires, that I was totally aware of it at every moment. The 2nd night, I only slept a little better because I had not slept the night before, had forced myself not to nap during the day, and was exhausted! And I had a calmer tech. So...they tell me I have sleep apnea and the CPAP will help me feel better. My question is....feel better - HOW??? I'm not tired during the day. I don't wake up tired. I don't have trouble sleeping! So, better how? I think this whole thing is just one more of modern medicine's money making gimicks! But I have to follow through with it and let them rip me off, so I can get my surgery! That really sucks!
carolem
on 10/25/06 4:28 am - Austin , TX
Lisa, there might be somehing your doctor isn't telling you. Sleep apnea can affect your heart, have you been cleared by the cardiac people? My cardiac tests showed the right side of my heart to be enlarged. Two things are probably causing this, one of course would be carrying too much weight and the heart is working harder than it's suppose to. The other is from sleep apnea. I can only talk about myself because there may be other reasons for them wanting you to get a CPAP. One of the things my surgeon here in Scottsdale, AZ requires is having her patients bring that CPAP to surgery so they can place it on you when they remove the breathing tube. It avoids any breathing problems you might have following surgery. Be glad they are being careful. My pulonary doc said losing weight will significantly reduce the sleep apnea problem. So down the way you may either not need it or at least it will be significantly adjusted making it more comfortable. Carole M in AZ
LisaAC
on 10/25/06 12:20 pm - Philadelphia, PA
Thanks, Carole. I have been cleared by the cardiologist. And now by the pulmonologist, who told me yesterday that I have "severe sleep apnea." They had a machine delivered yesterday as well. I am still dubious, but he did get my attention when we spoke yesterday, so I will try to do as he says and see what happens. He said that on the first night of the study, I stopped breathing an average of 102 times per hour - I don't even know how that's possible - and that my blood oxygen dropped to 66%. He went on to say that on the 2nd night, with the machine, I stopped breathing 10.8 times per hour and my blood ox stayed in the 90s. He believes that while losing the weight will bring much improvement, he is not certain it will go away completely, being that severe. Just one more hurdle to jump, I guess. Lisa
jtrudolph
on 10/26/06 7:55 am
Hi there. I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea about 6 years ago & have used CPAP ever since. I must say you are very lucky if you had that many disruptions on your sleep study and were not feeling tired the next day. However if you are perhaps like me you've had it for years and just felt "that was the way it is." I knew something was wrong when my husband told me I would stop breathing sometimes and snored very VERY loudly. Yes they hook you up like frankenstein's monster for the study and it is VERY difficult IMO to sleep like that. Though you may not actually realize you wake up at night there is a reason for that. You physically do not wake up, but your BRAIN does each time you have an obstruction or "event"... thus taking you out of your proper sleep cycle and starting over. It happens without you ever noticing it so your brain is not resting even when your body is "asleep." It is serious and untreated can even be fatal. Please do NOT ignore the CPAP and sleep drs advice. CPAP is a pain in the butt to sleep with but eventually you get used to it. The plus side is if you are having any type of WLS according to my drs it has a 96% success rate with "curing" sleep apnea... which is better than the UPPP surgery success rate of around 50% (they remove your tonsils, adnoids, uvula, and other soft palate tissues.) WLS is the way I am going... I hope to wave bye bye to my CPAP afterwards. Good luck with everything...
tegan2
on 11/5/06 11:59 am - Lake Elmo, MN
I can understand your anger. Thought maybe my experience might be of interest to you. I didn't know I had sleep apnea. I didn't feel bad, tired or sick. I went to my doctor to get an order for antibiotics before dental work...since I had been told I have a heart murmur. My doctor ordered an echocardiogram first. It showed Pulmonary Hypertension. I was so scared. To try to figure out what caused it, they sent me for a sleep study. I figured it would be a waste of time. Imagine my surprise to find out I had severe obstructive sleep apnea. I was shocked. Needless to say, I got my machine and started using it. I was so fearful of the Pulmonary Hypertension that I took to using it with no problem at all. Now here comes the interesting part. I started waking up feeling so much better than I had before. So much more refreshed. I hadn't known I was feeling "unrefreshed" before the CPAP. I stopped having pesky headaches. I hadn't contributed the headaches to the fact that for much of the night, I was hypoxic, not getting enough oxygen. While I can appreciate your anger, I would say, give it a chance and see how you feel about it in about 2-3 weeks. Good luck!
carolem
on 11/27/06 2:00 am - Austin , TX
Tell me more about the Pulmonary Hypertension. I'm having my 3rd Echo because they can't seem to get a pressure of the pulmonary artery. What a pain in the neck this is. I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea, only 7 events in an hour. I still have to try a CPAP. I know there are different kinds so maybe it won't be so bad. I'm really interested in what they are going to do for you regarding the PH. I thought that was a diagnosis after all other things had been ruled out. Will the WLS help? CaroleM in Chandler, AZ
Bobby C.
on 11/29/06 9:33 am - Charlotte, NC
Hi Lisa, just found the sleep apnea forum and noticed your post. Don't blame you a bit for feeling like it's another excuse to extract $$. I had a mild stroke back in 1999. After extensive testing, they determined that my stroke had been due to untreated sleep apnea over several years. Seems your blood pressure spikes when you stop breathing so several years of that caused a blood vessel to rupture. So it may be a good thing that you're getting the CPAP. Good luck! - Bobby
lovinglifevegas
on 3/26/07 2:20 pm - NV
Hey, try to accept the CPAP at least at first. As others have said, I had no idea that I wasn't sleeping before I tried the CPAP machine, but after using it, I was AMAZED at how different life was. I always thought that I just stayed up too late, reading books, etc., but OMG - that machine was a Godsend. Not that I want to stay on it forever, but for now, I look forward to the day my very own home model arrives. Really. It's the best part of the pre-op poking and prodding so far! LOL.
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