down 200+ lbs and sleeping poorly

I am sort of stoked after my third sleep study in the last 5-6 years.  I am down to single digits and I am hoping in another 50-100 lbs I will have two extra machines that I no longer need, but if I still need it so be it, I would rather wear the mask than die.

I was put on a cpap 5-6 years ago, pressure was 17, Feb. 2008 had another sleep study and they moved me to a bipap with pressure from 17-27.  I just went in last night and I am not even in the teens (my sleep has been declining since December, had my surgery in October).

From Oct. 2008 to a few weeks ago I have lost 200 lbs and I have another 100 to lose.  Just because I will be at the 'right' weight or a healthier weight doesn't mean I will no longer have sleep apnea.  I have several friends who also have sleep apnea, 2 of them are in great shape so it is not always a weight thing.

I never go without mine.  I always use it.  I never even lay down to take a nap without putting my mask on.  I have read stories about people simply not waking up because they didn't use their machine when sleeping or napping.

(My little story for people that do not use their machine or find it to much of a hassle.)

I now have a personal story to tell. My brother-in-law has a friend that died, within the last month, when he fell asleep in his recliner and simply did not wake up.  They did an autopsy and everything was okay, he died from sleep apnea.  the story is more gruesome because another brother-in-law is on the rescue squad and the guy lived at home alone so it was a few days before anyone checked on him.  It was the weekend and he had 3 days off so no one at work was looking for him.  Sad really when it could have been avoided by just wearing the damn mask.

-Jaime

That's a pretty sad story man! Luckily you don't mess with it and wear the mask at all times when sleeping. I just did the test last week and should be getting the results back within the next two weeks. I am not diagnosed yet but my girlfriend scares me when she says I stop breathing for 10-20 seconds. Glad to see you are approaching the face that you won't need it anymore! That's always great news! 

Keep it up man! 

Thanks.  Yea, I snored my whole life, it was sort of a family joke but back then we had no idea about sleep apnea.  Up until 2 weeks ago when we went to my in-laws for a family gathering (Easter) I had never actually heard of an actual death from sleep apnea, other than reading about it online.  It made my wife and my son think about how serious it actually is if left untreated.  Well, not just them but myself as well.

If you end up having to wear the mask stick with it, it isn't easy to get used to but you will.  I didn't have a problem with it but I have had problems.  Leaking mask or a mask that hurts a spot (my forehead) things like that, but a new different designed mask normally helps alleviate the issues.  My insurance only covers 1 mask every 6 months but I have went in and paid cash for a new mask when the current one just isn't working.  Bad thing is they cost upwards of 100 bucks, I think I paid 210 for a full face mask (covers mouth and nose) for the times when I had a cold and was all stuffed up.

Good luck.

I'm like you even if I just take a nap the mask goes on ~  sure it's not all that attractive and it's cumbersome .... but it's a hell of a lot better than the alternative!

And congratulations on how much you have accomplished!  That is really wonderful

Just an UPDATE!!!

I got my results form last weeks sleep study...

Feb 2008, 515 lbs pressure was 25-27
Oct 2008, 570 lbs pressure the same but wasn't retested (when I had my wl surgery)
Apr 2009, 360 lbs pressure is set at 8 now

I am so excited, 8, WOW no wonder my sleep has gone so far downhill since about Christmas.

I have to buy a new machine, I am no longer able to use bi-pap I get to drop down to a cpap.  NICE!!!

I hope, i really hope losing another 100 lbs will get my off the machine all together, that would be cool.

-Jaime

Before you go out and buy another machine your Bi-pap may be able to be set up as a cpap with a few setting changes. Also, if you buy a new machine check out the APAP that senses your pressure needs automatically. It will prevent having to have repeated sleep tests while you are losing weight. You may already know all this but In case you don't...

I have severe obstructive sleep apnea - my last sleep study showed 83 apneas and 167 hypopneas in a night.  I'm just wondering if they put you on a ventilator during surgery and if so, what the experience was like?  My surgeon told me they might leave me on it for 24 hours after surgery, depending how low my oxygen saturations fall during surgery.  I'm very anxious about the ventilator - I have woken up before with a tube down my throat, since they always intubate me during surgery, and I was so out of it I really freaked out.  I had my gallbladder out three years ago and had a hard time breathing coming out of surgery, with my 02 saturations falling to around 70, so it's probably much better to have the vent. 

They also told  me that after the surgery I won't be allowed to use my CPAP, so I'm concerned about that as well. 

Thanks in advance for any info you can share with me!

Carla

This is the first time I have heard of any physician saying you cannot use your cpap/bipap after you have surgery.  Did you ask why you can't use your cpap?

I was not on a vent after surgery, in fact when I woke up in recovery it was out already.  However, that doesn't mean you aren't going to need one.  If your past history dictates the need for one it is probably safer to have it.  I wonder if they mean you aren't allowed to use your cpap while the vent is in because that just makes sense.  If they mean after the vent is out ask why and what happens if you die due to not using it.

I might call your sleep doctor and ask why your surgeon would not want you using it and get their opinion before you talk to your surgeon.  That way you can say, my sleep specialist told me "_____".  I would word things correctly and write everything down so you do not get off track and make sure you ask the surgeon all your questions.  I write things down because sometimes the surgeon is in a hurry or you forget to ask all your questions.  They have so much information sometimes you get lost in a sea of thoughts.

Remember, under normal cir****tances your surgeon knows best but that doesn't mean you should not understand their reasoning's behind things.  Let your surgeon know you are concerned because you know people can die from sleep apnea and it only takes not using it once for your heart to stop and not restart.

If you have any other questions feel free to shoot me a message or post on here.

-Jaime

I have RNY and my surgeon and hospital both told me I HAD to bring my CPAP machine and use it.  I've read that some people having lap band are told not to use it, but never RNY.  What kind of surgery are you having?