Lap Band and CPAP

 Hi all, 

I'm one week out from surgery and while I was in the hospital my CPAP was my saving grace.  It was the only thing that would help me get any sleep.  I had the awful "GAS" after surgery and I didn't sleep much the first few days after I got home.  

The last three nights I've tried to put my CPAP on and my chest fills with air and hurts SO bad I have to take the thing off.  I think that it is filling me up with air and it is making it extremely hard to sleep.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?  I haven't used it consistantly for over a week.  My pressure is at a 9 and I have only been using it for about 6 months and I was told I probably wouldn't need it long after surgery.

Thanks!

Rose

It was in my post-op instructions to NOT use it after surgery because of the air it pushes into your abdomen.  I was told it can damage the pouch created by the band especially when it was trying to heal.

I was very concerned about going without it.  I asked the doc, "but what if I need it?"  I was told that they would send me for another sleep test.  I didn't need it.  I stopped snoring, I stopped choking, I was actually sleeping, and I started dreaming again.  I hadn't had a dream in years.

If it's causing any discomfort, I wouldn't use it until you can talk to your doctor.

Wow! I was told the exact opposite by my doctor. In my pre-op visit, I was told to make sure I bring my CPAP with me to surgery and to wear it, even when napping, not just sleeping. In fact, I woke up with my CPAP on after surgery, because my 02 stats were down so low and my CPAP is the only thing that would bring them up to a safer level. From the way they explained it to me, it was very important to make sure the lungs were expanding properly and the CPAP helps in doing that.