Question:
Please Help with CPAP question

Hi, I must get two clearances from a cardiologist and pulmologist for my 4/24 surgery. I will be going on a cpap machine for sleep apnea on 4/1, and must wait two weeks to go back to the pulmonoligist, then quoting the nurse, "if everthing is fine with the cpap he will give you clearance, if not,your surgeon will probably have to post-pone because of it being so close to your date, we'll be running out of time" Well when I asked her what could go wrong, she really didn't answer me with anything specific. Now, this is all I worry about. Can anyone out there please tell me what could go wrong the first 2 weeks on your cpap that would make a Dr. not want to give clearance? Thanks so much to all ahead of time who can help.    — Tammy B. (posted on March 22, 2002)

March 21, 2002
Well your saying I DONT TOLERATE THE THING. might be a problem...<P> I never tolerated my bi pap. At a pressure setting of 17 it gave me headaches, runny nose, which made my GERD much worse. My understanding surgeon put me on pulse ox monitor with a higher flow of oxygen for surgey. It also elminated the POSSIBLITY of a high pressure inflating my intestines causing a leak. I WAS thrilled to not need that machine.
   — bob-haller

March 21, 2002
Unlike Bob, I never had a problem tolerating the machine. It will probably be hard for me to stop using it after my surgery. However, he is right about what they're looking for. They probably want to know if you are using it. If, after the first 3 or 4 nights, you can't get used to it, you might want to call them and let them know. You need to be absolutely honest with them about it. As Bob said, there can be other things they can do if you can't get used to the machine.
   — garw

March 21, 2002
Yep TELL THE TRUTH. Besides SOME machines today can be read. That is they tell wether your using it or not.
   — bob-haller

March 22, 2002
I have to agree with the others who answered that using it is the biggest thing. I'm a respiratory therapist and have to set people up on CPAP all the time. The number of people who can't/won't tolerate it is huge. Most don't. It takes a lot of mental work by you to psyche yourself up to tolerating it. And as mentioned, sometimes there are actual physical reasons that it can't be tolerated. I am assuming that you had a sleep study to determine the correct settings? If not, tell them you want one. There have been plenty of physicians order these things randomly without proper testing for the settings. Also ask for humidification for the CPAP. The rental companies don't offer them but do have them available. It will help keep your sinuses from drying out so much with the air flow. Then the hard work, psyching yourself. Do whatever it takes to relax, calm yourself and breathe with it and not fight it. If you absolutely can't do it, talk with the physician right away, there are many different types of masks, nasal masks, etc. I personally can't think of anything else that they could have been talking about. There's not much to it besides wearing it. Good luck!
   — Ginger P.

March 22, 2002
I have to add to the previous post that it is VERY important to make sure that the mask fits properly. It needs to be snug, but should not be too tight. I notice that if it has any leaks around it, it makes me nuts. If there are no leaks, I can't feel the air coming into the mask at all. I'd also add that I am someone who could NEVER sleep with the covers over my head, no matter how cold I was, because I felt like I was suffocating.
   — garw

March 22, 2002
The cpap machine is wonderful for me! I use a very low pressure 10 or 11 I think. I have not had such an alert day after only 7hours sleep in my whole life! Please try and use it. I think that they just want to be sure that you are using the cpap.
   — Robert L.