Question:
has anyone has any sleep apnea complications post op

I have sleep apnea but was unable to tolerate the cpap machine so therefore did not use it. How was this handle after surgery since I know there would be respiratory depression risk post op?    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on August 9, 2002)

August 9, 2002
No sleep apnea complications here, but I have had sleep apnea since 1993. I normally use a mask with the nasal plugs, but that was not an option in the hospital since I had an NG tube in. So the hospital (Hospital of the University of Pa.) provided me with a full mask (covers nose and mouth) which I was able to use while my NG tube was in. Once the NG tube was removed, I went to my own CPAP machine and mask. Most hospitals will request you to bring in your own machine. HUP, being a major hospital, had a supply of machines for use by patients, I guess... <p> If you have sleep apnea, I would highly suggest working to find a CPAP machine and/or mask that you can tolerate. Is it having something around your nose or mouth when you sleep that you can't tolerate or the air pressure from the CPAP machine. Many machines have a "ramp-up" function that starts the pressure at next to nothing and ramps it up to the full prescribed pressure over a period of time. This will allow you to get to sleep before the machine is at full pressure. <p> Please make sure that your surgeon is aware of your history of sleep apnea so that the proper attention can be paid to your respiratory function post-op.
   — John Rushton

August 9, 2002
Many surgeons will not even operate on you, if you have not been getting treatment for your sleep apnea. Severe sleep apnea, deprives your organs of oxygen and you do not heal as well, either. I wasn't even on a c-pap until a few months prior to surgery, becausd I had never had a sleep study done previously. I'm also one of the few that I know of who remain on c-pap at goal weight.
   — Barbara B.

August 9, 2002
Carla, Please read the memorial on Ginger Brewster at www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/wlsmemorial.phtml to find out what can happen if you have surgery with untreated sleep apnea. Needless to say, it is VERY dangerous! If you absolutely cannot tolerate the CPAP at least insist on being put in ICU the first night.
   — Hackett

August 9, 2002
I have suffered with sleep apnea for almost 4 years. i slept with my Bi-Pap machine every night FAITHFULLY. When I went for my surgery, the Dr. told me I could leave my machine at home because I would have a NG tube stuck in my nose. I was very nervous about it at first but, they were kind enough to give me oxygen while I was there even with the NG tube. I just had the little plugs that put on you as a standard when you are short of breath. I did well with the oxygen plugs. It helped me even more once they took the NG tube out. I did not miss my Bi-Pap machine while I was in the hospital at all. When I got home I tried to use the machine and it was terrible. It was just too much air to my stomach and I could not tolerate it. I have not slept with my machine in the 3.5 months since the surgery nor have I had the episodes that I use to have when I would nod off without it. For example, I use to have really bad episodes called "air hunger"...that is when you wake up coughing so hard that it makes your chest hurt because you are gasping for air. I do not do that anymore and my husband also says that I do not snore as bad as I did before surgery. I have not had any problems since going off my Bi-Pap. I do not know how severe your apnea was so I suggest you talk to your Respiratory Dr. about having a new sleep study done in order to adjust the prescription for your pressure so that you can continue to use your machine if you still need it. I hope after a while you will not need your machine either. Good luck.
   — Shahida (Gilda) M.