Question:
How will sleep apnea affect my surgery?

I posted earlier on SA and forgot what extra procedures will have to be made for me, and what is the recovery process. TIA    — D. K. (posted on October 14, 2003)

October 14, 2003
Depending on the cautiousness of your surgeon, they may keep you in the Surgical ICU (ICU) for the first night after surgery just to keep a special close eye on your...JR
   — John Rushton

October 14, 2003
I had morbid SA with my CPAP set on 12 at the time of my surgery back in April...I did fine, no ICU or anything and I haven't worn it since!! (-90 lbs. to date)
   — chippywah

October 14, 2003
Janet, My cpap machine is set at 14. Yikes, that sounds high. :((
   — D. K.

October 14, 2003
Please be sure that not only your surgeon, but the anesthesiologist and all medical personnel taking care of you are aware that you have sleep apnea and that they are taking precautions for you having it. If that is done, you will be fine. My friend, Ginger Brewster, on the memorial page of this website, died because she had the surgery with undiagnosed/untreated sleep apnea and no precautions were taken for the fact that she had it.
   — Hackett

October 14, 2003
I too have sleep apnea, right now it is set at 15, I had it at 12 but thought I slept a bit better with it higher so they turned it back up. I made sure that I told everyone I had sleep apnea, they should ask you but if they don't tell them. I took my CPAP to the hospital & used it. Just to let you know also there is a chance you will wake up with the breathing tube still in, which I felt like I was choking on & dry heaving. But they quickly took it out when I was awake. It is for your benifit! They also made me wear oxygen for a day or two since my breathing was shallow, which alot of people's are when they wake up anyways! But everything went great, no problems! You will do fine!
   — Saxbyd

October 14, 2003
Be sure to take your CPAP machine to the hospital with you. Because of sleep apnea I spent the first night in ICU and once my NG tube was removed I used my CPAP whenever I slept. Like others have posted BE SURE that the hospital knows that you have sleep apnea. After surgery our bodies really aren't able to respond(wake up gasping) to the lack of oxygen because of the anesthesia. Not using the CPAP could cause problems.
   — Pamela B.

October 14, 2003
I too have sleep apnea and was very worried about after surgery. I instructed my family to make sure I was using my cpap machine. I made sure everyone at the hospital knew about my condition. Everything went just fine I had worried way to much about it. I have read many post about people not having to use their machine after surgery, but, that has not been my experience. I have lost 50 pounds and am down to 170 but still I need my cpap every time I fall asleep.
   — Debra W.

October 19, 2003
I was advised by my surgeon not to use my cpap until 2 weeks after surgery. I would check with your surgeon.
   — Donna M.