Question:
Has anyone had sleep apnea go away after surgery?

   — eem211 (posted on January 30, 2009)


January 29, 2009
I was diagnosed with a mild case of sleep apnea the month prior to my surgery. At the time I weighed 241 lbs. I had VBG surgery 03/04/08, and have since lost 106 lbs. I was retested last month, and was informed that the sleep apnea is gone. Take that for what it's worth--my case was mild to begin with... Best of luck!
   — suezahn4me

January 29, 2009
Yes. I had fairly serious sleep apnea that was gone after I lost my first 90 pounds. For many people, the apnea results from excess weight on your chest which, once it's gone, makes sleeping a restful experience.
   — SteveColarossi

January 29, 2009
Yes, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 8 years ago but after I lost the first 80 pounds it was GONE GONE GONE along with my diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and the best of all is not having to sleep with the sleep apnea machine. Hang in there it all gets better. God Bless
   — sparkle8062

January 30, 2009
A few months before my surgery, my apnea had gotten worse and I was on a BiPap machine. I had RNY in June 07 and now I no longer have sleep apnea. It left along with the high blood pressure, high cholestrol and high trigyclerides. I also was borderline diabetic and that would have been my next meds to add. Now that is normal too. I don't even take asthma meds any longer so my gastric bypass has been a life saver for me! BTW, I have lost 130 lbs.
   — Cindy H.

January 30, 2009
I am thrilled that all of your sleep apnea has gone away. My Dr is not sure if mine will ever go away. Apparently I have a large tongue and a small mouth. I am not sure if your tongue gets smaller but that is what will have to happen for me to get off my cpap. I sure was looking forward to getting off that thing. Susan
   — susangielda06

January 30, 2009
Dont give up on thinking it wont get better..i had very severe sleep apnea before surgery and even had a trache in my neck due to the weight..today i am trache,oxygen and apnea free. - Patti
   — Patsykins

January 30, 2009
I was diagnosed with acute sleep apnea before surgery, and within a few weeks after surgery, I was sleeping the nights through, something I haven't done for years. I held on to my mask for another month, just in case, but I was able to turn it back in before my insurance got dinged for it. The sleep center was a little upset, stating just because I was sleeping, didn't mean my apnea went away (huh? whole point, right?). I think they were just mad they didn't get the sale of a way over-priced piece of equipment. So, good luck to you!
   — kcbelles

January 30, 2009
I have. I lost 110 pounds with the VSG, and I was losing weight so fast that I had to learn to set the machine MYSELF! I would get stomach cramps from having too much AIR pumped into my intestines from the cPap! Eventually, I had adjusted the machine down as far as it would GO, and it was STILL too much, so I stopped using it. I did not need it any more. I could sleep FINE without it. Before, when I tried to sleep without the cPap, I would wake with a terrible headache, and be cranky all day because I did not get a good night's sleep. NOW, I am fine. I hope this helps answer your question. Hugh
   — hubarlow

January 30, 2009
Me too, lol! I was diagnosed with "mild sleep apnea" about 8 months before my surgery (Lap RNY 2/21/08) and was given a CPAP machine to use. It was discovered during my pre-operative testing. I tried a couple of times to use the CPAP machine and just couldn't adjust. As my surgery date approached I was told that it was mandatory not only for obvious reasons but because my hospital would require my use of a CPAP while I was an inpatient. About 2 months before my surgery I really got serious and trained my body to use it and I became accustomed to it. About 8 months after my surgery I had a f/u sleep study (I had lost almost 100 lbs.) and was told by my Pulmonologist that I no longer had the sleep apnea and I could stop using the CPAP. I had become so used to using it that it took me about a wekk or so the sleep comfortably without it. I think it was more a mental thing than a comfort thing. Anyway, I no longer need it and I'm happy. Good luck to you!
   — dsmuffin

January 30, 2009
It will go away and you will be so happy!! I had sleep apnea for years until a smart Doctor finally figured it out, then I used my cpap machine for 13 LONG years!! I hated it with a passion, every night I would wake up and have to put the mask back on, several times. I would have to make it so tight in order for it to stay on my face , that I would have red marks on my face most of the day! It did help me, but I still hated it! ha When I went to the hospital to have my by-pass 12-28-06, I was on 23 pills a day! I came home from the hospital only on pain pills for a few days!!Yeah!!! It took me about 3 weeks before I no longer needed the cpap machine! I am not considered a diabetic any more, it has saved my life, my Doctor told me that. I will always be grateful for my Doctor being brave enough to do my surgery on me, I was a very high risk. Good luck to everyone, I have lost around 110 pounds!
   — Leatha B.

January 30, 2009
I had severe sleep apnea. My setting was 16. I no longer have sleep apnea. Starting weight 303. Currently 186. Donna Lapband 4/19/07
   — Donna O.

January 31, 2009
Yes! And diabetes, restless leg syndrome, gastric reflux, and a number of other things. I recently donated my C-pap machine to a local nursing home.
   — blbthompson




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