Question:
how long should i be on cpap?

I have had sleep apnea for many years and have tried unsucessfully to tolerate the cpap machine. However I hear many doctors wont do surgery until a person can wear one. How long should I have been using it before surgery?    — justaboutkrazy (posted on June 21, 2005)

June 20, 2005
Mary, If you are not ona pcap machine, I don't no why they would not do your surgery. In most cases everyone goes off of that machine within weeks after the surgery. I am not a Doc, but that should not have any thing to do with you being approved or denied at this point. The other factors of being over weight should be greater than just the sleep apnea. Good Luck in your quest & hope you get your approval soon. Marilyn, the Bearlady
   — Marilyn C.

June 20, 2005
My surgeons wanted me to be on the CPAP machine for at least 2 weeks before surgery. Maybe you might want to try the nose cannula masks they have rather then the masks that cover the nose and mouth because I too had problems using it until I tried the nose cannula mask. The nose cannula masks are similar to the ones they use when they put you on oxygen in the hospital. They go in both holes in your nose but they actually fill the entire hole to keep the airflow going straight through the nose.
   — one twenty five sixty to go

June 22, 2005
My surgeon makes his patients were it for 30 days. All surgeons are different though. So don't even make you wear it.
   — melissagarcia

June 22, 2005
Mary, it is important for you to be using your Cpap before surgery. I had my surgery done @ Barix and I needed to be using my machine for at least 30 days prior to surgery or I ran the risk of them not operating on me. It is important for your blood to have the proper amount of oxygen in it and when you have sleep apnea, it robs your blood and organs of that. As for me, I had just found out 5 weeks before my surgery that I even had sleep apnea so at first I was stubborn and didn't want to use it and then realized without it, I was risking having the surgery. Yes, it was difficult getting used to it but I forced myself to and I did get used to it. Having said that, 2 weeks after surgery I was off it forever! Also, it is important for the doctors to know if you have a Cpap and you are using it because because of the anestesia (sp?) they put us under with. Please use it for your own good! Good luck.
   — Stephanie W.