Question:
Has anyone out there that is post op suspected prior to surgery they had sleep

apnea, but did not get a sleep study test done and had not been treated for it. I'd be interested to know how things went and what if anything unusual happened with surgery?    — Hackett (posted on May 13, 2002)

May 13, 2002
Most doctors send their patients out for sleep tests prior to surgery. If you suspect you have it, you should inform your doctor. If you just want to know what would happen if you had surgery with undiagnosed sleep apnea. I'll say that there are probably a lot of people with undiagnosed sleep apnea having surgeries. The respirator breathes for you while you are being operated on and if they were to take out your breathing tube and you stop breathing, they would have to quickly put it back in. If the anethesiologist knows you have apnea he/she can take special precautions. If your airway is not large enough, you may have a problem with intubation and have to be intubated awake. (Nothing at all to fear. You probably won't even remember it.) Also, they will want to watch you more carefully while you are awakening from anesthesia and they may keep you in ICU the first night. Also, some pain pills can depress your breathing further. I would talk to my doctor.
   — Lisa N M.

May 13, 2002
Me, me, me. I suspected I had sleep apnea but have no insurance and the test is like $2500. My surgeon did not bring it up, nor did she require it. I guess I just down-played my sleeping issues. I had my LAP surgery on 4/11 and had absolutely no problems whatsoever.
   — Julie D.

May 13, 2002
That is me. I thought I had it but no study. I told the doc and after surgery they watched my oxygen levels and made me use a cpap. I still need to get a study done as they said it is quite bad.
   — Gary H.

May 13, 2002
Yes, I have sleep apnea, I was tested the week prior to my surgery and I quit breathing 42 times per hour, and am now using a CPAP. I did have complications after surgery with my lungs and breathing, it was a real good thing we knew about my apnea and had my CPAP available. I have more energy and am more alert after sleeping with the CPAP and can tell a difference if I do not use it for an evening.
   — Lee J.

May 14, 2002
I discussed the possibility of me having sleep apnea with my PCP about 2 mos pre-op. Without a sleep study, there was no way to know for sure. But when I would wake up two and three times per night gasping for air....that was a good indication for me. I did mention this to my surgeon prior to surgery, but I did kinda down play it. He did not require me to have a study, and I did not have any problems during or following my surgery. I am happy to report that at 7 mos post-op, I no longer wake gasping for air.
   — RebeccaP