Question:
Did bariatric surgery improve or cure your sleep apnea?

If so, please share your experience with people researching the benefits of bariatric surgery. What was your CPAP setting (if any) before and after surgery?    — ericklein (posted on February 5, 2000)

February 5, 2000
i had a cpap machine set at 13. i quit using it within a month or 2 post op. it has been wonderful julie
   — julie S.

February 5, 2000
Yes, WLS has cured my sleep apnea as well as alleviated my painful arthritus hips and knees and feet. Another woman in my support group reports that she no longer is on a C-Pac for sleep apnea, no longer takes drugs for diabetes, and no longer needs blood pressure meds. At the time she was 7 weeks post-op and had lost 47 pounds.
   — Janice M.

February 5, 2000
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in October 99, after a sleep study test. Although I knew I had it long before that.. The sleep study showed I stopped breathing 19 times an hour,I also snored terribly which also caused the sleep/wake episodes all night long. I woke up more tired than I was when I went to sleep.. Once diagnosed and fitted with the C-PAP it was calibrated at 12. Now comes the good part as little as 40 lbs. lost alleviated all symptoms of the apnea and snoring. I was amazed so was my PCP. Just another reason this surgery has changed my life for the better..
   — Victoria B.

February 5, 2000
Hi Eric: Thanks for this website, it's wonderful! I had undiagnosed sleep apnea for about 2 years before my surgery. My surgeon sent me to have a sleep study done before the surgery and get me on CPAP to try and minimize complications from the procedure. I tried my hardest to get used to that thing (I didn't get it til 16 days before surgery) but I'd always wake up with it in my hand. Anyway! My sleep apnea was GONE 2 weeks after surgery, along with the swelling in my feet, hands, and calves. I stopped snoring completely within about a month, more or less. My blood pressure is down, and I no longer have hypoglycemic episodes. This surgery was definitely the right thing for me! Jaye Carl, open proximal RNY 7-29-99, starting weight 300, now 6 months later 210! Yippee!
   — Jaye C.

February 6, 2000
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea years after I had suffered the effects. 1993. Part of the work-up for the WLS I eventually had in 1994. I was having 125 "events" per hour. That's cessation of breathing, and every time you START breathing (the "snort"), you wake up. So, I was sleeping in roughly 20 second intervals. Not very restful! I was diagnosed as critical: don't drive home, don't drive after dark, don't drive longer than 15 minutes, etc. I got my CPAP immediately. It was set at 15, which the tech thought was a mistake and had to verify. It made such a huge difference in my life that I was reluctant to part with it, even as it began to keep me awake as the pounds melted away. I had it reclibrated to 7.5, then used my husbands's before I finally was secure enough to let it go. Even so, I let it sit there and run "in case" for another month! My husband was diagnosed with 25 events per hour, and his machine was set at 10, then recalibrated to 5 after WLS. He was completely done in 60 days, but that was after he was keeping ME awake. He was probably done in more like 2 weeks. You just get VERY attached to your CPAP! THere is no questions in either of our minds that WLS completely alleviated our obstructive sleep apnea.
   — vitalady

August 25, 2003
I was diognotis with sleep apnea in Feb 03. I started with a setting of 9 and within two weeks needed to go to 12. Possible increase coming up soon. I still feel extremely tired and I contribute it to the condition and moving around while I sleep knocks the seal from the mask. This is the main reason I am going to have wls surgery. I dream of the day I no longer have sleep apnea.
   — jennie145