Question:
When does the hosp. put the cpap on you

i have severe sleep apnea & have been on cpap for a little over a month. Does the hosp. put the cpap on you in recovery? also i've read that a lot of people were placed in icu because of sleep apnea. is that true or did they maybe have other problems? i hope so. my date is 8/18 & i'm starting to fret over stuff like this. i live 2 hrs. from my hosp. & i want my husband to stay with me.    — cathy G. (posted on August 6, 2003)

August 6, 2003
I had surgery 5-1/2 weeks ago, and I have sleep apnea too, on CPAP with a pressure of 13. They told me to bring my machine with to the hospital. I brought it, and my husband held on to it until I got to my room. When I first arrived in my room they had me on a nasal cannula at 3 L. The respiratory therapist came and checked on me periodically and checked my oxygen saturation. He set up my CPAP for me on my bedside table so I could reach it, and later that evening, when they discontinued the oxygen, I started using my CPAP whenever I slept. I had no problems at all with my breathing. Like you, I was a bit worried about this before surgery. Good luck!
   — DebT

August 6, 2003
I was kept on oxygen until they took out my NG tube then I used my CPAP that night.
   — Sarahlicious

August 6, 2003
I am 8 mos. post-op and needed to use a CPAP when I had my surgery. I was very fortunate because I did not have an NG tube, nor did I need any oxygen. I just used my CPAP (which I brought with me) when I slept. I am down 90 lbs. and no longer suffer from Sleep Apnea and do not need to use the CPAP any longer. Oh, happy day. Good luck and try not to stress over it. You will be fine.
   — Gloria P.

August 6, 2003
I have sleep apnea and use a cpap.I did not have to stay in icu after surgery.Also my surgeon does not have us use the cpap in the hospital or for at least 2 weeks after surgery.The reasoning for that is some air from the cpap does enter the stomach and the pressure from thathe cpap can disrupt the pouch before it heals.It can also increase gas pressure and cause pain.
   — jennifer A.

August 6, 2003
Cathy, I have severe sleep apnea and they put it on me when I got to my room. I remember asking for it in post-op and they said I would get it in my room. No, they won't put you in ICU. They did however add O2 to my machine b/c I was a little low on it, they just hooked it up to my machine. Good Luck on your surgery, it is not bad AT ALL! I am 4 weeks out!
   — Michele B.

August 7, 2003
For those that posted below that did not use their CPAP while in the hospital and at the same time were not put in ICU to be monitored carefully, I'm glad you didn't wind up having respiratory complications. Not using your CPAP while you are asleep along with not being carefully monitored can be very dangerous. Please read the memorial I wrote on my friend, Ginger Brewster, who died because of complications, on the memorial page of this website. I'm not trying to frighten anyone, but to me it doesn't sound very safe to be in a regular room without CPAP on, unless there is some other means of monitoring going on. Best wishes to all and please be safe!
   — Hackett

August 7, 2003
I just had my surgery Aug. 4th and I also lived far away from the hospital. They let my husband stay with me in my room and also brought him in a guest tray at meal times! I'm only 3 days out and feeling great:) best of luck to you and a speedy recovery!
   — Jeri L.

August 7, 2003
Susan~ I wasn't required to use the cpap while I was in the hospital or have to stay in icu longer than a few hours per my surgeons orders.BUT that doesn't mean that my breathing wasn't monitored constantly.My surgeon feels strongly that the air pressure from the cpap can possibly cause damage and cause pain to the new pouch right out of surgery, as the air does also enter your stomach.As far as the sleep apnea goes....she does take other precautions.I was on high levels of oxygen continuously and my oxygen levels were continuosly monitored with the oximeter and I was hooked up to a heart monitor during my stay.So the cpap was not necessary during my hospital stay.
   — jennifer A.