Question:
Dr says I stopped breathing 19 times in an hour during sleep study, and says I

have moderate sleep apnea? My oxygen level dropped to 78 during this episode. Just wondering, do I really need to get this 2nd study done wearing C-pap, if in a few months of having surgery, the apnea will be gone? I'm confused, someone please help! Thanks!    — SJWendy (posted on November 15, 2003)

November 15, 2003
Lets put it to you this way. TAKE THE C-PAP TEST. When you stop breathing, it means no oxygen reaches your brain. If it happens too many times, you enter into a condition the docs call, "brain death" also known as heading for a coffin. I want to do WLS to save my life as I'm sure you do, but if you don't take the second test to qualify for the C-Pap, you may die before you get to the surgery. I have been using mine since June of 2000 and now cannot even take a nap without it. I hope to be allowed to stop using my machine after my surgery, but until I do a final sleep study indicating my readiness to do so, I will continue to use it. By the way, if you have apnea, as I understand it, they need to be careful after the surgery and many (if not all) apnea patients are placed in ICU to await the wearing off of the anesthesia. If you haven't been diagnosed with apnea and you have it, you may lose this benefit, and may die within hours of having this life saving surgery. Also, there is no gaurentee that you will be cured of apnea after WLS. Many skinny people have it.
   — John O.

November 15, 2003
Mine was 125 per hour. WHAT oxygen? I'm glad I was tested & matched to a CPAP as it was 11 long months before surgery and another year before I gave up my CPAP. I might've been able to much sooner, but I was afraid to face life without it.
   — vitalady

November 15, 2003
I HAD MY SLEEP STUDY DONE ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE MY WLS, I STOPPED BREATHING 43 TIMES AN HOUR, AND MY SAT. WENT DOWN TO 80, THEY DETERMINED I ONLY GET ABOUT 2 HOURS OF DEEP SLEEP,NO WONDER I COULDN NEVER STAY AWAKE DURING THE DAY, IT WAS PRETTY BAD FOR ME. I GOT MY MACHINE AND ENDED UP THROWING IT ON THE FLOOR DURING THE NIGHT SOMETIMES, BUT WHEN I DID KEEP IT ON I COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT AWAY. AFTER MY WLS, I USED IT THE FIRST WEEK I GOT HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THEN I HAVE NEVER HAD TO USE IT AGAIN!!! I COULDNT BELIEVE THAT LOOSING 15 POUNDS WOULD HELP ME SLEEP ANY BETTER BUT IT DID. IF YOUR SLEEP STUDY SAYS YOU NEED ONE ITS BEST TO GET IT AND USE IT, SOME DOCS EVEN WANT YOU TO BRING IT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH YOU,I JUST FELT SAFE USING IT WHEN I GOT OUT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN MEDICINE, I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD AFFECT MY BREATHING, SO IT MIGHT BE SAFER FOR YOU TO USE IT BEFORE AND AFTER YOUR SURGERY. THEN YOU CAN PACK IT AWAY WHEN YOU DONT NEED IT ANY MORE.OH I ALMOST FORGOT, FOR MY SECOND STUDY THEY WANTED ME TO COME IN TO WEAR THE CPAP AND I COULDNT, MY PANIC ATTACK WOULD DRIVE ME INSANE IN THE LITTLE ROOM, THE FIRST TIME I JUST ABOUT RAN OUT SO THEY ORDERED ONE FOR ME WITH AND ADJUST ABLE OUTPUT, THANK GOD. GOOD LUCK, SHELLY
   — shellypoe

November 16, 2003
Wendy, PLEASE do go for your 2nd sleep study and get your CPAP if they say you need one. My best friend, Ginger Brewster, who's story is on the memorial page of this website, died because she had the surgery with untreated/undiagnosed sleep apnea. Please read her story to see what CAN happen if you don't get treated before surgery. PLEASE be safe! Best wishes for a safe and sucessful surgery.
   — Hackett

November 16, 2003
YOU MUST GET YOUR CPAP! Go back for the study and get set up with your CPAP, it can be very dangerous & as in Ginger's case even fatal! There is no guarentee that your apnea will disappear after WLS, you may have it for the rest of your life. Some surgeons will not even do your surgery until you have been on your CPAP for a specific amount of time so your oxygen levels are better. Good Luck!
   — Saxbyd

November 16, 2003
My surgeon required the sleep studies, and it was determined that I needed to use a CPAP. I guess I had "shallow breathing" and not actual stopped breathing. I know that I snored very loudly. I got the CPAP about 2 months prior to surgery, but never really adjusted well to it, although my husband loved that I wasn't snoring anymore. I slept with it up until surgery, and in the hospital. My PCP actually ordered it for me, which I thought was strange, but the surgeon's office would not handle this. I thought I'd have to have another sleep study in order to be taken off CPAP, but my doctor ordered that for me without it. I have been sleeping well since surgery, much better than with the CPAP, and I am no longer snoring. A lot of surgeons do not require the sleep study, as the apnea is usually helped by losing weight. So, I guess I must say I feel you should follow your doctor's orders, especially since your sleep apnea is moderate. However, personally, I'm very happy that I'm not using it anymore.
   — Carlita

November 17, 2003
During my sleep study it was determined I stopped breathing 100xs per hour-o2 levels very low--life threatening is one of the terms used. I used my Cpap machine for apx 2years before surgery and about 4 months or so after. I really don't think I would be here today if I hadn't had my Cpap machine-let alone the WLS. And if you think I didn't fight the use of my Cpap, you are sooooo wrong. I refused to use it until they bluntly told me either use it or a coffin. And My surgeon was fully aware of it. At BTC, I was hooked up to it when I came to after surgery. Good Luck, and remember---you are doing this to give yourself the chance at a healthy future. You owe it to yourself to do everything you can to make it happen.
   — bek4901

November 17, 2003
There are several types of sleep apnea not just obstructive. CPAP helps people with central and mixed apnea as well. Weight loss alone does not guarantee you will stop needing the CPAP. My husband was 250# when he was put on CPAP. He is now 170# and still wears it as he still snores and has central apnea related to a neurological disorder without it. A drop to 78% is significant. Please schedule the CPAP test.
   — LLinderman