Question:
Could someone tell me what a CPAP machine is I have sleep apnea

but I have a terrible fear of ng tubes and anything being inserted in or down mt throat, when I have my open RNY will I have to have one of these and for how long? Please help!! Thank You Sharon Thornton    — Irishlass2154 (posted on August 29, 2001)

August 28, 2001
A CPAP is a small breathing machine. I use one, and I have a small mask that fits over my nose. It is attached to a tube that runs to the machine, which flows the filtered air. Its takes a few days to get use to, but you will feel better. I am no longer able to sleep on my stomach though. Also you will not be able to talk with the mask on, there is too much air pressure. You dont fell or relize the pressure until you pull the mask away from your nose. I hope this helps.
   — Leon K.

August 28, 2001
Good morning, Sharon. Until I had WLS surgery, I had (fairly severe) Obstuctive Sleep Apnea. I assume you know what that entails, as you didn't ask about this. The CPAP machine (which I used for 4 years) is a device used to ensure someone with Sleep Apnea is able to get a good night's sleep. How does it work? Mine was a rectangular box run on electriciy (about the size of an old Kleenex box). From this is a "plastic hose" that leads to a mask. This mask, you will wear over your nose (there are straps that fit around your head to keep it secure). This machine will blow air thru the hose and into the mask (and therefore into you). This keeps your "breathing passage" open during the night, allowing you to get a good night's sleep. The amount of air being pushed thru is determined based upon the severity of your Sleep Apnea. Please note that it takes most folks a couple of weeks to adjust to sleeping with this mask on - and some people never get used to it. But if you can somehow learn to sleep with this mask, it is remarkable how much better you can feel. But remember, as I mentioned earlier, if you are having WLS surgery, your Sleep Apnea will likely disappear in a matter of months (weeks???). Good luck to you. Kevin
   — meilankev

August 29, 2001
Don't be afraid. I have used one since 92 and now can not sleep without the sound. My husband travels and he misses it too. It is soft breathing sounds. CPAP is constant air pressure which keeps your throat from closing and you from snoring and stopping breathing when asleep. It has a little mask that goes around your nose and various other types you will have to experiment. It keeps you breathing which prevents strokes, heart attacks etc from the lack of oxygen when you don't breathe. I am hoping that someday I will not have to use mine anymore as I am losing weight from the surgery. It takes a bit of time to get used to especially if you are a mouth breather by nature. I had to get a chin strap as my mouth automatically opens when I fall asleep. This helps alot. You wont win any beauty contests, but it will save your life and it is not that bad. Debbie
   — Debbie S.

August 29, 2001
I'll add one more answer. It doesn't go IN you, it goes ON you. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure--CPAP. WE had his 'n hers. It blows a gentle sream of just room air into your airway to keep it from closing. Like pulling a drapery out of the way to let someone pass through. You don't feel the "breeze" once your mask fits right. My CPAP became my very best friend in 4 hours flat. I was NOT giving it back to the sleep clinic! Best 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep I'd had for years. Of course, post-op, both of us lost our sleep apnea, but we were inseparable from our CPAP's until that time.
   — vitalady

April 10, 2002
Sharon, a CPAP machine prevents the long pauses during sleep when an individual doesn't breath as he or she should. CPAP means (Continous Positive Airway Pressure). Several symptoms of sleep apnea are: 1) You have an uncontrollable hypertension (high blood pressure) not relieved by conventional means: medication, exercise, change on eating habits; or 2) snoring. An NG tube has nothing to do with CPAP, so there is no need to worry there. The use of an NG tube during your surgery I presume depends on the type of gastric bypass/surgery you are having. It would also, more than likely, depend on what your surgeon feels is necessary. When you see your doctor for pre-op, be sure to ask questions and see if there is an alternative...I'm not sure that there is though. Hope this helps!!! Hadiyah
   — yourdivaness