Question:
My aunt is on oxygen and c-pap surgeon says chance of ventilator????

My aunt is on oxygen and uses c-pap at night for apnea, I sent her to see my surgeon,, and she is very high risk due to co-morbidities Im worried because she says shed rather take chance of being on ventilator for life than stay the way she is--THE DR.told her there is a risk of this. she is also on steroids,,, Has this happened to anyone????    — bobbie M. (posted on March 31, 2000)

March 31, 2000
Yes I'm in the same boat right now and I will be having my surgery April 28th in Cleveland, Ohio. Most of all I would just stand by her and support her. Only we can choose which way to go with our life. It is very important to have support in this new way of life. Help her in anyway she goes. Listen to her and hold on.
   — Theresa B.

March 31, 2000
Hi, I feel your pain. I had my surgery on 3/14/00 at Hollywood Community Hospital in California. I'm on 02 24/7,was 420#, male,55 years old. I also have a trach due to the sleep apnea. I was in the hospital for 9 days and nothing to do with the fact that I was was on a ventilor. They will take good care of us who need the help. I had no fear and would do it again in a heartbeat. Tell Auntie to go for it, it will stop the need for the oxygen and the mask. By the way, the ventilor will only extend your stay in hospital a day or two. Good luck. Questions, e-mail [email protected]. lafman
   — Lafayette K.

March 31, 2000
Hi, I feel your pain. I had my surgery on 3/14/00 at Hollywood Community Hospital in California. I'm on 02 24/7,was 420#, male,55 years old. I also have a trach due to the sleep apnea. I was in the hospital for 9 days and nothing to do with the fact that I was was on a ventilor. They will take good care of us who need the help. I had no fear and would do it again in a heartbeat. Tell Auntie to go for it, it will stop the need for the oxygen and the mask. By the way, the ventilor will only extend your stay in hospital a day or two. Good luck. Questions, e-mail [email protected]. lafman
   — Lafayette K.

October 4, 2003
The doctor who was supposed to do my surgery in Georgia refused to perform the surgery. You read it right, "supposed to do"--past tense. She refuses to do the surgery because of my lung condition. She said that when they had to pump air into my stomach to blow it up big enough to do the laparoscopic surgery, it would push into my lungs, and she was afraid I would never come of the ventilator. Her associate, whom I saw this summer in Georgia, said he would perform the surgery as open, if I was interested. He told me there was a very good chance I'd be on the ventilator for a while following the surgery. He also said that the longer you're on the ventilator, the more prone you are to getting pneumonia. I'm on 24 hour a day oxygen to treat my COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.) I have bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. The doctor who has agreed to do the surgery says there are great risks involved. I feel like you have to make a decision about the quality of life. I know living the way I do now is not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I pray the surgery goes well and I don't have to be on the ventilator for very long following the procedure. Since I am self-pay, I'm concerned about this. The doctor tells me it is $3,000 a day for ICU. He said if I'm on the ventilator, I'll definitely be in ICU longer.
   — ghe5522

October 4, 2003
Hi - I believe I can answer to some of your concerns. Although, it sounds like your Aunt's pulmonary disease is more advanced than mine. I had my open RNY done 3/20/03. I am an asthmatic with chronic bronchitus and emphysema. I was on a very high dose regimen of steroids, along with several other pulmonary meds. My Pulmonologist is the person who cleared my path for surgery. He put me in a Pulmonary Rehab center (outpatient)to start strengthening my lungs about 3 months before surgery. And, we worked to get the steroids down to a managable level. The day of surgery, the anestesiologist and team spent a lot of time going over my pulmonary history. They told me to expect to wake up on a vent and be there for a few days. However, I was able to get off the vent (to everyones surprise) right after surgery and I only had oxygen for 2 days after surgery. To prep me for surgery, they gave me a huge dose of steriods before going to sleep. I went home 3 days after surgery and have been doing great. I no longer take any steroids and my pulmonary meds are down to 2 meds! I'm down 77 Lbs, run around and feel pretty normal. Your Aunt's Pulmonary team would really be the best ones to advise her and prepare her medically if they think WLS is the way to go for her. I believe it made all the difference in the world for me. I was told just a few months before my surgery by another doctor that because of my pulmonary history, I could never be put under anestesia. Best of luck to you and your Aunt. Open RNY 3/20/03 255/178/150(ish)
   — teresa M.