Question:
worried about breathing

My doctor said he has never had anyone use their C-PAP after surgery. I told him my apena is severe at 112 apena per hour. He said bring it but, I likely will not need it or use it. My setting is at 14. I am damn well worried about breathing after surgery and in recovery. This is a major concern for me. HELP!!!    — frankdmayo (posted on November 26, 2003)

November 25, 2003
My doc said to bring it to surgery with me, and I used it in the hospital and am 2 1/2 weeks out and still use it. It will probably be a few months before I can wean myself off if it. I have 'severe obstructive sleep apnea' and have been on a cpap for about 8 years, but with the rapid weight loss, there is nightly readjustment to the straps. I've used it for so long, I may go into withdrawal when I don't need it. Bring it with you and use it, and with the weight loss, the less fatty tissue areound the larnyx and esophogus, and the more open the airways will be, but the time to stop using it should be a decision by your pulmonary specialist, that's according to my doc.
   — track

November 25, 2003
down 200 plus still use bye pap some people need it for life check with your pulmanary docter dont stop it on your own ted
   — ted M.

November 25, 2003
Frank, if your surgeon will not let you use your CPAP after surgery, please be sure you are in an ICU or someplace that that can constantly monitor your breathing. Please read the story on Ginger Brewster on the memorial page of this website to see what CAN happen to someone who is not on CPAP and is not being well monitored after surgery. If you need to, please feel free to show the story to your surgeon and ask him how he plans to avoid this type of problem with you. Best wishes for a safe and successful surgery.
   — Hackett

November 26, 2003
I'm surprised your doctor told you that you wouldn't be using it in the hospital. That was one of the big questions during my pre-op appt. The nurse who took all my info told me to bring my mask and someone from respiratory would set me up with a machine in my room. Please tell your doctor how concerned you are about this. The hospital's respiratory dept should have no trouble setting this up for you. If they aren't going to have you use CPAP, at least check to make sure that you'll be getting oxygen continuously.
   — Carlita

November 26, 2003
Frank, I have you beat in the sleep apnea department - I had more not breathing than breathing on my sleep study! My CPAP was set to 15 - and was completely useless. So, I slept sitting up, in a recliner - for a couple of years before my DS. My surgeon has us bring our CPAP with us to the hospital - and I went to Spain for my surgery! Can you just take yours along - and get it out and set it up - don't make a big deal about it - just have it there and ready? For me, by the time I was a couple of days post-op, though, my sleep apnea was quickly becoming a thing of the past. By 4 days out I slept 6 whole hours uninterrupted. It was totally amazing - my husband thought for sure I'd died! I've been sleeping all night long every night ever since - CPAP is a thing of the past now. May the same be true for you in very short order! Blessings, dina BPD/DS July 2, 2002 Dr. Aniceto Baltasar in Alcoy, Spain SW: 365 lbs, BMI 64 CW: 180 lbs, BMI 31.9 GW: 130 lbs, BMI 23 Read my story at: http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Dina/dina.html See my photos in the Photo Gallery at http://www.bodybybaltasar.com/ Wondering what I eat? Check out http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=dinamcb
   — Dina McBride

November 26, 2003
My CPAP is set at 14. My surgeon told me to pack my CPAP but that the hospital would provide me with me while there. He said some people feel more comfortable using their own, so to have it on hand just in case. Sleep apnea does not just disappear because you have surgery. My friend has lost a great deal of weight (305 down to 165) and she was recently tested again for sleep apnea. While greatly improved, she still has it just not as severe. The doctor feels that by the time she is at her goal weight she should be cured BUT there is no guarantee. I hope you can work this out with your surgeon and the hospital. If you take your own CPAP be sure to have it and its case well marked with our name otherwise it could be "claimed" as hospital property. Also buy a very good 3 prong extension cord. Most hospitals will not allow you to use the normal household extension cord. They will want one that is grounded (3 prong) and heavy duty. Wishing you the best. I know you will get this worked out.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 26, 2003
I have mild apnea and my surgeon wanted me to bring my CPAP machine. My nurses asked about it and had it set up for me by the time I went to sleep the first night. Since my apnea was mild they didn't use it in recovery and I had no problem, but severe apnea is certainly more of a concern. No one will likely give you a hard time about using your CPAP, and with severe apnea I think you are being very reasonable to want to use it. During recovery they'll be watching you closely, and it seems to me that if you express your concern and make your machine available they should be able to manage just fine. I think you're right to insist on using your CPAP, but don't let fear over this issue send you into the hospital in a panic. You need to be at peace when you show up for surgery. I'd recommend gettng it straightened out with your doc ahead of time so you can rest in your mind about it. Good luck! Chyrl LAP RNY 11/13/03 -21 pounds
   — Chyrl W.

November 26, 2003
Just posted this answer to someone else, but you're asking essentially the same thing, so here goes. My cpap levels were 14 and I weighed 448 lbs. No other co-morbidities though. Was sent to a respitory specialist and put through my paces. Was operated on (Open RNY) in July 2003. While in the hospital, respirologists visited me every night around 10 pm to make sure my c-pap was working and that I was using it. The first couple of nights they augmented my c-pap output with some pure oxygen to raise my oxygen levels, but after that my c-pap alone was enough. That's just me, though. Others will differ.
   — defatbroad

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