I'm Brand New - Sleep Apnea Questions - PreOp

[long2blittle]

Hello - I am new here on the ProBoard. Actually, I'm pretty new to OH. I am in the early steps of my journey. I had my appointment with the internist yesterday and on Monday I have appointments with both the surgeon and the psych evaluation.

Yesterday the internist decided on the tests that will need to be done prior to surgery. One of them is a sleep study, which I already know that I have sleep apnea. The Dr. said I will have to be on a cpap machine before surgery. I forgot to ask how long I would need to be on this before they would move forward with surgery. Has anyone had to do this? How long did it prolong your surgery date?

Thanks!

I look forward to corresponding will all of you Pro's!!

[Deleted]

Howdy and welcome . So glad you found the far better place to be!

Some surgeons have compliance minimums for CPAP therapy, and so do some insurance companies. It can vary. From a medical point of view, there are health markers that improve the longer you comply totally with CPAP therapy. You get all rested up, and that makes a HUGE difference in so very many things healthwise.

[sherbearmama]

Since I've neve had sleep apnea, I can't answer your questions. But I know the vets will chime in here soon. I wanted to welcome you here and congratulate you on making a great decision by coming here to ask questions! One of the first things you're going to be asked is "Who will your surgeon be?" and so you might want to either go back into your original post and add that info, or respond to this with that info. We're big on knowing who the surgeon is around here.

Welcome aboard!!!

Sheri

[jjpink]

Most Drs want you to have it right before surgery or at least the day of. This is due to you coming out from anesthesia and muscles are much more relaxed making the apnea worse. So if you have your machine and are using it, recovery will be much easier for you and them. No dr wants to see your oxygen levels go down after surgery due to a fairly easy treatable cause of sleep apnea. Also it'll be good to have it a couple of weeks prior to get acclimated to the cpap therapy. One less thing to worry about when recovering those few days in the hospital.

[smileyjamie]

Welcome to the board!!!!! Sorry, no info on sleep apnea, but looks like you were given some good info already.

[calendargirl]

My doctor is requiring that I be on the CPAP treatment for 30 days before surgery.

I just finished part 2 of the sleep study and haven't yet received equipment or had my followup with the pulmonologist. Once that is underway a date can be scheduled.

[Deleted]

I'm not sure I understand your question. You say you have sleep apnea. Is that a self-diagnosis or have you already had a sleep study? Do you us a cpap??

I had sleep apnea for a couple of years before my DS but a sleep study was required by my surgeon (obviously i didn't have to have the sleep study since my apnea had already been diagnosed by a specialist) . I used a cpap, loved it because it let me sleep, and ultimately my sleep apnea went away when I lost about 100 pounds. I did take my cpap to the hospital with me but unfortunately I had an NG tube so my cpap didn't work - I didn't sleep the entire time I was in the hospital except for 30-60 minute increments. Once I got home I slept like a baby!

Some surgeons require that you have a sleep study prior to surgery.

[brybry76]

Welcome! Ugggg the sleep study. It was not fun. My doctor told me it would be like sleeping in a hotel room-- ha! So... I was diagnosed with "mild sleep apnea" but I never got my machine-- I think just having the diagnosis helped with the insurance claim.

After surgery I was on oxygen for the first day, but after that I was fine. Good luck

[Deleted]

CPAP requirements vary from surgeon to surgeon and insurance to insurance. The greatest risk from obstructive sleep apnea occurs postoperatively after going to your room from post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). At that point, when you're not being watched vigilantly, anesthesia that has built up in the fat can slow-release and suppress respirations. You definitely want your CPAP/BIPAP in place before leaving PACU and going to your room. You'll still be in and out of sleep and this is a dangerous scenario for obstructive sleep apnea patients.

As far as how long you'll require CPAP/BIPAP depends on the severity. Even normal-weight people can have obstructive sleep apnea, so weight loss may not solve your problem completely. You'll have to re-test on occasion to see if you can safely quit using CPAP/BIPAP or not.

Do what you need to insure an uneventful surgery and recovery. Good luck!

[NHpod9]

My surgeon requires at least 8 weeks of cpap use prior to surgery. However, getting the two sleep study appointments, plus the wait for the machine added another 8 weeks. It wasn't a problem for me, however, as it took me a year to lose the required weight loss.

Edited to add: Dang. I apologize for yet again posting on the DS board. Please note that I had RNY. I need to stop looking just at the new topics...

[Girlrocker]

I'm not familiar with sleep apnea, but I know you're in the right place to get the best information and support. Wanted to say welcome!

[Sandra C.]

Welcome to the board!!! Best wishes for your surgery!!!

[long2blittle]

Thanks everyone for your information. I met with my surgeon today! One step closer! He definitely wants me on a c-pap before surgery. So I will be doing a sleep study and getting set up with a machine, just waiting to find out when my sleep study will be.

Thanks again!

[Walter A]

WHEN you have sleep apnea your sensor in your mind becomes used to a lower level of 02 in your blood, much like a person with copd, so post anesthesia in a hospital setting where o2 is prevalent your mind says you have sufficient o2 in your blood, i need not breath, so you DON'T, YOU ARE DIFFICULT TO WAKE UP IN THE RECOVERY ROOM, AND ARE SUBJECT TO SPONTANEOUS RESPIRATORY FAILURE UNTIL YOU LEAVE THE HOSPITAL, YOU HAVE A LOW BLOOD O2 LEVEL AND YOUR HEALING LEVEL IS IMPAIRED, SNORING IS THE COSMETIC ASPECT OF SA, THAT IS THE PART NO CARES ABOUT.