Upset About Sleep Apnea!!

[NWgirl 574]

I know a woman who went through bypass, has lost a tremendous amount of weight, and is one of the people in the few percent that the sleep apnea did not go away for. It's always a possibility that you may need the machine for a short time, or that it will be long term.

[readytogoforit 172]

I have sleep apnea, had a second sleep study this spring. Even though I've lost weight I still have sleep apnea. Not a big deal.

Won't insurance cover much of the cost???

[smellslikecoffee 43]

Apparently my insurence has covered everything so far. I'm doing an other study tonight to see which machine I will need

[ilikebunnies 48]

I had the same thing happen, but instead of another $2500 sleep study my doctor gave me an autotitration unit. It measure at home without the expensive second study.

[DeAna N 229]

Sleep apnea can cause sudden death while a person is sleeping but in addition the body is stressed by the perirods without oxygen and that affects EVERYTHING from concentration, falling asleep while driving, depression, the list goes on and on so it is so worth it to use your machine I don't sleep without it.

[MemphisFan 18]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and was told I couldn't have the lap band surgery because the anesthesiologist refuses to give anesthesia to anybody with sleeping issues. Because I am paying cash my doctor called in an anesthesiologist from out of town who doesn't have issues with it. Come to find out patients with sleep apnea are more likely to not regain consciousness after the anesthesia wears off. Yah, like telling me that hasn't scared the crap out of me, thanks doc.

[smellslikecoffee 43]

Oh my god! I've never been under anesthesia! I'm nervous as hell and now I have something else to worry about!! I enjoyed sleeping with the machine at the sleep study, I slept well but now I hope I won't be denied surgery.

[Baba Wawa 543]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and was told I couldn't have the lap band surgery because the anesthesiologist refuses to give anesthesia to anybody with sleeping issues. Because I am paying cash my doctor called in an anesthesiologist from out of town who doesn't have issues with it. Come to find out patients with sleep apnea are more likely to not regain consciousness after the anesthesia wears off. Yah' date=' like telling me that hasn't scared the crap out of me, thanks doc.[/quote']

That is why so many doctors require a sleep study and the use of cpap to support breathing during sleep in the post op period. If you are using cpap, there's no reason an anesthesiologist should refuse your case just for that reason. You will regain consciousness after anesthesia unless you are oxygen deprived during surgery...since you are ventilated during anesthesia, you shouldn't be oxygen deprived. The issues with sleep apnea manifest themselves when the patient goes home and is on pain meds and breathing is depressed by the meds. I used my machine for 6 months post op after a 3rd sleep study determined my sleep apnea was resolved.

[Yungmasta 0]

I have just recently had the lap band surgery and the fact that I had sleep apnea was not an issue durring surgery. The only thing they were concerned about was the amount of pain medication they were giving in recovery right after the surgery. They wanted me to stay awake so that my blood oxygen levels stayed normal so they did not want to give me too much since I could fall back asleep.

As far as your apnea going away after surgery, that would depend on what type you have. I have what is reffered to as central sleep apnea, which means that my brain actually forgets to tell my body to breath when I fall asleep, and no matter how much weight I am to loose will always need the machine. I do think the more common type obstruction, can go away with wieght loss. I was diagnosed almost 6 years ago with sleep apnea and I have to say, life was WAY better after getting the machine, at first I would have so much energy I would be almost bouncing off the walls and could only sleep maybe 4 to 5 hours with out being fully awake, that has since slowed down and normalized. Anyway, all I can say is that getting the machine could be a great addition to your life and to keep a positive look out.

[justathing2me 146]

I just went for my follow up visit to discuss the results of my sleep studies. The first test was a home study called the apnea link which showed I had mild sleep apnea. Because of this I then had a lab sleep study with cpap. My pulmonologist wants me to get a cpap machine and use it for a few weeks. He will only clear me for surgery once I do this and said if all goes well when I see him July 5th he'll give me the okay. Ugh, another hurdle in my journey!