Sleep Apnea

GE Mom · August 10, 2006

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 2 weeks prior to my lap band surgery, and was using an auto-pap machine for a week before. While in the hospital, they had me connected to a cpap machine with a pulse oximeter. The night of the surgery, I couldn't seem to keep my oxygen levels high enough -- as soon as I'd drift off to sleep, my sats would plummet to the low 80's. Then the alarm on the pulse ox would go off and I'd wake up. Finally, after this happened at least a dozen times, the nurse decided to take me off the cpap and use pure oxygen. I imagine that this resulted from the lingering effects of general anesthesia and/or pain meds (Dilaudid)

But what concerns me is that now I'm home, using different pain meds but still a bit groggy. So is my CPAP machine keeping me adequately oxygenated? I'm thinking I should call the pulmonary doc...

Bettina · August 10, 2006

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 2 weeks prior to my lap band surgery, and was using an auto-pap machine for a week before. While in the hospital, they had me connected to a cpap machine with a pulse oximeter. The night of the surgery, I couldn't seem to keep my oxygen levels high enough -- as soon as I'd drift off to sleep, my sats would plummet to the low 80's. Then the alarm on the pulse ox would go off and I'd wake up. Finally, after this happened at least a dozen times, the nurse decided to take me off the cpap and use pure oxygen. I imagine that this resulted from the lingering effects of general anesthesia and/or pain meds (Dilaudid)
But what concerns me is that now I'm home, using different pain meds but still a bit groggy. So is my CPAP machine keeping me adequately oxygenated? I'm thinking I should call the pulmonary doc...

I would think that your cpap at home is fine...they used a different type in the hospital, so that is prob where the problem was during your hospital stay (why on earth would they use something different on you...hospitals do the strangest stuff!) Of course for peace of mind, I'd call the doc. You sound like you worry the same why I do, so I would call the doc anyway;)

I don't know if you have had any other surgeries prior to lapband, but I'll say this anyway...lol. Just remember that anesthesia can stay in your body for quite some time (I have been told by my doc -it could be 4-6 months) each surgery is different, and each recovery is different. So that is prob why you are feeling groggy...plus I bet the pain meds they gave you are not as strong as hosp meds, so you are gonna feel different.

Best Wishes!!!!

Northernsun · August 10, 2006

I used my own machine while in the hospital but my oxygen levels did the same thing - the nurses kept coming into my room at night to see if i was alive! Once the anethesia was out of my system and I was home all was back to normal.

ericsmom · August 10, 2006

When I was in recovery and coming to, I could hear nurses saying "Stephanie, take a deep breath..." and I could hear beeping noises. When I was on just oxygen I was going into apnea. When I got into my room they brought me a CPAP machine (I had my own mask and tubing) and then I was totally fine. I had it on all the time unless I was wide awake.

It's always better to error on the side of caution and call your doctor. The least they could say is everything is fine