Apnea worse post-op?

[Kimberly3 71]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in January. It was actually really the final reason I opted for WLS. Anyway, most cases apnea gets better or even goes away post surgery. I was put on CPAP therapy right away. My sleep study showed I stopped breathing 62 times per hour. Yup more than once a minute! Essentially not getting any sleep at all. CPAP therapy has been miserable for me. The first three months I felt worse than before I started. 6 months in I started to feel better.

Fast forward my surgery was October 15th. I wont lie I am anxious to get off the CPAP, but post surgery my apnea has gotten worse. I have started to breath through my mouth all of a sudden causing leaks and increasing my apnea episodes again. MY pulminologist is stumped and does not understand why. The CPAP machine is supposed to be intuitive but I think the air is set too high. He manually reduced the pressure and it worked for a few nights but is now the same problem.

Has anyone else had this problem? My greatest hope for this surgery is to be off the CPAP. My next step up is a full face mask which I am dreading because I am claustrophobic of my mask as it is and I use the pillows now.

[lvidacovich 372]

Are we the same person lol? I too got my CPAP in January and it was so amazing - until my surgery on Oct 22. I know I still need it because I've gone a couple nights without it and woke up tired. Problem is that I too now open my mouth which I never used to do. My mouth is SO DRY in the morning and my leak stats are awful.

I too use the pillows and I know they make a chin strap that helps keep your mouth closed. For me that's my next step. I don't do full face, I hated it so much.

[NancyLF 234]

I also had sleep apnea. However, a couple of years ago, I was never put on a CPAP. I was fitted for a mouthpiece that kept my lower jaw slightly forward when sleeping. The app that works in conjunction with it would register "Freight Train Snoring". Once I started using the mouthpiece, it registered moderate snoring & no stoppage.

Since my surgery in July, I have had no problems! None or VERY light snoring. I'm SO rested when I get up in the morning & can go through the entire day without feeling tired.

I'll be going for a new sleep study in a couple of months. I have a feeling I'll pass easily.

[Prestonandme 107]

I had mild sleep apnea pre-surgery and was told I didn't need CPAP. I had a sleep test done last month and my sleep apnea remains unchanged. The neurologist suggested I get a dental device (like the other poster mentioned) to keep my lower jaw from sliding towards my tongue, but I was quoted an exorbitant fee (around $3000 -- even my copay would be high) so for now I am opting to put that off.

[FluffySaysForkIt! 823]

I am so sorry you are having trouble!

I actually just had my second sleep study done 2 nights ago so I don't know if I have improved enough to go off cpap yet. (I do know mine is better, however.)

I don't have any explaination for sure as to why you are suddenly mouth breathing- but my theory is that it isn't actually related to your surgery at all. Many people who are able to use nasal type masks, even for long time periods, can begin to have issues as they start to open their mouths at night. It can just happen.

Have you looked into issues with your nose? I know if my nose is blocked, even a tiny little bit, I will mouth breath and my cpap pillows don't work. (I can have allergies, a cold, or something so minor I would otherwise not even notice it.) I also went to an ENT and had them do a Turbinoplasty to make my nose less stuffy at night. It was an easy, in office procedure and has helped tremendously.

I hope you get some answers and find a solution soon- good luck!

Edited November 23, 2019 by FluffySaysForkIt!

[Kimberly3 71]

4 hours ago, lvidacovich said:

Are we the same person lol? I too got my CPAP in January and it was so amazing - until my surgery on Oct 22. I know I still need it because I've gone a couple nights without it and woke up tired. Problem is that I too now open my mouth which I never used to do. My mouth is SO DRY in the morning and my leak stats are awful.

I too use the pillows and I know they make a chin strap that helps keep your mouth closed. For me that's my next step. I don't do full face, I hated it so much.

I end up pulling my mask off after like 5 hours of non sleep. My husband says I sleep better with it off, but I know I need another sleep study. My mouth is like the Sahara it's awful! I have tried mouth pieces in the past and they haven't worked. This is is all weight related, it started as I gained the weight with my pregnancies.

[NancyLF 234]

2 hours ago, Prestonandme said:

I had mild sleep apnea pre-surgery and was told I didn't need CPAP. I had a sleep test done last month and my sleep apnea remains unchanged. The neurologist suggested I get a dental device (like the other poster mentioned) to keep my lower jaw from sliding towards my tongue, but I was quoted an exorbitant fee (around $3000 -- even my copay would be high) so for now I am opting to put that off.

WOW! $3000?!?!??! That's crazy!!

[Kimberly3 71]

Yeah I would not be in any kind of rush to plunk down $3K on anything right now. Surgery bills are starting to come in lol!

[Kimberly3 71]

1 hour ago, FluffySaysForkIt! said:

I am so sorry you are having trouble!

I actually just had my second sleep study done 2 nights ago so I don't know if I have improved enough to go off cpap yet. (I do know mine is better, however.)

I don't have any explaination for sure as to why you are suddenly mouth breathing- but my theory is that it isn't actually related to your surgery at all. Many people who are able to use nasal type masks, even for long time periods, can begin to have issues as they start to open their mouths at night. It can just happen.

Have you looked into issues with your nose? I know if my nose is blocked, even a tiny little bit, I will mouth breath and my cpap pillows don't work. (I can have allergies, a cold, or something so minor I would otherwise not even notice it.) I also went to an ENT and had them do a Turbinoplasty to make my nose less stuffy at night. It was an easy, in office procedure and has helped tremendously.

I hope you get some answers and find a solution soon- good luck!

I am hoping your test results come back great! My nose is not stuffy at night at all. Prior to surgery my ResAir scores were almost always 100 apnea reduced to 1.5 events per hour. Every day since surgery my scores have reduced, leaks increased and events even higher than when I was first on the machine. It's crazy.

[FluffySaysForkIt! 823]

That sounds aweful!

Is it possible you have lost enough weight in your face that the particular mask you are using is just not suitable anymore? Have you tried any others? Just trying to think of anything...

Edited November 23, 2019 by FluffySaysForkIt!