Question:
Sleep Apnea symptoms AFTER surgery
Do the symptoms of Sleep Apnea subside after surgery or is this still something I can expect to still have? I have my pre op appt this week and will ask...but thought I'd come to the expects of OH today. — hatda (posted on January 20, 2008)
January 20, 2008
For most RNY patients, sleep apnea goes away anywhere from a few days to a
few weeks past surgery. I had sleep apnea for almost 10 years. Mine went
away about 3 months post op. I hear from many ex sleep apnea people at
monthly support meetings. Most do not get retested. They have someone
observe them sleeping, and see how they feel without the CPAP machine.
— Dave Chambers
January 20, 2008
I had severe sleep apnea. I am 1yr 3 mos out. I would say about 2-3 mos
after surgery I did not need the c pap machine any longer. I also was
border line diabetic which is gone and I WAS on 3 blood pressure meds a day
now I do not take any. This surgery saved my life. I have more energy and
feel great. I've lost a total of 113 lbs. Best of luck to you. It's
quite a journey.
— niecie54
January 20, 2008
I would concur with the other posters, I never even knew I had sleep apnea
untill I had pre-op tests for this surgery. I gave my machine back after
4.5 months post -op , sleep apnea gone, lost almost 100 lbs, was off of all
6 or 7 of my diabetic meds right after surgery. everyone is always
different of course, but you should see remarkable improvement. good luck
on the journey, Brian
— johndough
January 20, 2008
Hi there, I had mild apnea that I didn't know I had but my husband had
very bad apnea and his machine was turned up to the highest setting that is
why he decided on the lap-band surgery. He was retested 4 months after
surgery and the setting on his cpap machine was lowered to the lowest
setting. His pulmonary doc wants him to get to goal which should be in
about two months before she takes him off of the machine completely (see
was against him having surgery-said he should just eat small portions, she
weights about 100 pounds ) anyway he usually does not use it anymore and
he sleeps fine. He will probably be off his high blood pressure meds soon
also.
— cleofet
January 20, 2008
Hi Hay Day. I'm just one week out and I was diagnosed with sleep apnea as
part of the WLS process.
Apparently when you gain weight you gain it in places you could never
imagine which causes your airway to close when your body relaxes to go to
sleep. As I was putting on my weight I could actually start feeling the
airway close.
Now one week past surgery I can already tell a difference. I'm still using
my cpap so that my husband can sleep better...but sometimes I get
frustrated in the night and just take the whole thing off. He hasn't
complained of me snoring once.
So I'm looking forward to after losing more weight that I will no longer
have sleep apnea. This seems to be the case with most people. If you're
sleep apnea is caused by something else than the extra weight then this may
not be the case for you.
Good luck.
— cjjordan
January 20, 2008
Hi Hay Day. I'm just one week out and I was diagnosed with sleep apnea as
part of the WLS process.
Apparently when you gain weight you gain it in places you could never
imagine which causes your airway to close when your body relaxes to go to
sleep. As I was putting on my weight I could actually start feeling the
airway close.
Now one week past surgery I can already tell a difference. I'm still using
my cpap so that my husband can sleep better...but sometimes I get
frustrated in the night and just take the whole thing off. He hasn't
complained of me snoring once.
So I'm looking forward to after losing more weight that I will no longer
have sleep apnea. This seems to be the case with most people. If you're
sleep apnea is caused by something else than the extra weight then this may
not be the case for you.
Good luck.
— cjjordan
January 20, 2008
pre op one must be very careful. I had minor knee surgery and quit
breathing in recovery, it was a very close scary thing. 2 years later I had
WLS with no troubles, but had been tested for sleep apnea, my pressure
setting was 23.
— bob-haller
January 20, 2008
I've been on a cpap machine for almost 13 years. Setting was at 15. I
still have apnea post op of one month, but I have already had to adjust the
setting down to 12. I can see a drastic change, and am looking forward to
not having to be tied to this machine every night.
Good luck.
— bidgette
January 21, 2008
My PCP recommended a sleep study before I had surgery, but since there were
so many pre-tests already, I sure wasn't jumping to find some that weren't
necessary for getting me thru insurance approval. I decided I would wait
and see....At six weeks out, and a 30 lb loss, I can now, sleep on my back
without gasping myself awake. I never could do that before surgery. Good
luck!
— lesleigh07
January 21, 2008
Yes you symptoms will get better as the weight comes off. For some people
it goes away all togeather, but other will still have it. You will just
have to keep a eye on as you lose weight, but I believe most people don't
have it by the time they hit their goal weight. I hope this helps
— kimee05
January 21, 2008
I agree with everyone, but i will always have to have the cpap as my oxygen
level drops drastically when I am asleep. My sister is 14 years older and
she just recently found out she has the same thing. We lost our parents in
their 50's and also our brother in his 50's. We believe they all had the
same condition. Anyway you should be careful. Don't decide on you own
that you no longer need the cpap. Good luck. Pat
— pjennjr
January 31, 2008
I have had sleep apnea for 10.5 years and have had 9 sleep study tests all
toll. I lost 90 pounds with the RnY and my setting on the C-PAP machine
went from 20 to 10. I have since gained back 40 and my setting is now at
13. Don't give away or throw away your machine till you know for certain,
and do have a sleep study to confirm you are well enough not to use the
C-PAP machine as not using it could kill you.
— KRWaters
Click Here to Return