question
Hi everyone,
I am a little concerned about something so I thought I'd throw the question out. I found out yesterday that I have to get A CPAP machine, which I know you have to be on for 6-8 weeks before surgery. I have heard from several different people now that their insurance would not cover the machine. With 3 kids we live pretty much paycheck to paycheck. If I have to pay out of pocket, i don't think I will be able to get one. Will they prevent me from having the surgery if I am unable to get the machine? 
Should I be concerned?
Should I be concerned? 
Janet,
Check with insurance first. If they don't cover it, find out how much it costs to rent the machine for 2 months. It's worth it in the long run. Even if you have to put it on credit and pay back over time. If you're not getting enough oxygen while you sleep, that can deteriorate the heart. You're going in for major surgery and stuff happens. Better to avoid stuff wherever possible, right?
Also, ask around. Maybe somebody who used to be on CPAP that no longer is can loan theirs to you?
xox
Amy
I've been on CPAP for about 7 months now. Most surgeons won't let you get the surgery w/o it. As it was explained to me, since you stop breathing when your bodies sleeping normally, a drug induced sleep may cause you to stop breathing for way too long. I would argue with the insurance company. I know I am doing it for the surgery right now. I would love to lose the weight and get off the machine.
HONESTLY i needed a CPAP and for whatever reason my pulmonary doctor missed all the signs in me.
AND i wished dearly they didnt. I apparently kept stopping breathing when i slept...
and set off alarms that woke me ...i got zero sleep during my stay in the hospitol and that was hard.
THEY tried to give me a generic cpap but at that stage post op in the hospitol i was scared of the machine and felt it was suffocating so wouldnt wear that generic one.
I would try somehow to get one perhaps a member has one on the board that they dont need any longer and would loan/or give to you to help!
Just a thought i really dont know tons on the machine. JUST know I needed one.
My insurance company paid for me to have 3 machines, without a problem. If they don't purchase it for you outright they will rent it for you. You should only need it for a short time after surgery, most peoples apnea resolves itself after the first month or two after surgery as the weight comes off.
Scott
Janet:
Hi! 
Obtructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a silent and DEADLY disease. Many folks do not realize the significance of this disease and what it has the capabilities of causing. Having OSA does not mean you just do not sleep well, it means you are at high risk for stroke, heart attacks due to your blood being more 'sticky' and clotting easier, inability to lose wt. It means you are prone to daytime fatigue, unresolved depression, headaches, falling asleep at the wheel, the majority of accidents are a result of OSA! Basically you stop breathing numerous times in the night and your brain has to wake you up so you can breath, this oxygen deprived state causes huge risks, not only do you never get restorative sleep if your brain doesn't wake you up, death! I cannot put it any clearer than that! So NO THEY SHOULD NOT do surgery on you if you have not been treated ahead, your risk of death from anesthesia is much greater! And remember the goal of surgery is to get off the table!
Patients w/ OSA need special anesthesia consideration as airway control may be very challenging/more difficult, with a great increased risk of hypoxia at intubation/initiation of anesthesia, also at times if severe being on a ventilator for assisting in breathing may need to be considered until edema postop has lessened and need for painmeds as well has resolved, manymeds can worsen OSA (things like benzos which relax the smooth muscle worsening this etc). Also treating the OSA ahead may lessen risk of deadly clots postop one of the major risks of bariatric sugery, that can cause strokes, heart attacks or pulmonary emobolism. This 6-8 wk period is common to one get accostomed to the machine and two to build up lung/cardiac functioning! Think of i as more insurance for your health!!!
Please call YOUR insurance carrier, going on hearsay is not helpful or predictive of your policy and plan. MOST insurance companies cover a CPAP rental you may have a copay. What documentation that they need is individual as well (the sleep study and prescription most likely is all that is needed), we have to be advocates of our own healthcare and calling your insurance to find out is the first step.
You should be concerned about untreated OSA more than if they will cancel surgery, and yes they probably will again for your safety not a punitive thing!!! I can not emphasize ENOUGH the importance of treating this! *I send many of my clients for sleep studies due to their symptoms/risk factors and frequent;y they are coming out w/ a diagnosis, it is an epidemic that is correlating w/ the obesity epidemic sadly! The good news is as one loses wt the CPAP may not be needed! **near 100% resolution w/ wt loss!!!**
I find when I am overwhelmed breaking things down into small steps helps me, otherwise sometimes my anxiety gets sohigh I am in the what if mode, wasting tons of energy not even needed!
Read more please!!!! See some links below!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/
http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/index.html
If u needmore answers or I canhelp met me know! hugsTake Care,
Jamie
100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY
320(preop)/163 (lowest)/174 (current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery)
Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/
"Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"
Obtructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a silent and DEADLY disease. Many folks do not realize the significance of this disease and what it has the capabilities of causing. Having OSA does not mean you just do not sleep well, it means you are at high risk for stroke, heart attacks due to your blood being more 'sticky' and clotting easier, inability to lose wt. It means you are prone to daytime fatigue, unresolved depression, headaches, falling asleep at the wheel, the majority of accidents are a result of OSA! Basically you stop breathing numerous times in the night and your brain has to wake you up so you can breath, this oxygen deprived state causes huge risks, not only do you never get restorative sleep if your brain doesn't wake you up, death! I cannot put it any clearer than that! So NO THEY SHOULD NOT do surgery on you if you have not been treated ahead, your risk of death from anesthesia is much greater! And remember the goal of surgery is to get off the table!
Patients w/ OSA need special anesthesia consideration as airway control may be very challenging/more difficult, with a great increased risk of hypoxia at intubation/initiation of anesthesia, also at times if severe being on a ventilator for assisting in breathing may need to be considered until edema postop has lessened and need for painmeds as well has resolved, manymeds can worsen OSA (things like benzos which relax the smooth muscle worsening this etc). Also treating the OSA ahead may lessen risk of deadly clots postop one of the major risks of bariatric sugery, that can cause strokes, heart attacks or pulmonary emobolism. This 6-8 wk period is common to one get accostomed to the machine and two to build up lung/cardiac functioning! Think of i as more insurance for your health!!!
Please call YOUR insurance carrier, going on hearsay is not helpful or predictive of your policy and plan. MOST insurance companies cover a CPAP rental you may have a copay. What documentation that they need is individual as well (the sleep study and prescription most likely is all that is needed), we have to be advocates of our own healthcare and calling your insurance to find out is the first step.
You should be concerned about untreated OSA more than if they will cancel surgery, and yes they probably will again for your safety not a punitive thing!!! I can not emphasize ENOUGH the importance of treating this! *I send many of my clients for sleep studies due to their symptoms/risk factors and frequent;y they are coming out w/ a diagnosis, it is an epidemic that is correlating w/ the obesity epidemic sadly! The good news is as one loses wt the CPAP may not be needed! **near 100% resolution w/ wt loss!!!**
I find when I am overwhelmed breaking things down into small steps helps me, otherwise sometimes my anxiety gets sohigh I am in the what if mode, wasting tons of energy not even needed!
Read more please!!!! See some links below!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/
http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/index.html
If u needmore answers or I canhelp met me know! hugsTake Care,
Jamie
100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY
320(preop)/163 (lowest)/174 (current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery)
Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/
"Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!" Thanks for all the information. I was in no way trying to say I did not want the machine, only that I was afraid I would not be able to afford it if insurance didn't cover it. I am going to call my insurance co tomorrow to get some information and if for some reason they don't cover it, I have been offered a machine by someone from this sight. I am so grateful that someone told me about this site, thanks to everyone!
Most Active
Recent Topics
