I DON'T WANT A CPAP MACHINE!!!!

I am sorry for your news... ugh... Well I have SA and found out in 2007 and I was sooooo upset... Just the thought of me having to be on a machine at night... ugh.. I was just 25 years old!!!  How embarrassing.. right?!?  I tried it out and only used it every so often.. But for well over a year now I use it all the time because reality hit me...  I started hearing of people who have SA and not using there machines dying in their sleep!!!  That was enough to scare me into using it... It is really important for you to get that machine and use it..  You may not like it and you may be embarrassed but its worth it.. And now that you have been diagnosed with SA you are required to bring your CPAP machine to the hospital with you for your surgery... Our surgeons at CHRIAS will not do the surgery unless you bring your CPAP machine.. I wish you the best and I am truly sorry for your bad news... I am now 27 years old and I am hoping not too long after my surgery I will not have to use that machine anymore!

Liz

Yeah....it was disheartening news.  I never really thought sleep apnea was such a big deal beyond snoring.  I don't know if I buy into the life-threatening part, but I have yet to speak with the Dr. since the test.  I will do whatever I have to do to get surgery including bring the cpap to the hospital and attempting to use it.  Will I stay committed to using the machine? I don't know.  I'll have to play it by how my body changes after surgery and if I feel the benefits. 

Thanks for your kind words and encouragement to do what is right.  I do appreciate them and will take them into consideration everytime I don't want to use that machine.

Altheda

Leave it to me to rock the boat.

I too was diagnosed with SA. It wasn't severe, but apparently enough that when I was doing my pre-op work up the pulmanologist felt I needed to be on a C-PAP.

Frankly, it pissed me off. I hate that damn thing. It's annoying, cumbersome and just plain a nuisance. I went through 3 different masks trying to find one that fit properly and would stay on my head. I really did give it an honest effort to make it work for me. In the long run, it became a pain in the ass that I would much rather live without..or take the risk of not living. Seriously. I think I would have rather died in my sleep that have to fight it every night.

I would never want anybody to jeopardize their health. But, for me I played their game. I wore the damn thing prior to surgery. It has a computer chip in the back of it that you will be told to mail in and have analyzed.

When I was in the hospital I never had to wear it. They made me bring it with me but my O2 stats were good, so they never put it on me. And I've never worn it since, nor will I ever wear it again. I sleep great. I don't snore. I never felt "more rested" when I wore it. It was more of a bother than anything.

Now this is just me...but I wrote a letter to both the company that provided me with the C-PAP and my pulmanologist. I flat out told them that it was a waste of their time, my time and my insurance company's money.  I told them I would turn it back in and they could give it to somebody who truly needed it. It's my body and my choice. So, that's what I've chosen for me. I played the game. I did what I had to do to get my surgery.  Guess what...I didn't die...:-) And, they completely respected my wishes.

Listen to your doctor. Do what you have to do. Don't jeopardize your health. But, also don't let others make choices for you. It's your body and you can say no.  However, if it's going to get you on that surgery table...I'd wear it.

Good Luck!

You said everything I feel.  Thank you for your complete honesty.  I thought I was freakin alone on this one.  I will do what you did...'play their game'...and I will give it an honest attempt to reason, but if I'm not sold ... I'm not sold.  I had the test before and it was negative.  Now, I'm 30 - 40 lbs larger and I can see the probability of  a short-term case of sleep apnea or maybe my sinuses are acting up especially, but I don't have any other symptoms.  I have good energy during the day and so forth.  So, well see.  You candor is soooo appreciated. 

HI, I am 34 yrs old and will by having my surg on 2/2. I recently had my preop with my doctor and he said it was EXTREAMLY IMPORTANT TO USE MY CPAP after surgery because of all the added stress the surgery puts on the heart and lungs.
I know it seems like it will be hard to get used to, but I started mine 3 years ago and just made up my mind I would get used to it. However, it didn't take me long to embrace it, because I woke up feeling RESTED! I FELT SOO... MUCH BETTER!!!
I hear what you are saying about your husband. Those masks just aren't cute! I was mortified when my husband walked in on me taking a nap with my CPAP on the first day I brought it home. I felt so unsexy and unwanted. But he was wonderful and embrassed it with me. He likes the "background noise" it makes, sort of like a white noise. Also, he sleeps so much better, because I am not tossing and turning all night long waking him up.
Give your CPAP a chance! I hope you will feel better and your husband will support you! Also, you might only need it less than a year, plus when you feel rested you will be more successful with your weight loss. You will have more energy!

Good Luck!

Tara

I totally understand not wanting the CPAP machine, I didnt want it either but I hav ebeen using mine for 5 years. Two things you have no idea how much better it will help you feel. I didnt realize how bad i felt till I wore it for even one night.

You have to wear it though. The key is don't take it off. DO this on a weekend so you can get really tired. You will fight it for the first two nights but donttake it off. By the third night you will e so tired you will fall alseep with it. I bet you will see a huge difference.

Now , also. Sleep Apnea is very hard on your body and your heart. Your bypass will be hard at first on your body. So getting the macine right now will help you get stronger and have more success late.

Look at the bright side you wont have to wear it that long because you are going to loose weight quickly.

Let me know if I can help you more

Thanks!  I promise I will GIVE IT A TRY...heck I may actually feel better.  My thoughts are the same about my ears ringing and my sinuses...if they stay clear I probably wont know how to act from feeling so much clearer.  The Cpap may have the same affect.

I'll definately update on my HONEST OPINION.  I'm sure that I wont be on it for long.  Sixty pounds down...I'll probably be well on my way to cpap free.

Blessings

My dr. requires a minimum number of logged hours on a CPAP before she will perform surgery on patients with SA.

My test came back "borderline" for SA, so I was not put on a machine. However, in coming out of anesthesia, I had a very hard time - partially due to respiratory difficulties. That "borderline" condition flared up in that very important time frame and it was kind of dicey....I don't recommend it!

Think about, if you have been told you have SA and it has been used as a precondition to having WLS what else is your doctor going to say, of course you are going to be told to bring your cpap and having been diagnosed with it if your o2 levels drop while you are recovering in the hospital of course you are going to be required to wear your cpap. The hospital staff have to conver there ass and they are also trying to cover yours.

 I felt about the same as you.  I did not get  the thing when they first recommended it. In fact would not have unless the insurance had insisted.  So I did and used it for a few weeks prior and a few weeks after the surgery.  
I never got very used to it  but it did help me a bit.  I never did manage to use it all through the night....I always ripped it off during the night.  
Most of all I think it was a huge waste of money since i had to buy the thing and only used it for a brief amount of time.  
However, if you want the surgery you may need to cooperate and give it a try....So just  do what the docs say , at least until your surgery... It will all get so much better after the surgery in short order.  They are just being extra cautious to get you into the surgery in as good a shape as possible... It's a very valid point.   
 
On the positive side...my meds are gone now, the weight is going and i feel better... Its all good.  The RNY will change your health and life in a really good way...the cpap will be temporary and just a bridge to your improved health... it's ok, do hat they say!  

Love and best of luck to you...it will be ok.