I did notice an earlier post re someone giving away a CPAP machine on this board.  Your doctor may have one since a lot of people give them back when they don't need them anymore.  They do need to be programed by a doctor to meet your body's requirements.

I have a love-hate relationship with mine.  Getting the perfect fitting mask is the most important thing to accomplish.  I went through five masks in the first three months trying to find the right one.  I finally went with a gel mask.  There's nothing to be afraid of.   You might need some type of mild sleeping pill until you get use to the mask.  But the difference you will feel after a decent night's sleep is amazing. 

Your body needs the deep sleep in order to flush out your liver and kidneys.  When you have apena you're waking up all the time (I was waking up an average of 46 times a hour.  I would stop breathing and my brain would wake me up enough to breath again).  You don't realize that your being woke up all the time.  You will never want to go back to being sleep-deprived, waking up with a headache, afternoon exhaustion, no energy and it does lead to weight gain if it's not diagnosed. 

I hope this calms your fears.  Dianne

I don't let the look and feel of the mask keep me from using mine. You must not be in the same boat I am in terms of need because it was affecting my life every day. You're lucky to be able choose not to use it.

Darryl

I have been just diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and will have my surgery before my machine..... and i am already feeling, like being overweight isnt enough, now to have this damn thing stuck to my face! Urgg I get angry

I doubt compliance with CPAP therapy  is required,  but just the fact that you have been diagnosed with a comorbidity should increase the likelyhood that the they will approve the request for bariatric surgery.

--mitch

I've just completed my preoperative work up and waiting for the doctor's office to submit the paperwork to the insurance company.  In addition, just received my CPAP machine on Tuesday.  Have been too hummilated to use it yet.  My question is if anyone knows whether using it is required to get insurance approval?