Question:
I just had to read the memorials!!
ok..here is my question. Bare with me as I am going to try to type it so it makes since. I am having RNY in Jan. I am very excited. I am having to do a sleep study on 11/10, to make sure that if I do have sleep apnea, I can have a CPAP machine. Well, I was reading the memorials, and there was a lady that passed away after surgery because she didnt know she had sleep apnea. I know this is a very serious sleep condition, or my surgeon wouldnt have ordered it. Can someone explain to me how sleep apnea affects your body, and if you do have it and dont get it treated, how it can take your life. I am almost certain I have sleep apnea because I have all the symptoms, but I wont have my machine till next week. SO, now I guess I am just freaking out a little bit, but please...can someone explain this a little better to me. — jackie L. (posted on November 8, 2008)
November 7, 2008
Sleep apnea effects your body in many ways, the most dangerous is that your
airways are blocked when you sleep on your back, and you can pretty much
suffocate to death. I had sleep apnea it come from the weight around my
neck, after i started losing weight mine went away.The machine you use send
air thru your air passage to keep it open so you can breathe, the people
that will put you thru the test will answer questions about it, if you
ask.
congrats on your surgery and hope all oes well for you'
brad
— dapoohster38
November 7, 2008
wow my sugeon,had me go to a sleep apnea clinic. got the machine ,but
didn't use it much ..i had no problums..ask yr dr ..good luck brenda in tx
..
— brenda F.
November 7, 2008
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleep-apnea/DS00148
— [Deactivated Member]
November 8, 2008
Hi Jackie,
I have sleep apnea and had my Lap Band surgery done in June of this year.
There was a screw up and my CPAP never made it to the recovery room. I
have severe sleep apnea where I stop breathing for 69 seconds and this
happens every 3 minutes. Of course I stopped breathing in the recovery
room. I can remember very little in those first few days but what I do
remember is some man shaking me and yelling my name to breath. Another man
said just take two deep breaths. I did and the 1st one said, "we got
her back". Now if you have a CPAP, make sure that everyone knows and
they have it in the recovery room. When I got back to my room, the Dr.
ordered Oxygen plugged into my CPAP and I had to wear it during the day as
well as at night to get my O2 level up to what it was suppose to be. This
is a rare case and most of the time, the CPAP is where it is suppose to be.
I didn't know to tell my husband to make sure that they have it in the
recovery room. Congratulations on getting something done about your
weight. I have never regretted it for one instance.
Susan
— susangielda06
November 8, 2008
They will intubate you during surgery, (after you are asleep in the OR,
they'll put a breathing tube down your throat). This will keep you
breathing mechanically during surgery, (the machine breathes for you). Make
sure you take your CPAP machine, hose, and mask with you to the Hospital
when you go in for surgery. Tell the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nurses
that you have Sleep Apnea and use a CPAP machine. After surgery, once the
extubate you, (remove the breathing tube from your throat), they will most
likely put your CPAP mask on you so that you will not have apneas while
you're still sedated, and later when you're in your room sleeping.
— Gina S.
November 8, 2008
If you have sleep apnea, you are not getting proper oxygen supplies to your
heart, brain and other organs. So apnea can cause many, many issues.
— GlitterGal
November 8, 2008
If you have it, you've probably had it for quite some time. I realize I
did. I was diagnosed this spring. I don't actually stop breathing as many
do, but have suppressed breathing which lowers your level of oxygen, making
you extremely tired, raising your blood pressure, contributing to weight
gain etc.
FYI, I did not get my machine right away. I (and most people I believe) had
a second sleep study to determine your titration level (18 for me). That is
the pressure required to keep your air passages open. Even then due to
problems getting the reports back and forth it took some time to get my
machine. But with your upcoming surgery stay after eveyone to expedite it.
Also, while your insurance MAY cover some the cost of the machine, it is
some times LESS expensive to buy it directly from a home health agency.
Mine didn't cover it and if I had gone through the first agency they sent
me too it would have been 3x's as expensive. Ask for several possible
suppliers.
— mybestself
November 8, 2008
I also had sleep apnea....very bad before my surgery....I didnt know it
untill my dr.ordered the test...anyways as soon as i found that out i got
on the comp and started doing some research on line...go to webmd.com....it
is a great web site.you can just punch in anything and it will tell you all
about it...even your surgery....
Anyways I had my surgery done in April 2008 and have lost 80lbs and I no
longer have to use my machine for breathing...
So good luck and see you on the loosing side
Elisa
— british88
November 8, 2008
Sleep apnes can cause many problems over time...The most damaging is heart
damage due to lack of oxygen...Most people that die from sleep apnea die
from cardiac arrest. I was very close to this 10 years ago. I was diagnosed
with severe sleep apnea, so severe that my body was doing everything it
could to keep my heart beating and avoiding things like digestion and
kidney function. I did not have enough oxygen in my sysytem to carry out
all the functions that my body needed to all night long...When I got my
machine all of the problems I was experienceing went away within thee first
3 weeks of treatment. I went through RNY surgery fine with my machine...I
am now experiencing that my machine is starting to be too strong for me and
will need to go for a sleep study soon to have it adjusted...
I would do as suggested and keep on them if you are diagnosed to get your
machine and treatment as quickly as possible, sometimes that machine is
hard for people to adjust to but it is very important to get the treatment
you need before the surgey, even as important as postponing surgery until
you get used to the machine where you are using it everynight..
— lori042499
November 8, 2008
I HAD SLEEP APNEA WHEN I HAD SURGERY BACK IN 2002.I TOOK MY MACHINE TO THE
HOSPITAL BUT I NEVER USED IT.
— deb44m
November 9, 2008
I work for doctors who perform sleep apnea surgery. Sleep apnea is very
serious it can cause heart attacks....Here is are website...you can go here
and read about sleep apnea....www.sleepsurgery.com
If you have anymore questions let me know.....Good Luck
— Amy McCain
November 9, 2008
It is great that you are having a sleep study prior to surgery. This will
enable the docs to be aware of any possible problems to avoid. One other
thing that you can do prior to getting the machine or your surgery is to
make sure that you don't sleep on your back. Patients that have problems
with this are told to sew a pocket in the back of their night shirt and put
a tennis ball in it to make it uncomfortable to lie on their back.
Sleeping with your head elevated is also a help. The best thing you can do
for sleep apnea is losing weight which is what you are doing. Don't let
this hamper your excitement on the road to success.......CONGRATULATIONS
on your upcoming surgery!
— AuntPamcakes4six
November 9, 2008
I have had sleep apnea for 3 yrs. I took my CPAP machine with me to the
operating room. I didn't have any problems.
I was never told not to sleep on my back, nor was I told to use a tennis
ball on my night shirt! I sleep on my back all the time. Go and get the
sleep study done, ask them all the questions you can think of, make a list
of questions so that you don't forget. I've lost 120 lbs, and no longer use
the cpap machine. I do have some heart damage caused by the sleep apnea,
go, get tested, maybe you don't even have sleep apnea.Do not worry, worry
will get you anywhere. Trust God, and ask everyone to pray for you, and
you'll do fine.
May God Bless You Abundantly, Kathie
— KathieV
November 9, 2008
jackie, I am 3 almost 4 years post op and i was diagnosed with sleep apnea
2 years before i decided to have the surgery. I was sleeping with a cpap
with a pressure of 16. My surgeon asked if i would be able to sleep without
out the cpap for @ least 3 days to allow for healing or he would have to
place drainage tubes. Didnt want the tubes so I did without the cpap. The
surgery has been a life saver for me. Unfortunately, I have graduated from
cpap to bipap. I dont just have obstructive sleep apnea, but I am managing
and I wouldnt change a thing. My suggestion is to be compliant with your
doctor's care. As a nurse, I have found that so many problems arise when we
are not compliant with the program. I really hope this helps and good luck
to you!
— reginagoiburn
November 10, 2008
I had sleep apnea so bad that I was not allowed to drive more than 20
minutes at a time, because I would fall asleep as the wheel. Once I the
sleep test started, I was put on the cpap within an hour and a half and I
haven't been without since, that was 2000. I am hoping now that I am
losing weight I won't need it. 302/282/259/134. Hope this helps.
— jenks621
November 15, 2008
Hi. I do have sleep apnea. When I went for the first part of the test, I
discovered that I would stop breathing 101 times in a 4 hour period. The
doctor who read the test said that if I was not treated with a CPAP machine
I was possibly facing a stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure plus
weight gain from the body not getting enough sleep. I was also facing the
possibility that my body good shut down altogether do to a lack of the
proper amount of oxygen in my system.
Luckily for me I was also able to have throat surgery along with the cpap
to help ease my symptoms.
I am doing a lot better now since I get a full night of rest.
Please remember that this is what my doctor and the tech at the sleep
clinic told me. Hope this helps.
— kankan
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