Question:
Will the fact that I have untreated sleep apnea cause trouble during surgery?
I went to a sleep clinic 5 years ago I got a c-pap machine and never could get used to it so I gave it back. I am concerned I will have troubles during my surgery because of this. I am having surgery in 17 days. — cherby56 (posted on March 10, 2003)
March 10, 2003
Yes, you should be very concerned about this. Make sure that you tell
your anesthesiologist about your untreated sleep apnea so that they can
take special precautions during your surgery and recovery.
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And then get yourself to your nearest sleep lab as soon as you are able to
after the surgery, get retested and get and use the CPAP machine this
time!! Untreated sleep apnea can put a lot of stress on your system
(particularly your heart)...JR
— John Rushton
March 10, 2003
I have been sleeping with my cpap machine since 1997 and hate every minute
of it. I can't wait to be gone with it. And on the other hand I know when
I quit breathing and know the importance of having to sleep with it. I am
surprised that the Dr didn't ask you about it or request a study. This is
indeed very important issue to bring up before surgery. You don't want any
problems because you held back an important part of your health problem to
him. Something that would benifit you as well as the Dr in the long run.
— Barbara T.
March 10, 2003
My surgeon said that it is very important to make sure your body is well
oxygenated before and after surgery for at least 10 days to ensure the
healing will take place correctly and quickly.
— Karen B.
March 10, 2003
I just went though the surgery last week. I told the anesthesiologist and
Dr. that I had symptoms of Sleep apnea, though I did not realize that I did
before going through this process. It did not cuase any problems during
surgery, or none that were mentioned. The Dr. said the surgery went
perfectly as a text book case.
However, when I was in ICU following my surgery I found that I have pretty
bad sleep apnea. They had a blood oxygen level monitor on me and an alarm
would go off every time I went into a deep sleep. The nurse would come in
and say, " Bruce, take some deep breaths". I guess this was
good, but made sleeping very difficuly and made me anxious as I began
consentrating on my breathing, which is ususally involuntary. I am sure
that I need to get some help with this, but hope that the surgery will
correct this in a timely manner.
— ecurbruce40
March 10, 2003
cheryl, sleep apnea is VERY serious. it can cause complications during and
after surgery.
i don't want to scare you, but people have died after WLS because of
complications caused by sleep apnea. this is NOT something you want to keep
from your doctor.
I can't believe that your doctor didn't ask you about this. Many surgeons
require a sleep study before WLS.
call your doctor AT ONCE and tell him/her about the sleep apnea. it is
possible that the surgery can proceed as scheduled, but make sure your
surgeon and the anesthesiologist know about your sleep apnea.
— Kasey
March 10, 2003
Wow this Question has been on my mind too .. when I attended my
surgeons support qroup a lady was there talking about sleep apnea , when I
went to my pcp to get her to write a letter of recomendation to ins co. I
told her I had some of the symptons . I wake up with a head ache and tired
every morning and I snore very loud . She listed possible sleep apena as a
co morbidity , my surgeon also had a copy of this , Ins didnt require proof
. Based on other co morbids I was approved . My surgeon hasnt asked me to
be tested either . Now these responces have me scared ..and my surgery is
in 8 days .. what should I do ? Ruthie
— ruthie
March 10, 2003
Cheryl, Please read the memorial I wrote on Ginger Brewster on the memorial
page of this website to see what CAN happen if you have surgery with
untreated sleep apnea and your surgeon does not take any precautions for
the fact that you have it. It would be best if you could use your CPAP at
least for a short while before your surgery, but at the very least PLEASE
make sure your surgeon and anesthesiologist are well aware that you have
it. PLEASE make sure that they take precautions such as very careful
monitoring in ICU for the first night after surgery. Trust me, you don't
want to suffer the same fate that my friend, Ginger Brewster did. I wish
you the Best of Luck for a safe and successful surgery.
— Hackett
March 10, 2003
I never did tolerate the thing, my pressure setting was 17. My surgeon
managed me this way. Pulse ox and heart monitor entire time in hospital (2
days) heavier flow of oxygen than normal, they adjusted it up till my pulse
ox read normal. Didnt have a problem, very comfy. Besides with my very high
number 17 theres a slim chance the high pressure could cause a leak. The
way it was explained to me I could still breathe some and the oxygen
assured I got enough thru my small airway.
— bob-haller
March 11, 2003
I don't know where you are having surgery, but talk to your surgeon. At
BTC, we will not do surgery if you have untreated sleep apnea. And yes,
I've had surgeons send patients home because they reported that they had
sleep apnea and did not use their machines. I can only hope and pray that
someone would not lie, because it can be a life and death matter after
surgery (not during surgery because you have a tube down your throat to
your lungs to breathe for you anyway). BTC also requires you to bring the
CPAP with you. Please contact your surgeon now to find out....it's not too
late to get your CPAP machine back and start wearing it! Good luck to you,
and please be open with your surgeon.
— Lynette B.
March 11, 2003
I have been using a CPAP for many years. My surgeon did not want me to
bring it to the hospital and was very adamant about that. I know that I
was monitored and had oxygen immediately post-op. They also checked my
oxygen levels whenever they did the other vital signs. I went back on the
CPAP when I finally got done with all my hospital stays. I had hoped I was
ready to give it up and had another sleep study done in January. My
setting came down, but not enough to get me off it completely. The others
are right about getting tested for this. If you need to use it, make sure
you do and make sure your surgeon knows about it. Then follow his/her
advice about using it post-op.
— garw
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