Surgery in 10 Days - Can't sleep with my CPAP

[Virginia S 13]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea during my pre-op testing. Now I'm 10 days from surgery April 18th and I cannot sleep with the mask on! It's making me crazy. I'm told my hospital will not allow me to refuse my mask after surgery, but I can't sleep a wink with it. Either it's so loose it develops a leak every time I move (pssssssssssttttttttt) or so tight it hurts. There's no in-between.

I'm on my third mask and severely sleep deprived!

Help?

[Rootman 1,101]

Been there done that, luckily (or not) I had surgery in Mexico and simply did not bring the CPAP machine. They asked about it but didn't pitch a fit and just left me alone. Didn't sleep worth a dang because by that time I was just the opposite, couldn't sleep WITHOUT it. After I've lost 100+ pounds I just could NOT get it to fit right, the shape of my face / head was so different. I had to put so much upward pressure on it the upper band cut right across the corner of my eye - bugged the hell out of me. For a while I would sleep with my hand on it and wake up with cramps every few hours. Recently I decided to go cold turkey and stop using it, I've dropped to a weight level that I probably don't have apnea any more. I really don't want the expense of another sleep studdy, the original I had ended up costing me like $800 in co-pay, deductible and out of network overages. PLUS the monthly co-pay for the CPAP "rental" for 12 months. These sleep doctors like to make the big $$$'s and they stay out of network so they can grab all the cash they can.

I was seriously considering this mask : http://www.directhomemedical.com/masks-cpap-bipap/fitlife-fullface-cpap-mask-respironics-mylife.html or this one http://www.directhomemedical.com/masks-cpap-bipap/total-face-mask-cpap-bipap.html , they both look like something from Avatar

The best solution I can suggest is to ask for a sleeping pill, the pain killers they give you should also help. Sleep away and let the air spray out where it wants.

[Roseib 13]

Interesting. They wouldn't let me use my cpap right after surgery. How long have you had it. Took me a while to get used to it. I had trouble at first like yoy Virginia and switched to a mask thst has a kind of suction effect. Sticks to the face without having the bands real tight. Hopefully by summer I won't need it any more. I'm like rootman though on thst I dnt want another test.

[juzmejnee 9]

How did it go? Im having surgery on Thursday and im worried about if they will make me wear my Bipap during my hospital stay. I haven't gotten used to it at all, and im worried!

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea during my pre-op testing. Now I'm 10 days from surgery April 18th and I cannot sleep with the mask on! It's making me crazy. I'm told my hospital will not allow me to refuse my mask after surgery, but I can't sleep a wink with it. Either it's so loose it develops a leak every time I move (pssssssssssttttttttt) or so tight it hurts. There's no in-between.

I'm on my third mask and severely sleep deprived!

Help?

[Sammi25 18]

i at first had the leaking problem but once it fit properly i slept like a baby. mine only covers my nose, and i also cant have surgery without it. maybe u have a poor fit. the lady came to my house and set it all up for me so i knew it was right, i went through my local VNA maybe you could try that?