Hi all. I did a sleep study a few weeks ago and was told I have mild aleep apnea. The sleep tech even told me it wasn't bad at all. Im suppose to be getting my CPAP machine this week. So today I had an appointment for medical clearance for surgery and when I told the Dr. I had sleep apnea he made a point to stress to me that I must use the CPAP for at least 3-4 weeks before surgery. The problem is I HATED that machine! My sleep study with the CPAP was one of the single worst experience ever. I felt like I couldn't breath, it made me claustrophobic, and I almost had a panic attack with it on because it felt like I couldn't get the air out of my chest. It was awful.

I'm just wondering for anyone else who has/had a CPAP- were you required to use it before surgery? What will happen if I don't? I'll give it another chance at home to see if maybe it was the environment I'm worried if I can't use it enough will it effect my breathing during surgery?

I had the same experience. Slept with the Cpap a few times; also hated it and put it to the side. I did not use it prior to surgery, but was told I had to bring it for surgery and would be using it in the hospital. In recovery, they asked me if I really used or needed the machine. I said no and they gave me oxygen instead - just the small tubes they put in your nose and hook around your ears. No mask. Very comfortable. I think the whole sleep study ( had to go back 2x) was a huge waste of time and money. However it does help you get approved because its a co- morbidity! Hope this helps.

I was also told I had mild sleep apnea. I was waking up gasping for air sometimes. I also woke up with a head ache every morning. I did not want to use CPAP machine, so I got a product called PURE SLEEP. It is a mouth guard that pulls your lower jaw slightly forward to open your airway. It is meant to stop snoring, but since I started using it, I sleep great and do not wake up with headaches. Also, added bonus...I do not snore!! It took a little getting used to, but now I do not want to sleep without it.

I brought that to the hospital with me. They gave me the oxygen as mentioned above during recovery, but at night I used my mouth guard.

Thanks guys! I think the Dr just kind of scared me today and in def don't want to do anything that is going to hinder or hurt me after surgery. I too don't really think the sleep study was accurate. When I was there the guy told me my air way was only alightly compromised only when I slept on my back- which I never really do and I only did because of the wires I couldn't get comfortable on my side. I do know the CPAP is a great machine for people who really suffer but u I dont think I need it.

Anyway- thanks for the replies! Put me at ease a bit. I'll look into that mouth guard also- I think I've seen a commercial for it. Thanks again!

I had a very similar experience and left the sleep study because of a panic attack in the middle of the night! I called my surgeon in a panic and she assured me that this happens to a lot of people. I was required to sign a waiver indicating that I had untreated sleep apnea, but that was fine. My surgery was last Thursday, I am 5 days out and it honestly was a fairly painless process. I would tell the anesthesiologist about your condition so they are aware. I would communicate with your doctors, I didn't want to get the CPAP knowing it wouldn't wear it anyway!

You'll be fine! Congrats on the next step!

justmeandmysleeve- glad to hear I'm not the only one who had such a rough time with the CPAP at the sleep study! I'm not sure how I managed to finish it- there was a while I was practically crying into the mask. It didn't help that my sleep tech was a rude jerk- the first guy I had was SO nice, second time around not the case. Thanks so much for the advice and hope your doing well after surgery! Can't wait to finally be sleeved!

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea too. I have not met the surgeon yet. But my family doctor said its up to me to use or even have the machine, because as i loose weight the apnea's will stop. Does your surgeon know you have the cpap machine?

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I had severe sleep apnea. Even though the woman giving the test was kid and patient, it was also one of the worst nights ever. I panicked with the full mask and only slightly panicked with the tubes in my nose.

I didn't get the machine prior to the surgery. I got it delivered a couple weeks post-op and by then I didn't need it.

I don't believe it matters on the table. I think you are getting pressured forced air under general anyway, but I'm not sure.

In the recovery room the dang nurse kept waking me up threatening to put me on the make because my oxygen saturation went below normal. That's one reason I never took another shot of morphine. As I had no pain (only discomfort), it was better that way anyway.

They put the dang machine in my room, but I told them I would only use the plain oxygen. I'm stubborn. I know. They didn't force the issue.

I have and use the machine nightly. I hated it at the sleep study and cried for weeks about it. But I got use to it and sleep so much better. Cannot really sleep without it now. My nose is extremely stuffed at night. It helps. I've tried nose spray and the breathe right strips but they do not help. I was also told to bring it with me. But I'm hoping to just get along with the oxygen tubes there. We will see. Hopefully after the surgery (8/20) I will not need it anymore! Something to look forward to.

I've had sleep apnea for 4 years now. I tried about 15 different kinds of masks before I decided on one. Check with your DME place about trying different masks. I sleep a lot better with it. Now that I've lost some weight, I've been able to have my pressure decreased & hope to eventually get rid of it completely, but it has made a world of difference the last 4 years! I also had to bring my machine to the hospital to use & it helped there too.

I use a TAP3 dental appliance for my sleep apnea. It is FDA approved a food proven effective in some cases of severe apnea. It is likely to be all you need for mild apnea. I brought my unused CPAP to surgery, but the they never made me use it because I had another medical device. The TAP 3 is a lifesaver but not cheap. You have to go to a dentist that treats sleep apnea. MUCH easier to use than a CPAP.

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My surgeon wont submit to insurance for approval if u have sleep apnea and havent been in compliance with using the machine for a month there is a computer chip i have to take to show i am in compliance.

Foxyroxy - my surgeon was/is the same way. I had to provide a minimum one month's proof that I use the CPAP regularly. It is being included in the paperwork going to my insurance.

Although I've know I have had it for years, I got my official apnea diagnosis yesterday. I was told I stop breathing an average of 50 times an hour, which is pretty scary. I go back next week for a study with the CPAP and I'm dreading it. I hope that I won't have to use it for too long since I hope to have my surgery next month (still waiting for the dang scheduler to call me!)

The reason why you need the CPAP in the hospital is because with the anesthesia from the surgery your body may not wake up if you stop breathing during your sleep. I don't want to freak you out but that's what my pulmonologist told me. It has to do with the effects of the anesthesia on your nervous system even after you've woken up and can actually last for weeks after the surgery. Think of it this way, when they put you under you will probably also be given a catheter because everything goes to sleep, not just your mind. If you can't pee on your own (and most people can't for the first 24 hours) imagine how well your body would react to other things.

As for the CPAP, as others mentioned, there are options. I hated the nose mask because I'm a mouth breather and the full face mask was extremely claustrophobic. Talk to the rep from the company providing the CPAP for you as there are a ton of options to choose from. I actually have a mouth mask with nose "pillows" to provide air through my nostrils. It's SO much more comfortable and not claustrophobic. Also, it's going to take a while to get used to. Don't compare it with the sleep study as they were gauging the pressure that they needed for you and you were hooked up to so many different things. Now I can't even sleep without my CPAP on.

Thanks everyone for all the replies! So I went and got the CPAP today- they showed me how to use it and everything, and the tech was super nice and helpful- way better then the guy I did the sleep study with. She asked me how the mask was and I told her it was awful and I felt clostrophobic so she recomended the nasal pillows and I tried it on and it was SO much better then the full face mask!! Like A MILLION times better! Oh and for those of you who mentioned the computer chip- yup mine has it too! She told me that at my follow up I had to bring it with me to show I had used it for insurance to keep paying for it- it had to be used at least 4 hours which isn't much. I went to make a follow up appointment and they told me I don't need to follow up with them- but my surgeon instead, so not sure if they are going to want to see the memory card. I need to call this week and let them know I got the CPAP.

So I am going to give it another try now that I have the new nasal mask. The biggest issue for me is I was having a hard time when I breathe out- I just feel like it's a bit of a struggle to do so I don't know why. I used it for a few minutes today and it still felt like that. It also always gives me a wicked bad head ache. Oh and my ait pressure is only 8 which I was told is very mild sleep apnea. Well I'm gonna give it another go and see!