Hi,

I tested positive for sleep apnea and they're making me get a machine to use before the surgery and possible after/during. I'm not sure?? I wonder how it will change my date. I had it tentatively scheduled for November 4th. My coordinator isn't in today and no one else can help me. Boo!! The lady that called me didn't know anything about it.

Anyone else run into this?

Thanks!

April

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea a few years ago. It did not even give my surgeon pause. I have just been told to bring my machine to the hospital with me. it shouldn't slow things down.

I have sleep apnea and am on a machine - it's called a CPAP. It hasn't made any difference in what I've had to do; however, they WILL want the/your pulmonologist to give the ok for surgery. They might also require a cardiac surgery approval. Those are the 2 things that were required of me, but I have established relationships with both.

I had a pulmonary function capacity test and EKG already. I guess I'll have to wait and see on Monday. I hate waiting. I don't know how long it will take for them to get me the CPAP and then how long I'll have to use it before the surgery. They got me the home sleep apnea study pretty fast.

If you have a good, reliable medical supply place there you should get set up pretty quickly. Ours around here are terrible and it takes forever to get anything. If you have contacted one and they are not responding, look for another. Heck, call all in the area and use the one who responds first!

I was diagnosed 2 months before surgery, started using the c-pap about a month before. Usually they say use it for 30 days prior to surgery but that's up to you and your surgeon and (possibly) anesthesiologist to weigh the risks of going ahead with your current date. There is a higher risk of complication with extubation right after surgery if you have untreated sleep apnea. I think it depends on how bad your apnea is. Hopefully on monday you'll have an answer. But no worries, getting diagnosed properly and starting CPAP treatment will greatly improve your life and help with your surgery recovery!

I am 4 months post-op, 66 lbs lost and I switched to an autopap machine because I don't even need level 4 anymore. My sleep doc estimates another 15-20 lbs and I won't need treatment anymore!

I sure was. I love and use the CPAP, so am in no rush to stop (and I am down 100# from my highest weight).

I got my APAP machine in January 2013 and have never slept better. I wish I'd have gone for my sleep study long before that. All those years without sleep really was one of my biggest contributors to my weight gain.

Getting clearance for surgery from my pulmonary doctor was a requirement for WLS. When I had my upper GI endoscopy and when I had my WLS the hospital told me to bring my hose and mask with me. They said they had machines and would adjust the pressures as needed. But in both cases it was never used. Funny thing is when I went in for my surgery this past Monday I was admitted to the hospital for the night and it wouldn't have mattered if I had used the machine. They never let me get any sleep anyway. I was getting poked, prodded and checked every 15 minutes by one member of the staff or another. It ends up that I had become famous with the surgical staff since I woke up during the surgery and started having a conversation with the surgeon. I don't remember a dang thing, but I guess it freaked them out a bit.

It can take some time (I waited several weeks) to get the CPAP from the medical supply company. I agree that your focus should be on getting in touch with a company asap that can get your equipment to you as quickly as possible.

Good luck!!