Hi there. This is my first post of probably many more to come.

My question is...I have sleep apnea and have to use a CPAP machine because it is bad. I'm a truck driver and am also required to use it to keep my license.

I was reading somewhere that patients are not allowed to use CPAP machines after surgery. Just wondering if that was true for everyone? Or if I misunderstood when I read that?

Thanks

I'm not sure about the hospital part of it, but my apnea went away within a few weeks after surgery. My wife says I no longer snore, and I can sleep through the night with only one or two trips to the bathroom, depending on how much Fluid I consume near bedtime. We are both thrilled to get rid of that stupid machine!!! And for any diabetics reading this, my need for insulin and pills went away within a few weeks too! My endocrinologist was ecstatic. He even joked, "Damn! Those bastards are going to run me out of business!" Now, wouldn't that be great?!!

That would be a great benefit as well. Right now I'm on 2000mg of Metformin extended release and Diamicron (makes me stimulate insulin production). That along with 2 different BP meds is what made me decide on surgery. Can't live with taking all these meds for the rest of my life.

I hope I can see the benefits you have seen.

I'm not sure about the hospital part of it, but my apnea went away within a few weeks after surgery. My wife says I no longer snore, and I can sleep through the night with only one or two trips to the bathroom, depending on how much Fluid I consume near bedtime. We are both thrilled to get rid of that stupid machine!!! And for any diabetics reading this, my need for insulin and pills went away within a few weeks too! My endocrinologist was ecstatic. He even joked, "Damn! Those bastards are going to run me out of business!" Now, wouldn't that be great?!!

Same here, only a couple of weeks after surgery I slept without it, no snoring, no running to the bathroom 3-4 times a night, and no more Metformin or statins. Woo Hoo!

I also have sleep apnea, I was told to bring my machine to the hospital. However, when I tried to go to sleep with it after surgery the o2 alarm would go off constantly, like every time I'd actually fall asleep. So the nurses keep coming in and making me take it off to give me oxygen. I kept telling them I was fine with my machine, they had to have a respiratory specialist come with a bipap machine so I could get the pressure with the oxygen. Worst sleep I have had since using the cpap.

When I got home the next day I took a nap with my machine and was totally fine. Just bring it with you and don't let them mess with your machine. You'll be fine.

I used my cpap machine faithfully until I dropped about 30 pounds. At that point, I found that every now and then I'd wake up with a stomach full of air... painful until I belched it out. I also found that my mouth would dry out and I'd wake up parched. I finally gave it up and have had no problems sleeping or being sleepy the next day. I still need to contact my sleep doc to either have him adjust it or to tell me I no longer need it, but I'm doing nicely without it for now.