Hello everyone:

I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice or tell me about there personal experiences with having sleep apnea and undergoing WLS?

The reason I ask is because I have severe obstructive sleep apnea and have been using a CPAP machine for about a year now. I usually have trouble sleeping flat on my back so I have to sleep sitting up a bit reclined.

I keep worrying that during surgery I may stop breathing or that the anesthesia will make me sleep to the point that I don't wake up again. Because I already have issues with breathing while sleeping, I worry that being put under could be a big risk and that things might be complicated somehow. Am I just worrying too much about this or is it something to consider?

I would appreciate any advice or personal stories about this.

Thank you for anyone that shares and helps to calm my mind a bit

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You will do fine. I also have severe sleep apnea. I had a text done that I was put under. They have the equipment to take care of you if something happens

MsShortyDee

I understand your concern. Just realize you are not the first person they have operated on with sleep apnea. They are trained to deal with these things and will be monitoring you the entire time.

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(RN here) While you're in the OR is not an issue. If you're under general anesthesia (which I'm pretty sure everyone is for this surgery) they put a breathing tube down your throat and breathe for you while you're in the OR. They don't take the tube out until you are coming out of it and start breathing on your own. Make sure the anesthesia/surgery team knows about your apnea, because they'll need to have a BiPAP machine and respiratory therapist on hand in recovery. Once the anesthesia is out of your system, you should be fine. They will tell you whether or not to bring your personal machine to the hospital. My apnea is mild enough and I was sleeping with my head elevated so we didn't need my machine. Worst case, respiratory always has BiPAPs they can pull in and set you up on.

(RN here) While you're in the OR is not an issue. If you're under general anesthesia (which I'm pretty sure everyone is for this surgery) they put a breathing tube down your throat and breathe for you while you're in the OR. They don't take the tube out until you are coming out of it and start breathing on your own. Make sure the anesthesia/surgery team knows about your apnea, because they'll need to have a BiPAP machine and respiratory therapist on hand in recovery. Once the anesthesia is out of your system, you should be fine. They will tell you whether or not to bring your personal machine to the hospital. My apnea is mild enough and I was sleeping with my head elevated so we didn't need my machine. Worst case, respiratory always has BiPAPs they can pull in and set you up on.

That is good to know. Thank you for that information

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You are in good hands in the OR, I also have sle r p apnea and my anesthesiologist told me that I should be fine. Go in with a postive mind and prayers you will be fine. Your OR staff and Dr will be u our strength.

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I had to bring my cpap to the hospital with me. Like others said they have you covered while in the OR.

Once in the recovery area they had me put it on. You will be fine

I have severe sleep apnea. I use bipap settings of 16/22. When you go in for the surgery they put a breathing tube in to assist you in your breathing. When I had my surgery they took the breathing tube out when they finished surgery but put it right back in because I wasn't breathing well on my own. I woke up in recovery with a breathing tube in which was a little scary. I tell you that just to assure you that they won't let anything happen to you because of breathing. They will do what they think is best to make sure you are breathing properly.

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Edited November 16, 20169 yr by Dashofpixiedust8