CPAP Users

[FluffyH00 4]

Wondering if any CPAP users have had difficulty using their machines after surgery? So I was advised by my surgeon to bring my CPAP machine to have after surgery. I brought it with me but they never hooked me up to it. After being discharged, I admit I got lazy and didn't bother setting it back up and now I am almost 3 weeks post op and attempted to use it the other night. I ended up taking off my mask in the middle of the night because I found that my stomach was cramping in almost the same ways when I accidentally eat and drink my Protein Shake too close together. I only ended up wearing it for about 3 hours before I had to take it off. My sleep apnea prior to surgery was considered mild to start. My doc had told me that it could be that the number of events a night could drop significantly with my weight loss and may not need to use my machine anymore. Since my surgery date, I've already dropped 10 lbs. and am wondering if that might have been enough to help me not have to use it?? Since coming home, I've not had stomach cramps in the middle of the night. The only thing that was different that night was the CPAP but thought that would be odd for it to cause me to cramp.

[GradyCat 3,693]

They told me to bring mine to the hospital too but they never used it either. I was compliant with it post-surgery when I got home, no problems. But now I've lost 35 pounds since surgery (50 altogether) and I don't think I need the CPAP anymore. I did an at-home sleep study last week and am just awaiting the results. I had very mild sleep apnea to begin with too.

[Hrhays 3]

I did use mine. However, after a short time, I could not sleep because of the cramps. The doctor had to lower the script on the CPAP. It dropped from 17 to 7 pressure and I had no more issues. I would recommend going back to your CPAP doctor and have them lower the pressure.

[FluffyH00 4]

@Hrhays Thanks for that recommendation! I didn’t even think about the pressure.

[Ellf 205]

My CPAP is an AutoPAP that runs from 6-20. Currently, pre-surgery, it sits higher, but I suspect it'll lower naturally.

[AZhiker 2,252]

I am diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. My CPAP setting is 10. However, I am now down 45 pounds and am finding that it is forcing air into my esophagus and pouch, causing a lot of burping. I have an appt with my sleep doctor to see if the setting can be lowered, As long as the machine shows less than 3 apneic episodes/per hour, I hope we can keep reducing the pressure until I don't need it anymore,

[tihaitien 12]

I had severe sleep apnea for more than 10 years. I realized I didn’t need my cpap when I was in the hospital for a different surgery four months after my bypass. I kept waking up coughing like I was choking. After the second day in the hospital something told we to ask the nurse what my oxygen saturation was after she tested me in the morning. It was low when I wore the mask the first 2 days and when I stopped wearing it, my saturation was between 98 to 100 percent. I haven’t worn it ever since.

[Bob R 6]

wearing my mask actually helps me fall asleep but at some point after losing a considerable amount of weight I will not need it anymore but since it helps me sleep I may have a problem giving it up. ☹️

[Frustr8 7,886]

After every endoscopy they ask if I am still using my :C-Pap? Yep Uncle Snuffly and I are still steady-dating, maybe in July when I see my sleep Specialist we can "Break Up"? Wonder if she will make me go through another Sleep Evaluation or will I merely get credit for "Time Served" and he will become history? Notified in January by Lincare that Medicare had paid for it long enough that I owned him Outright. Didn't know what to say when they told me that, just politely thanked them for the message.