I just did a sleep study last night and they told me I have spleep apnea. What does this mean to me as far as the surgery is concerned?

Something to worry about?

<p>Nothing really as far as surgery is concerned, but something if you don't DO something about it (i.e., lose weight). I was diagnosed with moderate to severe apnea about three weeks before surgery, and even given a CPAP machine. It was so close to surgery that when surgery came I didn't use it again and have not used it since. I primarily was tested ahead of time because I was snoring so badly and so concerned about it. I have since been told that I either do not snore now at all, or just have a small "buzz" sometimes, so there has been a big improvement. However, I have not been re-tested. Sleep apnea is considered one of the primary co-morbidities for the lapband surgery, along with things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc.</p>

Kacee

Thanks for the response. I have to go back in two weeks for my CPAP machine. My paperwork for approval won't be submitted until Jan. 20th, so I think I will use it until then for sure. That is great there has been such a big improvement for you. I had heard that once I have the surgery and start losing weight, that the apnea will improve. I am happy to hear that it does actually happen. I also have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and now sleep apnea. I am glad I was tested, maybe it will help my cause of trying to get approved for the surgery. And congratulations on the great accomplishment of your weight loss!!

Hi Lonestar5212, I had my sleep study on Wed. night and I am waiting on the results. I truely hope that I do not have apnea but I'm prepared to deal with and get treatment if in fact I do. I have questions though. Did you wake up frequently? Did you snore? How many times did they say you woke up per hour? Before being diagnosed, did you think that you had sleep apnea? I know that each of us are different but I'm anxious to know if I have it or not.

Hi Poopsie - I am actually supposed to be told in two weeks, after the review of what the tech recorded during the night. However, he has been doing it for 10 years and said he can tell me positively that I have sleep apnea. One thing he told me was how low the oxygen level in my blood dipped during the night. It was very low. I woke up about 5 times during the night but went back to sleep right away. Yes, I snored. Yes, I felt that I had sleep apnea before I scheduled the study. I had quite a few of the symptoms. I think the good news is that after getting the lapband and losing weight, alot of people no longer seem to have an issue with sleep apnea. It is better to know so that if you do have it you can take care of it, first with the mask, then by losing the weight. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the quick reply. During my sleep study, I know that I woKe up a couple of times, but I'm hoping that it was because I was uncomfortable with all those wires. The next night at home, I didn't wake up once. Well moving on, Good luck to you as well. I'll post my results when I get them.

I have a pre-op list that says to make sure you bring your C-Pap (breathing) machine with you to the hospital since they might not have one or won't have one adjusted to your settings. You might have to sleep flat on your back, which can make breathing difficult.