Sleep Apena ~*~ I need it!!!!

sleepygirl · January 27, 2008

CPAP is a positive pressure. You invariably get a portion of air intended for your airways down your esophogus. This can hyperinflate the stomach; placing pressure on your pouch. This is why cpap or bipap are contraindicated in patients with recent bariatric surgery

sleepygirl · January 27, 2008

The biggest reason any physician wants to do a sleep study prior to surgery is because patients with sleep apnea are often hard to wake up after surgery and require a small of time on the ventilator until sedation has passed from your system. We often get a lot of patients in the sleep lab because they gave the post op surgery team a scare. With sleep apnea they just wait a little longer to extubate the patient.

cierra'sgrandma · January 29, 2008

I've was diagnosed with sleep apnea several years ago. After a second sleep study done in August (or was it September?) of 2007, I was switched from a C-Pap machine to a Bi-Pap machine, and it works a LOT better! I'm going to make sure I ask my surgeon about whether or not I will be able to use my Bi-Pap machine after I'm banded (February 6th), because, for some reason--and I'm sure there is one!--I seem to swallow air during the night, and wake up in the morning burping like crazy! I'm still not crazy about having to use a B-Pap machine, but I DO sleep better, and don't nod off all the time, AND I sleep a lot better with it.AND my husband is happier as well!

cierra'sgrandma · January 29, 2008

Thank you, SLEEPYGIRL, your explanation. It makes total sense. I just posted a reply to someone else's post, and when I scrolled up, I saw yours. {So much for my skills of obvservation!} I'm still going to ask my surgeon about it, because I don't want anything to mess up his good work.

mikey155734 · January 29, 2008

There isn't a way to trick the system about the sleep apnea, and I wouldn't hope for having it. My father had sleep apnea, and narcolepsy and he ended up dying of falling asleep in the car and had a fatal car accident. Just something to think about, be thankful if you dont have it, dont wish for it!!

Chris61 · February 1, 2008

I saw your posts and was wondering why you did not have over 5 years of weights? Have you gone back to all your doctors and got your medical files from way back when. I happen to find some medical files because of work and put them into the letter and was approved. The doctors would be like OBGYN,Skin doctor, Orthopedic, etc. If you would like to see the letter e-mail me your address and I will forward it to you.

Chris

cierra'sgrandma · February 5, 2008

Yeah, having a sleep study tends to suck sour lemons, and I'm not sure as to why lap-band surgeons require them, but I'm glad I had mine done. I sleep so much better, and I DON'T fall asleep during the day. I didn't have much teouble sleeping when I had my studies done. The bed I slept on was great--a "regular" bed--wonderful. I've found that I sleep BETTER when I use my bi-pap machine. Plus, I have this certain amount of paranoia {after hearing news of the demise of a number of people due to--apparently--severe sleep apnea} of this happening to me. As for not being able to use my bi-pap machine after the surgery, I was told--by my surgeon's nurse--that 'they' saw no reason why I couldn't continue using my bi-pap machine post-operatively. I'll play it by ear, because I tend to somehow swallow air as I sleep {when using my machine} and wake up at some point during the night with a slight bellyache. I move around a bit, and I release a couple of huge, not so delicate burps.:mad: Yeah, not too pretty, but at least it's not in public!

Justmeandmine · April 9, 2017

On Wed Dec 26 2007 at 3:18 PM, SuzanneG said:

My BMI was 35.1 when I first started trying to get approved. I got denied because I didn't have heart disease, lung disease or sleep apnea. By the time I wrote my appeal letter, I had gained a few pounds and my BMI was 36.7.

I had to write a letter of appeal to BCBS. I wrote a letter of medical need, then a letter of emotional need, then I gathered letters of support from my GP, GYN, Podiatrist, and Gastrointerologist. Then my bariatric surgeon sent the entire package through with his endorcement.

BCBS called me directly and said my letter was amazing and that they decided to approve me.

If you have to appeal, I'd be happy to share my letters with you, just post your email and I'll send them to you directly.

Good Luck!

Suzanne

Hi Suzanne,

Would you mind sharing your letter with me please? Welovekrystal@gmail.com thanks so much!

Justmeandmine · April 9, 2017

On Wed Dec 26 2007 at 3:18 PM, SuzanneG said:

My BMI was 35.1 when I first started trying to get approved. I got denied because I didn't have heart disease, lung disease or sleep apnea. By the time I wrote my appeal letter, I had gained a few pounds and my BMI was 36.7.

I had to write a letter of appeal to BCBS. I wrote a letter of medical need, then a letter of emotional need, then I gathered letters of support from my GP, GYN, Podiatrist, and Gastrointerologist. Then my bariatric surgeon sent the entire package through with his endorcement.

BCBS called me directly and said my letter was amazing and that they decided to approve me.

If you have to appeal, I'd be happy to share my letters with you, just post your email and I'll send them to you directly.

Good Luck!

Suzanne

Hi Suzanne,

Would you mind sharing your letter with me please? Welovekrystal@gmail.com thanks so much!