Hey everyone-

I am getting banded on May 28th and as much as I am ready for it, I am scared with the sleep apnea. I was diagnosed during my testing for the surgery. I have awful anxiety with the mask and cannot get through an entire night with it. Can someone please calm my nerves? I had my gallbladder out 3 years ago and was heavier then and I am sure that I had sleep apnea, but I did not have a machine at the time and woke up from the surgery just fine. The sleep doctor scared the crap out of me!!!

Help me please!!!

I have it too. I did not have a machine at the time of surgery. They kept me over night and had me hooked to a monitor so whenever I stopped breathing an alarm would go off and wake me. It only went off like two times all night. Ask them details about what to expect after surgery and tell them your anxiety issues with the mask.

Speaking of which have you looked into other mask? I know they have a ton of them out there now so if one isn't working for you maybe another would!

Good-Luck!

I have had a cpap machine since 1990, and had no issues with surgery. The anesthesiologist did ask me before the surgery if i had sleep apnea, I told him yes, and he said it would not be a problem. You know I'm not really sure if they do anything different during surgery to counteract the apnea, but i came through it fine.

I had general anesthesia and was intubated for surgery. That means I was on a ventilator. I don't know if that is standard practice or not but I think it is. So the problem would not be during surgery, but after when you are sleeping.

My husband has a bipap machine and has had many surgeries. He has to take his machine with him any time he is in the hospital. Besides the typical problems known to be associated with sleep apnea, it could also make you higher risk for developing post op pneumonia, especially if you are really sleepy post op.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea not long before my surgery, also. It took me several weeks to get used to sleeping with the mask. I am claustrophobic so I thought I'd have more trouble with it than I did. The therapist helped me choose the smallest mask possible to help against feeling claustrophobic. Maybe changing to a different mask would help you. Otherwise, just give it time, most people really do get used to sleeping with it after awhile, and once it starts helping you sleep better, you won't want to be without it.

I had to bring my bipap machine with me to surgery but they never used it. The nurse told me they rarely do. Mine was out-patient surgery though and I didn't stay all night. I was released 2 hours after surgery.

Hang in there, you will do fine! Before you know it you'll be looking back on your surgery and you'll realize it wasn't as bad as you feared!

I also use a Cpac machine. It took awhile to get used to it but now I can't sleep without it. It goes on vacation with me. We went camping this weekend and I used it hooked up to a 12 volt battery. You will so much better when you start getting a good nights sleep, so hang in there and keep trying. After awhile you will get used to it. But I HOPE after the surgery and I lose weight I will not have to use it any more. It will proubly take as long to not use it again as it did to use it. LOL

I have a CPAP and use just the nasal pillows--no mask. Maybe you could look into them. I just had anesthesia for some day surgery last week and the CPAP was not a problem at all. And, I agree with the rest, someone will pay he&& if they try to take my CPAP from me---I love it. Cannot sleep without it and don't want to either. I cannot imagine being without it ever again. I sleep sooo well now.

I have sleep apnea also - was diagnosed several years ago.

I could never use the nose pillows, and the first mask I had only covered my nose and I hated it. I slept with it every night, but didn't like it.

My new mask covers my nose and mouth and I love it. I feel less claustrophobic with both covered, strangely, but that's because I don't feel as if I just have to keep my mouth closed all the time.

Talk to you doctor about a different mask. Once you get used to sleeping with it, trust me you'll feel so much better after a really good night's sleep.

Good luck!