If they require you to take this test. Does it hurt your chances of getting the surgery or not? Anyone know the answer?

I was told in the kaiser seminar that if you have sleep Apnea and its not being treated that getting you off the breathing machine used during surgery can be complicated. The instructor said that your lungs are so tired they clamp town on the tube and wont release and you have to be in ICU until they can get it out.

Additionally it is a condition that can be caused by obesity so its something up there with Blood Pressure, Diabetes etc that can be treated by losing weight.

Thanks Minxz, I was freaking out there for a minute. Ok so Apnea is when you stop breathing while you are sleeping. I just don't sleep very long. That is totally different. :crying:

I don't think in any circumstance that it will hurt your chance at being approved. If anything it will help you get approved. Most everyone with sleep apnea is overweight except like 1 to 2 percent( my husband for instance). Therefore it is a comorbidity. Are you trying to use insurance or are you self pay? This will make a huge difference. What do you have to have to qualify if you are using insurance? My insurance requires 35-39 BMI+ 2 comorbidities or a BMI of 40 or more for the past 5 years. Well, I hope that helps!

Getting tested for sleep Apnea is important the instructor said that anyone with a neck larger than 17 inches almost positively has sleep apnea. I had my test done and have been on CPAP for a couple weeks now and i can honestly say its been such a wonderful thing. I was having events 30 times an hour.

sleeping better has improved my mood (depression has lifted), Given me more energy, I don't struggle to stay awake while driving, dont have a headache when I wake up or feel that every step is an act of supreme will power.

If your insurance covers it I highly recommend getting checked for it as you may not even know you are suffering from it.

I am going through my insurance. I have bcbs and it requires a pre-certify with six month program. I just don't sleep well but I don't stop breathing while I am sleeping. Insurance bmi terms are 40% or 35 if medical problems.

Thank you very much you guys for your help. :crying:

Whether you are required to get one or not varies. Some absolutely require it, some require you to take it only if you've scored a 10 or higher on the little questionare.

The reason they do this is because when you're in surgery you're essentially asleep.... and after the surgery you're asleep a lot while your lungs and body are recovering from anesthesia.... so it's kinda dangerous to have a lot of apneas (pauses in breathing) when you're recovering from surgery and anesthesia.

IMO it's important.

I have UHC and from what I read on all the blogs they are pretty easy to get approved with. I will not get my hopes up though until I get the green light. I didn't have to do the 6 month program though. Thank goodness! I think I would have pulled my hair out. About the sleep apnea though.... I snore lightly on occasion, according to my hubby. I was always tired, couldn't focus and very grouchy. I was for sure I didn't have it but the study confirmed otherwise. Just go through the process and see what happens. Good luck!

I have a big neck and no sleep apnea...or if I do, I don't know it. Came out of anesthesia just fine!

I too had a Sleep Apnea test done and I do have Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I do not sleep very long either and I thought that I did not stop breathing either but they found I did during this test. I was very surprised by this. I informed my surgeon and his coordinator were actually very happy I was diagnosed with it. They said don't get us wrong it's not a healthy thing to have but for insurance purposes it's a very good thing to have. I have BCBS Federal and they pay for the test as long as you go to an approved sleep center. In my plan they 85% and I pay 15% of what BCBS pays the sleep center. So I say go for it you never know.

I have sleep apnea, and it was a comorbidity that my insurance required to cover lapband surgery.

I just don't sleep well but I don't stop breathing while I am sleeping. Insurance bmi terms are 40% or 35 if medical problems.

I didn't think I stopped breathing either. Not until my sleep test. I thought I was sleeping soundly. I found out when I went to my PCP for my next monthly weigh in that my results showed that I had right at 50 events an hour. :smile2: So you really never know till you take the sleep test.

But I have to say that since I have started using the CPAP machine, it has made a world of difference in how I feel during my waking hours. I'm not falling asleep at work now or even when I stop at a red light! :tt2: