Question:
Wondering why some doctors recommend the apnea test and some do not?
My doctor said I do not have to take a sleep apnea test. Why do some doctors recommend you take it? Is there a risk if I dont take it prior to surgery? — S. K. (posted on April 13, 2003)
April 13, 2003
Some surgeons don't recommend or require one before surgery sometimes
because of age. For instance, I'm 23 and didn't have to take a variety of
tests b/c I was young and probably do not have them. He also went by
symptoms. All surgeons are different and have their reasons for the tests
and not. So I didn't have to get one either, not that that is necessarily a
good thing, I'm just not sure. Now 11 months post-op. Goodluck to you
— Lezlie Y.
April 13, 2003
not just age.. but I'd guess that symptoms are important too.. I never had
them, despite my weight and my age... such as they are.. *wry grin* ...
apnea is very serious... breathing and lungs are really important where
surgery is concerned... so undiagnosed apnea can be a problem. Sometimes,
when people see WLS surgeons, they haven't really been to many doctors
before.. and may have gone undiagnosed.
— Lisa C.
April 13, 2003
It may have something to do with your symptoms, or lack thereof. I was
diagnosed with sleep apnea in 1995. I had complained to my primary care
doc about my incredible tiredness several times. I would get so sleepy I
sometimes had to pull over to the side of the road for fear I'd fall alseep
while driving. Other people report waking up with headaches every morning.
If you have someone who can hear you, ask if you snore. We're not talking
about 'normal' snoring here. It's usually a matter of snoring and then
silence for a time. Then when your body realizes it needs to wake up and
take a breath, you kind of snort, very loud and anyone in the same room
will be able to hear that. If you don't have any symptoms, that may be why
you don't have to be tested.
— garw
April 13, 2003
An informed surgeon should ask you if you have any sleep apnea symptoms at
your consult because undiagnosed and untreated apnea can cause problems
during and after surgery.Some symptoms are fatigue,waking up at night with
a gasp,having strange dreams like you are underwater or being held down and
snoring. I'm preop and I didn't think I had apnea but I was just recently
diagnosed with it.
— jennifer A.
April 13, 2003
If you snore so loud that you'd wake the dead, you porbably have sleep
apnea. If you don't then don't worry about it. I was diagnosed with OSA
(Obstructive Sleep Apnea) in 1992, would fall asleep driving, reading,
watching TV, or at the movies. Would disturb EVERYONE in the theater,
needless to say, my husband didn't take me to movies very often. I almost
lost my job because of it. You would be incredably tired all of the time.
If there is any doubt, the doctor will recomend a sleep test. Good luck on
your surgery, mine is June 26, 2003 if no one else cancels their surgery.
originally scheduled for March 24, 2003 but hosp canceled. I can't wait to
get to the losing side. Sue-Ellen
— Sue-Ellen J.
April 13, 2003
BMI is another criteria used. My surgeon insisted on a new sleep study. I
had a BMI of 64. I had a sleep study almost 6 years ago and did not have
sleep apnea but did have a rare daytime sleep disorder. I thought it was a
waste of time to get one again because as far as I was concerned I was
sleeping fine. I was tired during the day etc. but wrote it off to tossing
and turning when sleeping in bed because of a painful low back and also
because I didn't always take my daytime sleep meds as I should.
<p>Well I turned up with moderate to severe sleep apnea. I had been
sleeping in thr recliner for 12-18 months because my back did not hurt as
bad in the recliner. Turns out this may have been how I went so long
without realizing I had sleep apnea. I would wake in the morning with a
horribly dry mouth and I've had problems for years of waking with my head
and pillow soaking wet - both are symptoms of sleep apnea. The recliner
probably helped me breathe better by keeping the passage more open. I
started on BiPAP and I haven't had a wet head or pillow since. I am 2-1/2
months post op and off my machine because I could not get used to the
pressures again post-op. We finally found fairly low pressures I could
tolerate but then I wasn't as rested in the morning and all day. I
actually was sleeping better without the machine, so the doctor told me to
stop using it. He will retest me in June when I've lost more weight.
<p>If you are concerned then ask your surgeon why he does not have
people tested. If you do not have any symptoms, especially the daytime
sleepiness, then you are probably just fine. You can always talk to your
PCP and if he or she feels you should have one they can order it,
regardless of what the surgeon required. My internist ordered a Cardiolite
Stress Test that the surgeon did not require.
— zoedogcbr
April 13, 2003
If you have any symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring, daytime
sleepiness, etc. you should definitely be tested. Having surgery with
untreated sleep apnea is deadly! My best friend, Ginger Brewster, died
because she had the surgery with untreated sleep apnea and no provisions
were made for her having it. Her story is on the memorial page of this
website. There is an excellent self help quiz on the www.SLEEPHELPUSA.com
website to help you determine if you have symptoms. If you don't have ANY
of the symptoms and you are young you can most likely forgo the sleep
study. Best of Luck to you for a safe and successful surgery.
— Hackett
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