Question:
Dr says I stopped breathing 19 times in an hour during sleep study, and says I
have moderate sleep apnea? My oxygen level dropped to 78 during this episode. Just wondering, do I really need to get this 2nd study done wearing C-pap, if in a few months of having surgery, the apnea will be gone? I'm confused, someone please help! Thanks! — SJWendy (posted on November 15, 2003)
November 15, 2003
Lets put it to you this way. TAKE THE C-PAP TEST.
When you stop breathing, it means no oxygen reaches your brain. If it
happens too many times, you enter into a condition the docs call,
"brain death" also known as heading for a coffin.
I want to do WLS to save my life as I'm sure you do, but if you don't take
the second test to qualify for the C-Pap, you may die before you get to the
surgery.
I have been using mine since June of 2000 and now cannot even take a nap
without it. I hope to be allowed to stop using my machine after my
surgery, but until I do a final sleep study indicating my readiness to do
so, I will continue to use it.
By the way, if you have apnea, as I understand it, they need to be careful
after the surgery and many (if not all) apnea patients are placed in ICU to
await the wearing off of the anesthesia. If you haven't been diagnosed
with apnea and you have it, you may lose this benefit, and may die within
hours of having this life saving surgery.
Also, there is no gaurentee that you will be cured of apnea after WLS.
Many skinny people have it.
— John O.
November 15, 2003
Mine was 125 per hour. WHAT oxygen? I'm glad I was tested & matched to
a CPAP as it was 11 long months before surgery and another year before I
gave up my CPAP. I might've been able to much sooner, but I was afraid to
face life without it.
— vitalady
November 15, 2003
I HAD MY SLEEP STUDY DONE ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE MY WLS, I STOPPED BREATHING
43 TIMES AN HOUR, AND MY SAT. WENT DOWN TO 80, THEY DETERMINED I ONLY GET
ABOUT 2 HOURS OF DEEP SLEEP,NO WONDER I COULDN NEVER STAY AWAKE DURING THE
DAY, IT WAS PRETTY BAD FOR ME. I GOT MY MACHINE AND ENDED UP THROWING IT ON
THE FLOOR DURING THE NIGHT SOMETIMES, BUT WHEN I DID KEEP IT ON I COULD
TELL THE DIFFERENCE RIGHT AWAY. AFTER MY WLS, I USED IT THE FIRST WEEK I
GOT HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THEN I HAVE NEVER HAD TO USE IT AGAIN!!! I
COULDNT BELIEVE THAT LOOSING 15 POUNDS WOULD HELP ME SLEEP ANY BETTER BUT
IT DID. IF YOUR SLEEP STUDY SAYS YOU NEED ONE ITS BEST TO GET IT AND USE
IT, SOME DOCS EVEN WANT YOU TO BRING IT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH YOU,I JUST
FELT SAFE USING IT WHEN I GOT OUT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN MEDICINE, I WAS
AFRAID IT WOULD AFFECT MY BREATHING, SO IT MIGHT BE SAFER FOR YOU TO USE IT
BEFORE AND AFTER YOUR SURGERY. THEN YOU CAN PACK IT AWAY WHEN YOU DONT NEED
IT ANY MORE.OH I ALMOST FORGOT, FOR MY SECOND STUDY THEY WANTED ME TO COME
IN TO WEAR THE CPAP AND I COULDNT, MY PANIC ATTACK WOULD DRIVE ME INSANE IN
THE LITTLE ROOM, THE FIRST TIME I JUST ABOUT RAN OUT SO THEY ORDERED ONE
FOR ME WITH AND ADJUST ABLE OUTPUT, THANK GOD. GOOD LUCK, SHELLY
— shellypoe
November 16, 2003
Wendy, PLEASE do go for your 2nd sleep study and get your CPAP if they say
you need one. My best friend, Ginger Brewster, who's story is on the
memorial page of this website, died because she had the surgery with
untreated/undiagnosed sleep apnea. Please read her story to see what CAN
happen if you don't get treated before surgery. PLEASE be safe! Best
wishes for a safe and sucessful surgery.
— Hackett
November 16, 2003
YOU MUST GET YOUR CPAP!
Go back for the study and get set up with your CPAP, it can be very
dangerous & as in Ginger's case even fatal!
There is no guarentee that your apnea will disappear after WLS, you may
have it for the rest of your life.
Some surgeons will not even do your surgery until you have been on your
CPAP for a specific amount of time so your oxygen levels are better.
Good Luck!
— Saxbyd
November 16, 2003
My surgeon required the sleep studies, and it was determined that I needed
to use a CPAP. I guess I had "shallow breathing" and not actual
stopped breathing. I know that I snored very loudly. I got the CPAP about
2 months prior to surgery, but never really adjusted well to it, although
my husband loved that I wasn't snoring anymore. I slept with it up until
surgery, and in the hospital. My PCP actually ordered it for me, which I
thought was strange, but the surgeon's office would not handle this. I
thought I'd have to have another sleep study in order to be taken off CPAP,
but my doctor ordered that for me without it. I have been sleeping well
since surgery, much better than with the CPAP, and I am no longer snoring.
A lot of surgeons do not require the sleep study, as the apnea is usually
helped by losing weight. So, I guess I must say I feel you should follow
your doctor's orders, especially since your sleep apnea is moderate.
However, personally, I'm very happy that I'm not using it anymore.
— Carlita
November 17, 2003
During my sleep study it was determined I stopped breathing 100xs per
hour-o2 levels very low--life threatening is one of the terms used. I used
my Cpap machine for apx 2years before surgery and about 4 months or so
after. I really don't think I would be here today if I hadn't had my Cpap
machine-let alone the WLS. And if you think I didn't fight the use of my
Cpap, you are sooooo wrong. I refused to use it until they bluntly told me
either use it or a coffin. And My surgeon was fully aware of it. At BTC, I
was hooked up to it when I came to after surgery. Good Luck, and
remember---you are doing this to give yourself the chance at a healthy
future. You owe it to yourself to do everything you can to make it happen.
— bek4901
November 17, 2003
There are several types of sleep apnea not just obstructive.
CPAP helps people with central and mixed apnea as well. Weight loss alone
does not guarantee you will stop needing the CPAP. My husband was 250#
when he was put on CPAP. He is now 170# and still wears it as he still
snores and has central apnea related to a neurological disorder without
it.
A drop to 78% is significant. Please schedule the CPAP test.
— LLinderman
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