Question:
Anyone get off of CPAP after WLS?
I feel like my nose is going to be blown off my face now. I am scared to get off of my cpap machine, but my pulmonogist wants me to try for 2 weeks to sleep w/o cpap and THEN he will order another sleep test...I guess I am just too chicken to sleep without it now. I am down 115 lbs. so maybe that is enough to be rid of the cpap... — [Deactivated Member] (posted on May 16, 2003)
May 16, 2003
I'm not sure why your pulmonologist would want you to try to go without it,
since if you do still need it, that can be dangerous. I went to your
profile and noticed your BMI. Is that what it is now or what it was
pre-op? After losing 90 pounds I thought I would be able to quit using
mine. I had slept without it some nights and really didn't think I noticed
any difference. I went in to have another sleep study and they said I
still needed to use it. They did turn the pressure down, but I don't plan
to give it up until I have a sleep study that says it's OK. I probably
won't have one for a while yet, because I'm not sure my insurance will pay
for another one so soon and I've only lost 30 pounds since the one I had in
January. I think I'd call the pulmonologist again and ask why he doesn't
want to refer you for another sleep study. My understanding is that having
the pressure too high is just as bad for you as having it too low. You
might want to ask him about that too.
— garw
May 16, 2003
A good indicator would be did you snore before and do you still today? My
surgeon did not allow us to bring them to the hospital.We were given more
oxygen at the hospital.I used mine for about two to three months after
surgery as needed.Once I was below 270 I didn't seem to need it anymore.I
am just the opposit now from before surgery,I was getting between 2 and 4
hours sleep.Tired all day long.Now I sleep so well that I want to stay
asleep as much as possible in order to take in all my plesant dreams of a
thinner life...Needless to say I have a ton of energy..and never snore.
— Lisa B.
May 16, 2003
I didn't let go of mine til I was 14 months out, weighed 105. BUT I prolly
coulda let go of it months sooner. I was just scared to do it! I did get
it recalibrated. I took Don's away at 60 days, though. Even after
recalibrating, he was blowing air into my eyeball or ear in his sleep.
LOL! Both of us ran 'em under our pillows, though, for a few weeks before
we could part with 'em. You'll know, of course, if you're still snoring.
You just might not know if you're NOT
— vitalady
May 16, 2003
Well, not necessarily. If I were you Id try and get another sleep study
and see if you really need it or if you can get the settings turned down.
Im not down 115 lbs yet (im about 70 lbs down) but I still need mine. If I
sleep without it my husband says I still snore like a freight train and I
get a headache too. But I think my sleep problem is not all weight
related. My dad has it too and he's maybe 10 lbs overweight at the most!
Good luck to you!
— Kris T.
May 17, 2003
I was on a bipap with a setting of 25/17 after about 4 months I went back
to my cpap with a setting of 14. After a couple of months on that I quit it
all together. I sleep fine now, and wake up rested as a normal person
would. My surgeon said that after your BMI gets down under 60 mine was in
the 70's usually you don't need it. Danged if he ain't right. If you are
nervous have another sleep study done. That way you will know for sure.
— dkinson
May 17, 2003
I am down 175 pounds (427 to 252) and my BMI is down from 73.4 to 43.4 and
I am still on CPAP. Pressure's gone down from 11 to 7, but I still have
sleep apnea. If the pulmonologist is suggesting this, then follow through
with it. What I hate seeing is the people who take themselves off the
CPAP without consulting a pulmonologist or having a repeat sleep study...JR
(open RNY 07/17/02 -175 pounds)
— John Rushton
May 17, 2003
Yes, I was on Cpap on 15, pre-op and used the machine until
6 months post op went from 391 pounds down to 258 in 6 months, had 2nd
sleep study done 2 weeks ago and boom Apnea gone,
(lap rny 11/01/02) so all I can say is check with DR. it is the only way to
do it, get your sleep study done then see what is said.
Good Luck and congrats on your loss
Chris Wagner
— Christopher W.
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