[deb5217]

I am so upset right now. The sleep center, not the doctor just called me to see up my cpap sleep night! She said I have obstructive sleep apena. I Ihave to sleep on my back because of back problems so I'm sure that made the test worse. I told her I wanted to speak to the doctor before I set up a second appointment. When I saw the doctor he said from talking to me and my history, he was sure I didn't have an issue. I don't have any of the symptoms of it. What questions should I ask when I call the doctor tomorrow. If I refuse to have this second test done can they turn me down for the surgery? Doesn't losing weight help with sleep apena? I don't want my insurance to have to pay for a machine that I will not use!!

[lbray]

Having sleep apnea was one of the reasons I was approved for the surgery.

[4Kate]

I too had no symptoms and ended up having sleep apnea. Its a long story and even though I was DX with it a few months ago I still do not have my machine yet. My serg said since it was mild and my insurence didnt want to cover it that we would just do with out. Well now he has changed his mind and is fighting with the insurence co. When he first told me this about 2 weeks I was really mad!!!!!!!! I freak out with that thing on! Ok, but now that I am about 2 weeks away from serg.s I am starting to thinking I really want that crazy "snout blowing" machine! If it means that my odds of living are increased then give me 2 machine and I'll find a way to use them both!

I understand how you feel, in the last 9 months I have gone from being , what I thought an extremly healthy over weight person, to an extremly obese person with many health issues that I never knew exsited. None of them are major, just a little high blood pressure, high lipids , onset of diabetes, sleep apnea, you know. the things that most obese people eventually develop.

My guess is that if he says you have to have it then yes you will have to have or no sergery! It would make you a liablilty rick that he/she may just not be willing to take. KWIM?


Give it time and I bet you will change your mind about how you feel.

[Perfesser]

I don't know about the rest of your health, but at your starting BMI, you may need a co-morbidity like this to make the insurance company feel better about covering the surgery.

CT

[MsVickie]

Honey listen. If you will take some really good advice here I will offer you some.

We dont realize we have slee apena unless we have this test. Or someone has told us wow you snore alot or..... you stop breathing when you sleep. I had it. I didnt like the fact I had it but I did. My husband was the one that said you have to go get tested. I hated the fact I needed it but I did.

When you go to get approved for the surgery this is one of the things they look for. Some insurance companys say ok you have this this and this but you need apena to be covered. Your insurance company if they pay for the study has no reason not to pay for this machine. If nothing else rent it until after you have the surgery and then have one more test to see if you need it any longer and give it back. I was taken off mine because I no longer needed it.

Sleep Apena can be a very deadly disease. It still kills several people a day not getting tested for it and they simply cannnot get enough air in while they sleep.

I was also in massive denial sayin I dont need it! But you know that second night I had it and that is when they place it on you...... I got up and was not tired. I went thoughout my day like I hadnet in years. My denial was If im really tired I snore. Or only when I sleep on my back because of my knee.

So what im saying is when you have this surgery your being good to yourself once. Do it now also. The equipment can be returned afterwards. Alot of surgeons that see you need a Cpap will make you bring it with you to be placed on you as soon as you wake up. My husbands thyroid surgeon did and my own WLS surgeon did. I woke up and they placed it on me. No I didnt like it but it did help. So you have a bit of thinking to do. WHen they send it in for approval that note by law has to go with the documents as in all medical records and it will show your refused the second appoitment its VERY possible they will deny your surgery because of it.

Think about this and make YOUR own decision about it.

[decker1976]

MsVicki said it all. Sleep apnea is nothing to fool around with. Why worry about your insurance company having to pay for a C-Pap you may not need? One of the reasons I was approved for WLS was due to sleep apnea. My PCP didn't think I had it either. I insisted on a sleep study because I was tired all the time, snored to beat the band, & had started falling asleep while working. On the road I would have to pull over & get out to walk around because I kept trying to fall asleep while driving. The test revealed sleep apnea. It is of course your decision but for my dime (since you asked) have the second test!

[DocSanae]

Sleep apnea is actually a plus point for getting approved. It is also very very often unrecognized until very very serious by the patient because it's going on when you are asleep and unaware. By the time you develop symptoms that you recognize, it has gotten pretty far ahead. Also, you may be attributing some things that are actually due to sleep apnea, to your excess weight--you tire easily, feel tired, can't sleep well because your back hurts, etc.

Sleep apnea is a killer disease, a lot of people die from it, and many don't even realise they have it. As a matter of fact, many of the deaths during sleep that are attributed to heart attacks and brain strokes are thought actually to be due to sleep apnea, or that sleep apnea triggered the attacks.

It can also get in the way of recovery post op. You will not be able to rest well after surgery, and you are going to clang every single alarm there is in the recovery room because of your sleep apnea, if you don't have a CPAP. This is no joke, CraigT, the owner and host of this site actually had this happen to him--he had the nurses rushing to his bedside every time he stopped breathing and shake him and wake him up Needless to say, he was not happy because he was only half awake from the anestheia.

I am sorry that you are upset, but keep in mind that everything happens for a reason, and if this is the deciding factor for your insurance co to approve your surgery, (as CT says, your BMI is lower than what is the criteria for unconditional approval, you need a couple of co-morbs to turn the scales in your favor) then, it is a simple blip that you have to clear for your brighter future.

((((HUGS)))) Hang in there.

[MsVickie]

I did forget to add this. Alot cant sleep with a full face mask and that is well understood. They do have just the nasal pillows you can use or just the nasal part. However if your a mouth breather and your mouth drops open as you sleep it will wake you up.

I myself didnt like the full mask either. I dont like tight enclosed spaces. They do have things to help you with that. Dont fear this honey.

[deb5217]

Okay, you guys are right. Makes me a sure shoe in for surgery but.....I think I was so upset that the doctors office didn't call to explain what my results were. I went to a support meeting last night and they said you have to be on the cpap for 6-8 weeks before they will schedule surgery!! That puts another delay in my surgery. I am going to call the sleep center today to see if the appointment for toinight is still open, which I doubt. If not they are booking in the end of November, which will get moved up, I'm sure. I see the surgeon on Sept 30 and wanted everything done and in place before then. I do feel better after reading everyones post, thanks for settling me down. The office opens at 9 so I'll see what I can find out then. thanks again for making me see how important this is and it's not the end of the world, just a red light on the road to my new life.

[deb5217]

long story short. I had 176 epsiodes and my oxy. sats when below 90% for 16 minutes.......what ever all that means. They told me with the epsiodes, some were this and some were that???? no clue. Good news, the opening for tonight is still open so I'm having part 2 done tonight and the results will be back before the surgeons appointment on the 30th!! not looking forwards to sleeping with that mask on but guess I will live.. thanks everyone for your support..