CPAP after surgery?

[kailin]

Using CPAP now for mild sleep apnea. Anyone have experience with that post surgery? Sounds like it's hard enough for a side sleeper already.

Or maybe the apnea goes away because circulation is so much better? ... well, it's worth asking ....

 

[Duff Man]

I use cpap for mild apnea, but i'm not post surgery. It's my understanding that apnea doesn't go away on its own. Usually there's some reason, like weight loss, medication changes, ent surgery, etc. Apnea is usually a structural problem with the airway, but it can be a central apnea where you just stop breathing too. I'm not sure that improving circulation will make your apneas better, but it might be worth another sleep study in a while to re-evaluate your sleep apnea in light of your improved health.

 

[auricula]

My severe obstructive apnea is not any better since surgery, which was three months ago. I had at least hoped I could turn down my fixed pressure of 12 on my CPAP with C-Flex (raised from 9 last summer, which was a hard adjustment), but when I rented an APAP for the time around my surgery I learned that I was at 11 1/2 to 12 most nights. I hoped improved circulation/oxygenation would lead to improved breathing, but this has not happened. Maybe after cardiac rehab I will see an improvement. I have a lot of back, neck, and shoulder soreness and perhaps I will be able to tone the muscles that support the lungs and this will lead to better breathing.

 

[Greg a]

my CPAP now collects dust in the closet.....I had medium sleep apnea prior but with 5 weeks intubated of six months in hospital.......

 

[normofthenorth]

I had mild apnea pre-op, and it's about the same post-op. Still untreated, except for my wife's elbow, urging me to roll over on my side instead of sleeping on my back. She says my breathing seems steadier (and quieter) when I'm on my left side, than when I'm on my right. I usually sleep through it, so I'll take her word for it.

 

[WandaW]

I brought my C-Pap to the hospital, I have used one for about 5 years and don't even take a nap without it. I am at an 10 or 11 which is the most common setting I was told,. I wouldn't dare try to go without it unless I had another sleep study. I am able to sleep on my side with my mask. However after surgery I have been sleeping on my back with a couple of pillows under my head and shoulders and one under my knees to save my back.

 

[Eva]

Kailin,

My mild sleep apnea did not improve after surgery. Unfortunately, sleep apnea won't go away. I used my CPAP machine in the hospital as of the 2nd night.

I would never sleep without using the machine. After the surgery at home, I slept on my side with pillows behind my back for support.

Good luck.

 

[kailin]

Thanks, everyone.

Looks like the ResMed goes on the list of things to take with me to the hospital, and certainly to rehab afterwards. I prefer side sleeping, but can do back OK especially in a recliner.