Sleep Apnea Treatment

[Tanya Jade]

Haven't posted for a while as things have been a bit manic. Anyway, started my journey over a year ago and getting rather frustrated with delays, appointments being cancelled on me etc etc. However my funding has been agreed (I think they took pity on me and applied early). However I have had a sleep test to discover that I have severe sleep apnea (I wake up 69 times an hour!) So I have been booked into the Whittington to receive treatment for this which has to happen before they will put me on the waiting list. However, I asked them how long I need to have the treatment for before they put me on the list and they said I would need to speak to the bariatric unit. I then spoke to them and they told me I would need to have the treatment until I get rid of the sleep apnea so were unable to give me an answer.

Does anyone have any experience with this and why can't I be put on the waiting list until I have had treatment for the sleep apnea? Also, what is the treatment like for the sleep apnea? I have heard it's a rather large mask which I fear will freak out my 3 year old son as he sometimes creeps into our bed.

Any advice will be much appreciated x

 

[janebell]

i have sleep apnea and i have the cpap machine which is a nose mask it realy does help but you can only get rid off the sleep apnea if you lose weight well thats what my specialist said x

 

[Caren]

hiya honey, ive got sleep apnoea and the treatment is a cpap mask, i only got it today so cant tell you how it is. If you look at the thread "my sexy cpap" you can see a picture of it. As for the rest, im afraid i cant help you. Good luck xxx

 

[mariew]

There is no guarantee that you will ever be cured of it. Even stick thin people have it. And WLS does not always cure it, I don't know the exact figures but seem to remember it's something like 75% cure rate. The nurse was wrong about you not being put on the list until cured, you can't be put on the list until recieving treatment, the treatment (CPAP) should help immediately. Hth

 

[Paul-H]

Hi

I was diagnosed with sleep Aponea 2 years ago and have been on cpap ever since. I use the small knose mask.

You surgery team will probably want to delay your opp until you are compliant, which means using cpap with good results, it dosen't take long to be compliant so don't worry to much.

Paul

 

[Jen1961]

When I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea I was given a nasal mask and machine to try out at home for two weeks. At this stage I was told I was having 57 sleep apnoea attacks an hour!! After only two weeks of using the cpap machine, the consultant looked at the data that had been recorded over the previous two weeks showed I was getting Zero attacks while using the mask. At this stage I was officially diagnosed with sleep apnoea and asked to inform the Dept of Transport and tell them I was an established cpap user. So it doesn't take long to get established if you regularly use the cpap machine, so shouldn't delay your op for anything length of time.

This spurred me on to use it every night and now I really couldn't sleep restfully without it.

Sure enough its not the most glamorous bedtime attire, but if its a top up between Darth Vader and getting better health, I know which I would choose! No contest

At first it can be quite annoying getting used to having the mask on.. but it takes no time at all to get used to it.

 

[snagglepuss]

CPAP should work to stop the apnoeas instantly, so as as long as you are getting success from it, they should be able to clear you for surgery straight away (barring any waiting lists, obviously!) I had 70 apnoeas and hour and now Im on treatment I'm getting under 7, and feel great for it!

Obviously if you stop using the CPAP, the apnoea will return straight away, so it's important to stick with it, even though its a pain!!

 

[Caren]

i was surprised to find the mask very comfortable, and there was no marks on my face this morning lol bonus!! xxx

 

[Tanya Jade]

i was surprised to find the mask very comfortable, and there was no marks on my face this morning lol bonus!! xxx

Hey Caren, glad to hear the mask is working for you and loved your pic, very fetching

I have my appointment next Thursday and I cannot wait. I wake up every morning feeling like somebody is stamping on my head and sticking razorblades down my throat! Not very pleasant so cannot wait for my mask xx

 

[Tanya Jade]

When I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea I was given a nasal mask and machine to try out at home for two weeks. At this stage I was told I was having 57 sleep apnoea attacks an hour!! After only two weeks of using the cpap machine, the consultant looked at the data that had been recorded over the previous two weeks showed I was getting Zero attacks while using the mask. At this stage I was officially diagnosed with sleep apnoea and asked to inform the Dept of Transport and tell them I was an established cpap user. So it doesn't take long to get established if you regularly use the cpap machine, so shouldn't delay your op for anything length of time.

This spurred me on to use it every night and now I really couldn't sleep restfully without it.

Sure enough its not the most glamorous bedtime attire, but if its a top up between Darth Vader and getting better health, I know which I would choose! No contest

At first it can be quite annoying getting used to having the mask on.. but it takes no time at all to get used to it.

Hey Jen, I will definitely be using my mask every night when I get it next week even if I have to glue it to my face Will have to buy a Darth Vader costume to match x

 

[Caren]

Hey Caren, glad to hear the mask is working for you and loved your pic, very fetching

I have my appointment next Thursday and I cannot wait. I wake up every morning feeling like somebody is stamping on my head and sticking razorblades down my throat! Not very pleasant so cannot wait for my mask xx

Tanya, i cant believe the difference it's made, i dont care that i look like darth vader lol

 

[snagglepuss]

Its a simple but amazingly effective treatment isnt it? It has made all the difference to me, although I hope I'm one of the lucky ones that wont need it when Im thin!!

 

[Caren]

Its a simple but amazingly effective treatment isnt it? It has made all the difference to me, although I hope I'm one of the lucky ones that wont need it when Im thin!!

you and me both lol x