I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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49er
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I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

Post by 49er » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:10 am

I wanted to profusely thank this forum because without you all, I would haven't been able to advocate for myself as much as I have regarding my upcoming septoplasty/turbinate reduction which may be rescheduled to blood pressure spikes.

Anyway, I was concerned that many of the ENTs I was considering weren't going to allow the use of cpap after surgery. In fact, one of the ENT's responded when I expressed concern that I wouldn't die from not using it. Obviously, he quickly became my ex doctor.

Thanks to Black Spinner's excellent advice via PM, I asked ENT number 3, who is doing the surgery, about using the Full Face Fit Life Mask and he agreed. So when I saw him today, I bought the mask to make sure he was ok with it (he loved it) and that I would be using the mask immediately in the recovery room upon extubation and on the floor which will be a 23 hour admit due to my sleep apnea.

Oh no, says he, not until I got to the floor. He gave me a variety of reasons but I didn't back down. I said I was concerned that not using the machine coming out of anesthesia would greatly worsen my blood pressure and also my cognitive issues. Of course, I left out the fact that using the machine would decrease potential complications but I was getting frustrated that such an obvious need wasn't being understood by a surgeon with his reputation.

This is even more important because I found out from him (would have been nice if he had told me this initially) that I will have packing overnight in addition to the splints which will come out the next day. So without the machine, the I would be at greater risk for more apneas and complications coming out of anesthesia.

He agreed to write the order and told me to remind him on the day of surgery. But I have told the person who is taking me to please remind them of this as I still greatly fear this falling through the cracks as the only folks who seem to understand how important this is is the anesthesiologist.

Can anyone explain why surgeons still don't seem to understand how important it is that the pap machine be used in recovery? I am just stunned that I had to literally twist this guy's arm to make him understand this.

By the way, just so you know, I totally trust him to do a great job as he is the only ENT who picked on the fact that I had nasal valve collapse and will take care of that along with the septum and turbinate reduction. He is also very patient about my asking questions unlike the other ENTs I have seen.

But the issue with the pap machine and recovery room is extremely baffling to me as this order should be routine without patients worrying it won't be followed through on.

Thanks for listening.

49er

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OkyDoky
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Re: I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

Post by OkyDoky » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:48 am

The anesthesiologist is the one responsible for your care in the recovery room until you are transferred to your room. So if he understands as you say, then he can see it is done.
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Sheriff Buford
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Re: I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

Post by Sheriff Buford » Fri Feb 27, 2015 1:12 pm

49er... you go girl! I'm surprised you have gotten beaten up here for even thinking about the surgery. If it will help you, then go for it. I think the reason doctors are sorta "anti-cpap" is because of the low success record many of their patients have. That's what my Doc told me.

Best Wishes, Sheriff

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49er
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Re: I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

Post by 49er » Fri Feb 27, 2015 1:53 pm

OD, regarding the anesthesiologist being responsible for my care in the OR, that is the impression I received initially but then the one I spoke with told me I might want to have the ENT write the orders for bipap usage in the recovery room and on the floor to cover all bases. When I speak to the anesthesiologist before my surgery, I will clarify that again.

Sheriff, thank you for your support and encouragement. Actually, I am having the surgery that is approved on on this board which is a septoplasty/turbinate reduction/nasal valve repair.

To be honest, I don't expect it to be the total solution to my problems with pap therapy but without adequate nasal breathing, I don't have a snow ball chance in h-ll of succeeding with it.

Surgeon said he hoped that the surgery would take my RDI down from a moderate to mild level. But he wasn't making any promises which I definitely understand.

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kteague
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Re: I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

Post by kteague » Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:52 pm

Hope these procedures help some of the problems you've had with using CPAP, and kudos for sticking up for yourself. Before I'd ever heard of sleep apnea, I was kept in recovery after minor surgery most of the day. Just remember the nurse saying they couldn't discharge me till my oxygen could stay up, that every time they thought they could send me home, it dropped again. That was in the 80's. Guess I've had this a long time. Let us know how things go. could always use another personal perspective on these procedures. Best wishes.

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Re: I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

Post by BlackSpinner » Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:29 pm

I can not understand this not having cpap in the recovery room. People drift off in and out of sleep. Adding O2 doesn't help if you don't breathe it in.

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archangle
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Re: I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

Post by archangle » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:29 pm

BlackSpinner wrote:I can not understand this not having cpap in the recovery room. People drift off in and out of sleep. Adding O2 doesn't help if you don't breathe it in.
Invincible/willful ignorance. It's easy to just say "we'll give oxygen" and not bother to think about it.

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49er
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Re: I profusely thank the forum/Surgery/Advocating for self

Post by 49er » Sat Feb 28, 2015 3:54 am

kteague - Thanks, I will definitely post about my experiences since I learned so much from other people posting. As this board says, pay it forward. I also particularly wanted people to know who are considering a septoplasty that that they might not necessarily have to stay off the pap machine for a week if they ask about using a full face mask.

Your experience recovering from minor surgery sounded frightening. Thankfully, you have been properly diagnosed.

Black Spinner - Exactly. The question is what do we do about changing this practice? How many people are suffering needless complications because this practices isn't routinely implemented?

Archangle - You nailed it. By the way, incredible willful ignorance seems to apply to alot of time honored medical practices in spite of what the evidence says. Extremely frustrating.

Finally, when I see the cardiologist on Monday, I am going to ask her to put in her report that patient needs to use bipap immediately upon extubation in the recovery room. Can't cover too many bases.