Surgery and C-Pap

Hi,
Wondering if any of you have had a major surgery recently and what about using the C-pap at the Hospital?? I am having spine surgery on Wed. and doubt that I will be in any condition to even use a C-Pap. According to what I have read, I have to let the anesthesiologist know about my sleep apnea.
Would appreciate your input.
Thanks, Judy

I guess I would qualify as having had major surgery. On May 13, 2005 I had a benign brain tumor removed.

I brought my CPAP with me to the hospital. They used it to bring me out of anesthesia after being intubated for the surgery. I continued to use it every time I rested/slept while in the hospital and was grateful for it.

Good luck, don't forget to bring all of your CPAP equiptment. The hospital staff should have some kind of an idea about your equiptment, if not tell them before surgery.

Heidi

judysunlakes wrote:Hi,
Wondering if any of you have had a major surgery recently and what about using the C-pap at the Hospital?? I am having spine surgery on Wed. and doubt that I will be in any condition to even use a C-Pap. According to what I have read, I have to let the anesthesiologist know about my sleep apnea.
Would appreciate your input.
Thanks, Judy

I had a hysterectomy, and took my bipap. Everyone who entered my room was told that I ALWAYS sleep with my machine. I doubt the cleaning lady was that interested, but you never know Just after being returned to my room my daughter would not let me sleep, and had to fuss with a nurse that I did NOT sleep without a machine. The nurse wanted to put me on oxygen, as that level was going down. But, my daughter forced them to let me wear my bipap, and that fixed me right up. I also asked to keep the finger ox reader on while I was on pain rxes. I don't like taking any chances!

I had a really negative experience recently. My reason for sharing it is that it may be of help to you.

The difference with my operation was that i had a choice to have it under local, spinal block or general as it was a very minor operation.

I opted for local. I met with the anesthetist before the op and told him i had sleep apnea and that i needed my machine after the op. He boasted saying he was familiar with the condition and a general would be okey.

I explained that it was my body and I did not want a general as I did not need one.

My wishes were completely disregarded and I was given a general without concent. The reason for this was the doctors were playing a numbers game and if I was unconscious it would take longer.

I came out of the general fuming asking did I have a general. Nobody answered. It took me a week before I was able to access my records only to discover that I had been given a general anesthetic. I am still seething now!

Despite my stressing that i needed my machine post operatively this was disregarded.

I was very drowsy after the op and found it difficult to even reach my mask, to put it on. Before the op I stressed to the nurses that I must not sleep at any time without my machine.

I woke up gasping during the night following the operation. A nurse was standing by me watching me. I asked her why, when she saw me sleeping, she did she not put on my mask. Her response was ,I wanted to let you sleep for a few hours then I was going to put the probe on your finger later to see how far your oxygen levels had dropped. I was coming in every hour or two to make sure there was not change in your skin colour.'

I was appalled by the whole experience.

If I could turn back time and I knew I was going to have a general I would take somebody/pay someone if needs be, to watch over me and make sure that I was wearing my mask the whole time from the moment I came out of the operating theatre.

I would insist for them to be allowed to to meet me in the post operative room and then stay with me for my entire duration in hospital. If I was paying someone it would not need to be a nurse just someone able to to put on my mask and look for leaks.

I hope this is of use.

Above should read if I WAS NOT UNCONSCIOUS, IT WOULD TAKE LONGER.

SORRY

judysunlakes wrote:Hi,
Wondering if any of you have had a major surgery recently and what about using the C-pap at the Hospital?? I am having spine surgery on Wed. and doubt that I will be in any condition to even use a C-Pap. According to what I have read, I have to let the anesthesiologist know about my sleep apnea.
Would appreciate your input.
Thanks, Judy

dear judy have been able to my bipap inhopital. yes by allmeans tell anesthesiologist about it. am sure he sill sant you to bring it in sith you just incase .mary a nn

This is exactly why I had my family with me. They know how to "mask" me Wish I had thought of the post op room though. the antistigest said that it takes less to put out a sleep apnea patient, and had used less, and watched me closely. I hope to NEVER be left in a hospital without someone to watch over me!! I did have sleep testing done alone though

Anonymous wrote: I was very drowsy after the op and found it difficult to even reach my mask, to put it on. Before the op I stressed to the nurses that I must not sleep at any time without my machine.

I woke up gasping during the night following the operation. A nurse was standing by me watching me. I asked her why, when she saw me sleeping, she did she not put on my mask. Her response was ,I wanted to let you sleep for a few hours then I was going to put the probe on your finger later to see how far your oxygen levels had dropped. I was coming in every hour or two to make sure there was not change in your skin colour.'

I was appalled by the whole experience.

If I could turn back time and I knew I was going to have a general I would take somebody/pay someone if needs be, to watch over me and make sure that I was wearing my mask the whole time from the moment I came out of the operating theatre.

I would insist for them to be allowed to to meet me in the post operative room and then stay with me for my entire duration in hospital. If I was paying someone it would not need to be a nurse just someone able to to put on my mask and look for leaks.

I hope this is of use.

Hello I had T Spine surgery Wednesday June 1st every thing went fine told doctor and anethesiologist before surgery. They didnt put it on till I came to then had it from there. It was weird while I was waiting to go to surgery I was dozing off and their monitors would detect and sound apneas. They hooked my oxygen line right to my cpap for the first night. Everything was ok. Nurses made sure I had it on al night and if asleep.