Anxious about cpap after surgery...

I'm having surgery tomorrow on my hand, I will have NO use of one hand for at least a couple of weeks, then after that minimal for another several weeks. I am going to revert back to my Swift pillow mask as it is easiest to put on one handed. I am really nervous about this. I usually sleep in any and all positions all night. I'll only be able to sleep on my back, which is my least favorite. I'll definitely need the pain meds, but I am worried about the side effects of those too. Insomnia plus pain eeek. I just need to vent a little, I hate that everything I do revolves around this darn cpap crap. I know, I know it's the machine or I could be worse off, but it just gets depressing sometimes.

Those are all valid concerns but for me the biggest immediate concern would be surgery itself. Are you having total anesthesia? Are both the surgeon and anesthesiologist aware of your apnea?

Many hospitals now have special protocols involving surgery aftercare (recovery room etc) for apnea patients to make sure that you don't have any obstructions or desats before you wake up from anesthesia. I would inform myself to make sure that EVERYONE who will be involved in my care (including recovery room nurses) that I have apnea and could possibly experience obstructions and desats if breathing on my own. I don't know if these new protocols involve keeping apnea patients intubated until they wake up, or simply ensuring that they remain on an oximeter with alarm in case of desats.

Perhaps you are having some form of local anesthesia where you will not be unconscious, in which case this will not be a concern.

Good luck in any case but remember we are our own best advocate!

Hi TTA

Here is something that might help

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/what-i ... rophizing/

Getting yourself depressed can also happen the same way -

http://www.depression.com.au/index.php? ... Itemid=118

cheers

Mars

The pre-op team was very aware of the apnea issues, the nurses and lab techs, made many notes about my apnea and informed me to bring it with me. After talking with the anesthesiologist, she told me that because I was having a nerve block/local and a little something in the IV to sedate, that I would not need to bring it. They all seem well educated and aware of the needs of a cpap patient. Thank you for the well wishes.

trytryagain wrote:The pre-op team was very aware of the apnea issues, the nurses and lab techs, made many notes about my apnea and informed me to bring it with me. After talking with the anesthesiologist, she told me that because I was having a nerve block/local and a little something in the IV to sedate, that I would not need to bring it. They all seem well educated and aware of the needs of a cpap patient. Thank you for the well wishes.

I would bring it anyway - just incase. Last time I was anywhere near a hospital for a simple scan I ended up in ER with a major allergic reaction. Trying to stay awake after they loaded me with antihistamines was a real challenge.

On the bright side; the additional oxygen in your system due to CPAP should shorten your healing time.

In June of this year I broke my wrist. I had to have surgery to have the bone fragments pinned together.
It was done with the nerve block plus that little IV sedation. I call it the "I don't care what you do to me drug".
They also give you a bit of amnesiac drug. I was apparently wake the whole time but don't remember most of it. I think I spent a long time trying to get the doctor to let me mow the yard the next day.

Cpap was not needed but they had told me to bring it just in case. Just in case something happened or a more general anesthesia was needed. Better to have it handy....just in case.

You have an AutoSet.. Do you use it in APAP or CPAP range? If APAP.. don't worry.. let the machine do its job.
I was on Percocet for a while and I saw maybe a 1 AHI increase. It's not like the pain meds cause this HUGE increase in events. Take the pain meds if you need them.. you must get rest first and foremost.

If you have some more questions feel free to ask. My hardest problem was changing the nasal pillows. My husband is over the road truck driver so I had to wait till he was home. My fingers just couldn't handle attaching the pillows.

OK, I guess I'll take it with me just in case. They already asked me what pressure setting I was on. I have a couple of easy masks cleaned and ready to just slip on one handed. My husband is there if I need him, he's supportive but clueless with the equipment.

trytryagain wrote:My husband is there if I need him, he's supportive but clueless with the equipment

As was mine. Had never even touched anything. He was amazed at how soft the nasal pillows were. He said for some reason he thought they would be much stiffer. Of course he was too chicken to let me show him with pressure.
Of course one time he put the pillows on the side straps backwards and I spent a week wondering why they were so loud till I tried to take them apart myself when he couldn't make it home. I use the Padacheek side strap covers and that area was covered and I didn't think to look. It is so easy to make that one little error. Didn't make a huge difference in fit but just enough to be much noisier.

Just take the machine in its carrying case. No need to set it up unless it is needed. Just make sure whoever is with you knows how to add water and such. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. By the time the surgery center could locate one and get it to you the need for it would likely be gone. They don't do much of anything in a hurry.

Be sure everyone knows not to move the machine with water in the humidifier. I might even say it would be worth not using the humidifier just to avoid someone moving it and ruining your CPAP machine.

I hope things go well for you. I just had a little minor minor surgery, have been using vicodin for a few days, I notice a very small AHI increase, am sleeping well. Stay ahead of the pain, meds are more effective if you don't wait until you really hurt, and you'll heal faster also. Kathy