Brain Surgery

[Sleeping With The Enemy]

As most of you know, I have a brain tumor. I am scheduled to see the neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN tomorrow morning.

I was wondering if anyone has had major surgery since being diagnosed with OSA? How does anesthesia effect a person with OSA?

I'm pretty scared anyway but with OSA, its just one more complication!!

Sleeping with the Enemy

[nodding off]

God bless you, and Good luck. My prayers will be with you. I haven't had major surgery, but did have an attack of severe pancreatitis which hospitalized me for a few days. I used my cpap in the hospital. I would definitely speak to your surgeon and your anesthesiologist regarding your OSA. You will be closely monitored during surgery, but they may want you on cpap as early as in the recovery room. Otherwise, your stopping breathing due to OSA could raise havoc with their monitoring system. I'm sure that when they are aware of your condition they will know exactly how to deal with it.
Best wishes,
Dave

[MoSleep]

I believe that there is great power in prayer and positive thinking. I have only been with the forum here for a short time. It seems to me you will be getting both the prayers and the positive thinking coming your way from the followers of the board.
Get back with us when you are able.

[christinequilts]

I had general anesthesia for surgery to hopefully help prevent damage to my remaining kidney a couple of weeks ago. I have Central Sleep Apnea so things may be a little different with OSA. I made sure everyone was aware of it and in my case I had to do a lot more explaining since CSA is pretty rare- evereyone seem to understand what OSA and what things would help. The biggest difference was they didn't give me anything ahead of time- I went from fully awake/alert to getting just the anesthesia so I was awake as they did a lot of the surgery prep that you wouldn't usually remember. It wasn't too bad but its just strange to have so many people doing different things to you at one time. They also woke me up while I was still on the OR table which was a little weird. Usually you don't wake up until you are in recovery and sometimes not fully until you are back in your room but the anesthesiologist wanted to make sure I was breathing on my own so they were basically taking the brething tube out as they work me up. The other difference was the anesthesiologist had a nurse anesthesialogist in the room too to help him out if I started having problems breathing just to be safe. In ways it was actually an easier surgery because they gave me the bare minimum drugs so I was much more alert and didn't have the groginess I usually had post op. Pain wise they were a little more conservative- they gave me 4 small doses instead of 1 or 2 bigger ones but it wasn't bad.

[photogal]

I've been put under several times since having OSA, but each time was before I got my BiPAP. I always told them I had OSA and occasionally some CSA, and whatever they did worked. Although in the recovery room, I think I had some trouble as I was very sleepy, and we all know what deep sleep lying on your back does. I was constantly being awakened and told to stay awake and BREATHE!
It was a huge pain in the butt because I really needed to sleep a little. I got pretty testy over it, and I'm not normally a testy person.
I will be going under the knife at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow (Friday) to fix my torn rotator cuff and bone spurs. I'm taking my equipment, so hopefully they'll let me sleep a little in recovery.
Good luck to you and let us know if/when you are going to have surgery.
There will be a large group winging prayers up for you.
My best suggestion to you is this. Do not let a feeling of doom overtake you. Look at everything with humor, and crack jokes at every chance. Don't be afraid to gently poke fun at yourself to people. I told everyone when I lost my hair due to chemo that I was going to paint a rattlesnake on my bald cranium. It made people comfortable with discussing my condition when they saw I could joke about it. And in the process, I was comfortable with it.
Find things to give yourself a diversion outside of your health. Read a thriller, do crafts, or whatever. I made Sworovski jewelry and just about every nurse and her relatives sported a watch, earrings or necklace that I made. I had more orders than I knew what to do with, so instead of punying around feeling sorry for myself, I parked my weak butt at the table and made jewelry.
The first thing I did after receiving my diagnosis is tell God, "I'm putting myself in Your hands, whatever Your will is, I can live with. Meanwhile, I will do my part by helping the doctors give me the best care." When I turned it over, I ceased to worry. Ever.
I'm not a particularly religious person. Don't go to church. Doesn't mean I don't believe. I've just always marched to a different drummer, and my church is the great outdoors. That's where I do my praying.
God be with you.
Betty

[Nenetx2004]

Sleeping with the Enemy,

My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. My dad was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in February. I hope all goes well with you.

Jeanne

[Grant I]

Sleeping:
While I have no experience with surgery since being diagnosed, I can report similar occurrences before being diagnosed when, during recovery, my O2 dropped low enough to trigger the monitors, and I was told to "BREATHE!" Looking back now, I know this was my undiagnosed OSA, which everyone ignored!!

Take your machine with you! Talk about it with your surgeon and anesthesiologist during your pre-surgical conference. THey shouldn't want you sleeping without it! IMO you should be on your mask (bandages permitting, of course) as soon as you hit recovery.

BTW--best of luck, our prayers are with you. Mayo is a great place for this!

Grant

[SleepyGuy]

Thanks because I will also be undergoing surgery in a few weeks. The surgeon already knows about my conditon. Should I make arrangements to talk to the anesthesiologist before the operation?

[gailzee]

we are praying for you a lot. I have special beads and I've taken them out and told my husband to. Know that your fellow c-pap-ers are wishing you the best....please keep us posted, and I can safely say probably for everyone we wish you well, speedy recovery, and fast recuperation.

All our prayers will be with you!

Best wishes!

As most of you know, I have a brain tumor. I am scheduled to see the neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN tomorrow morning.

I was wondering if anyone has had major surgery since being diagnosed with OSA? How does anesthesia effect a person with OSA?

I'm pretty scared anyway but with OSA, its just one more complication!!

Sleeping with the Enemy

[Guest]

Sleepy guy,

Your anesthesiologist or anesthetis should consult with you before any surgery OSA or not. They usually ask you if you have any neck problems, any problems with anesthesia in your family, have a look in your mouth/throat, and even measure distance from your chin to your adams apple as well as review health probs and medications you take. This allows them to prepare for you, select medications, Endotracheal Tube Sizes (thats the breathing tube they using while your under), and select the proper intubation equipment. Anesthesia has become more of an art form than a guessing game now days. If they don't visit with you, ask to visit with them prior to going in the OR. They are your employees at this point and if they don't listen to the boss.....FIRE them. Good Luck, and Good Dreams to all.

Later

PS....I'm at work so I am not logged in.

Jeff Schooler (AKA SleepyMedic)
Paramedic Instructor/Coordinator

[photogal]

Jeff, don't know where YOU live, but in my neck of the woods, the anesthesiologist comes in and asks a few questions and that's it. No looking in the throat, taking measurements, or anything like that. I've been put under 3 times in the last two years and nobody gave me that kind of care! There have been times the anesthesiologist didn't even come in at all to talk to me before the procedure.
I would imagine the Mayo Clinic is top notch. She'll get good care.

[luckylinda]

Sleeping,

I think photogal's message about not letting negative feelings overwhelm you is right on target. In fact, I am going to print her advice out and hang on to it.

I know you are going to a first rate facility. I have experience there as they saved my life and sanity in '89.

Know that all of us are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. When you feel up to it, let us know how you are doing.

Peace,

[glassgal]

Heidi,

The best of luck to you -- you are in my thoughts!

[Guest]

Photogal,

Here in North Dakota it is very common practice....and is even what we call Standard of Care meaning it should be done all the time. The anesthesiologist is even supposed to give the patient a score based on the risks of anesthesia...but that is neither here nor there....Being a Paramedic I am kind of a stickler at taking carefully calculated risks with patients. I don't like to gamble...but a very experienced anesthetist can do the same thing right after you go to sleep in the OR too I guess.

Anyway the reason I really replied was that I seen an African Grey on your choulder and LOVE them....say hi to your birdie for me.

Later,

SleepyMedic

[birdshell]

Please note that this is an OLD (2005) post! A spammer bumped it up.

Karen