resuming Cpap after tonsillectomy

winknblinknnod · Post by **winknblinknnod** » Mon May 07, 2007 2:26 pm

Has anyone had the experience of how to resume CPAP post-tonsillectomy? I'm 6 days post-op, done because the tonsils were so bad it was a medical necessity (not to avoid Cpap). The recovery room nurse said to go right back on the mask but the first night home I was sick as anything and didn't sleep. The second night I got through 1/2 the night with the machine. The third night the ear pain was unbearable and during a followup call the ENT said to stop using Cpap "until I healed more".

ENT is not my sleep doc and didnt seem to be worried about CPAP, but I know I'm "out of it" the next day without my mask, so I'm trying to get going again tonight. It seems that it's beneficial to keep the throat area where the tonsils used to be, moist, so if I can stand the ear pain it would have to be a good thing to use my heated humifidier.

I'm going to reduce my pressure, does anyone have any other tips or been in this situation? My initial pressure was 7.4, I upped it to 7.8 and that was too much. Prescription is 6 - 8 depending on my stats and results.

Post op dr. visit is tomorrow. Thanks.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:32 pm

Sorry ... I have no clue but I'll bump it back up for 'ya in case someone else has any advice.

Best wishes!

littlemo · Post by **littlemo** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:46 pm

you really need to investigate if you need a new pressure. If your tonsils were sooooooooooo large they had to be removed, there is a possibility you may need a lower pressure as one of the causes of your obstruction have now been removed. Does that make sense?

Mo

winknblinknnod · Post by **winknblinknnod** » Mon May 07, 2007 6:18 pm

I definitely am planning a call to the sleep center once I'm fully healed up. It would stand to reason that with the topography of the throat rearranged, pressure would have to be adjusted.

winknblinknnod · Post by **winknblinknnod** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:58 pm

Well, got the machine going again and made it through 2.5 hours of "sleep". Since I'm off a regular sleep schedule and napping a lot, I figured well at least I'll just lay here and get the benefits of the humidity and if I fall asleep great. I must have dozed off some.

I can't believe the difference in the design of my throat. I had gotten into a great system where I didn't have to tape or worry about mouth breathing because I sort of jammed the base of my tongue up into the back of my throat/roof of my mouth and with a fist tucked under my chin for backup, I was having no aerophagia and no mouth leaks and great numbers. Good for me because IT'S OVER!! There is so much space back there now I can't form a seal and I spent the whole 2.5 hours bloating up with swallowed air. My numbers were 21 AHI with 18.6 HI and 2.4 AI. Leaks were 0.6.

It's like starting all over again. Maybe because it's sore I was avoiding the seal once I fell asleep but I won't know until I heal more.

ENT was quite happy with the healing process but didn't even mention the CPAP, I figure he won't care and I need to get back with my sleep specialist.

I'm thinking I get to try a FF mask? I love my Twilight nasal mask it's so light.

Thanks for listening.

resuming Cpap after tonsillectomy

resuming Cpap after tonsillectomy

thanks for the bump DS!