Surgery and Sleep Apnea

[LaurieJ31981]

Hey everyone... it's been awhile since i've posted... But I have some concerns and I am a little worried. I recently found out that I have a grapefruit sized cyst on my right ovary, so I have to have surgery to have it removed. I call tomorrow to schedule the appointment. I was reading about it, and according to webmd.com I'd be put under a General anesthesia, which is a concern for people with Sleep Apnea... Has anyone had surgery before, and how did it go? I have never had any type of surgery, no other medical issues besides sleep apnea so this is all new to me, and I'm terrified lol...

Thanks in advance for your replies

[73stang]

Didn't have general, just put in lala land and a "local" to correct a bone spur and lift the joint in my second toe. Anestesialogist didn't even blink an eye about me on cpap.

[cflame1]

I know that I didn't do well with general... but that's me, you could be different.

Just be careful and make sure that everybody knows about your apnea. If somebody looks at you blankly... explain it again.

[echo]

CPAP wiki saves the day: wiki/index.php/Surgery

Good luck with your surgery, hope all goes well!!!

[Julie]

Hi, yes tell everyone (especially the anesthetist and whoever will be with you in Recovery Room) but I also just wanted to mention that "female internal surgery" is unlikely to be painful at all (they're not cutting into you from the outside and the most you might feel afterward is slightly sore).

[oscar98]

I just had sinus surgery a few days ago. I made sure that everyone I talked to knew I had sleep apnea and that I was concerned about it. I had read about using short acting anesthesia so that you wake up faster and when I asked about that they had already planned on using it so that was not a problem. I was assured that until I was fully awake a nurse would be right by my side reminding me to breathe if need be. I woke right up after surgery and due to my own paranoia I would not allow myself to go back to sleep but sure enough that nurse never left.

I could not take my cpap with me due to it being sinus surgery, however in your case I would make sure to ask about bringing it and using it post op.

Good luck to you, I know surgery is scary and nerve wracking.

[LaurieJ31981]

Thanks for all the replies I am a little less worried... Just a little though lol... At first my Gynecologist wanted to actually cut my stomach open, only because that's how he still does his surgeries but with better technology and less invasive procedures he would rather I have Laparoscopic surgery. One day recovery is better then 4 weeks lol...

Thanks again, and once I find out the date, and get through the whole thing i'll post how it went...

[LinkC]

I just had Achilles tendon surgery last week. Request Propofal from the anesthesiologist if it's appropriate for your surgery. Down quick, recover quick with no nausea or wooziness. If you are being admitted (not outpatient surgery) be sure to take your machine along. (In fact, I'd take it in tne car even for outpatient...just in case they need to admit you.)

My anesthesiologist said surgery wasn't the problem as you have a breathing tube down your throat anyway. It's the recovery room where they need to watch you carefully...and you will have bells and alarms hooked up if they know you are CPAP. That's also where the quick recovery of Propofol comes into play.

I had NO CPAP-related problems...even tho my "one hour" surgery lasted almost 3-and-a-half!

Take machine, just in case.
Tell EVERYONE you have OSA and use CPAP.
Request Propofol.
Wake up refreshed and healthy!!!

[KSailer]

Hi, I have had to have 2 surgeries to remove softball sized cysts over the past 2 1/2 years. The first time was on an emergency basis after the cyst ruptured. OUCH! Anyway, I was under general anesthesia both times and I hadn't been dx with OSA yet, but suspect I have had it a long time. After the first surg they had me on oxygen and I had to do pulmonary exercises, but I figured this was all standard. I was never told anything about my breathing or lack there of while under anesthesia. After the last surgery thought they did mention I was hard to intubate. I had also had my tonsils out under general anesthesia in 2001.

Are they going to do your surg laparoscopically, if so your recovery time will be pretty quick. I had very little pain afterwards and was back to work 4 days after surg.

Good luck!

Kristie

[LaurieJ31981]

Kristie...

Reading your post did make me feel better... someone else that went through the same procedure... I am sure everyone will be experienced with sleep apnea patients and I will make sure to ask a lot of questions... and use the advice I have been given here, on what to ask for... I know it's a fairly simple procedure but I know I am gonna panick, I was panicked yesterday just getting the cat scan results of my cyst lol... ya I am not good with Dr's and medical related procedures

[oscar98]

. Request Propofal from the anesthesiologist if it's appropriate for your surgery. Down quick, recover quick with no nausea or wooziness.

That's what they gave me and I woke up very quickly and had no problems staying awake. Like you mentioned there was also no trouble with feeling woozy or upset tummy. Not bad at all.

[LaurieJ31981]

My surgery is scheduled for May 28th... although the Surgeon suggested I may need to have my ovary removed, he did say he is confident that he can remove the 16 cm cyst through Laparoscopy? I think thats how its spelled...

So he said because of the sleep apnea I will most likely be spending the night... So here's where I am not sure what to do... I have to bring my CPAP, I always use my Nasal mask rather then the FFM... however I tape my mouth shut. I feel like the Nurses are going to think I am crazy lol, so I am wondering if I should start using the FFM. I stopped using it because I was having very high AHI's, the leaks were ok but the AHI got crazy... so I gave up on it...

Should I start using it from now until then, and see if I have any changes with the numbers? Or just let the nurse know that I tape my mouth shut? and not to freak out? lol

Thanks

[oscar98]

If it were me I would do what makes me the most comfortable and not worry what the nurses think. You are going to be uncomfortable enough after surgery without having to worry about anything else.

You might try to warn the nurse before taping your mouth shut if possible. We wouldn't want her to try to move you to the psych ward.

Just kidding.

Good luck to you.

[LaurieJ31981]

LOL... The worst part of it is, I found that Electrical tape works really good, and the brand I get doesn't leave any black marks... I am sure I could go tape shopping and find something that works just as well, but Its cheap and does the job... so I think if I started to put black electrical tape on my mouth, they would really think I'm nuts lol... Maybe I'll go tape shopping tomorrow and find something just as good... but not as scary looking lol...

I'd much rather use the Nasal mask, so I can actually get some sleep in...

[oscar98]

I've seen several mention the 3M blue painters tape as being a good one.