CPAP and surgery

[Muchomedic]

This question may have been asked before, but here goes....Is using CPAP immediately following surgery detrimental? Does it increase the risk of having a leak due to the pressure? Just wondered about that, would appreciate anyone with information or experience to answer. Thank you.

[Donald G]

Nope I was told to bring my CPAP with me and it was put on me following surgery. It is not very common that a CPAP machine puts air into your stomac unless your swallowing when breathing.

[Muchomedic]

I typically don't swallow air using CPAP but just wondered about the increased pressure from the machine. It seems as if each physician is different. I have read on other forums and the internet itself that some tell their patients to wait up to 6 weeks before using their machine! How are you supposed to heal and lose weight without getting a good night's sleep?

[Muchomedic]

Donald, Congrats also on the weight loss...over 100 pounds in 90 days is impressive. I hope to have the same results!!

[Gvn71]

Nope. Bring your CPAP with you to the hospital. You may wake up in recovery with it on, and if not you will need it that first night in the hospital. If your CPAP is pushing enough pressure to cause a leak in your stomach your CPAP is not working correctly!

[Donald G]

Donald, Congrats also on the weight loss...over 100 pounds in 90 days is impressive. I hope to have the same results!!

Thank you but I've only lost 71 pounds in the 3 months and 101 total since the start of the process.

[DesertGal]

I SHOULD have brought my cpap with me to the hospital... but I was SO nauseated and dry heaving that I didn't sleep much anyway that first night. At one point during the night, I remember someone at my bedside asking about my cpap and asked if I wanted to call home and have my husband bring it (yeah, 2 am would have been a great time to call and wake them all up .)

I worried too about sucking in air and ruining my new sleeve the first couple weeks but my surgeon said to me when I asked him about it a couple weeks before surgery, "You do breath air in all the time, right?" According to him it is fine. And it has been.

I am so used to and attached to my cpap that I don't know if I CAN get rid of it. Sounds crazy and as much as I do NOT enjoy wearing a full face mask to bed, it helps me 'go out to sleep.'

[Christie13]

When in doubt, speak with your surgeon!