Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
OMG The sleep study was a torture chamber! It was horrific!! The room was hot the bed was uncomfortable, the technician wasn't pleasant. I did a split study where they hooked me up to about a million wires which included taping them all over my face! Then about 2 am the tech came in flipped on the lights and was like time to put the machine on. I explained to her that I was very claustrophobic and that the pulmonary doctor told me that they should have different types of masks. She comes out with a huge thing tries to put it on my and I freaked before she was even done. She goes away comes back with a smaller one that just covered my nose. A little better I was at least able to allow her to put it on me. Now she gets this thing near my face and wind is blowing out of it like 60 mph. She assures me it was on the lowest setting. She gets me all strapped in and tells me to lie flat on my back. I am not a back sleeper so right there it is a problem but I am like I can deal with it. I kept the mask on maybe 15 minutes before I had to call the tech back in. I started to get light headed, felt nauseaus and felt like my stomach was filling with air. I thought she would try to work with me and she was like lets take it off and you will have to sign a form in the morning that you couldn't tolerate the machine! That was it, she let me go back to sleep. Woke me this morning had me sign the form, and then proceeded to rip the leads off of me. I have marks all over my face from the tape. It was a just horrible experience and I hope I didn't screw up my surgery date by not being able to tolerate the machine. I am so up
So, evenutally I got it my own machine, used the "ramp mode" and for the first few weeks I fought it. But I was determined because a friend of mine when I was young lost her husband IN HIS 30's!!! due to sleep apnea. It was devastating. So I knew the possible outcome if I didn't use the thing.
Eventually I not only became used to it enough to use it, now it is like an instant knock-out. I am conditioned to go to sleep once it starts up. I read in bed, when it's time to turn out the light I put that sucker on and I am asleep before I put my book down sometimes!
The surgery may or may not take care of the apnea, but until you have proof that it does, keep trying. It could save your life. And like the others have suggested, try different masks until you find one that doesn't feel too confining. It will be worth it!
I am of the opinion that if you can't tolerate it, you have not been fitted properly. I had the same nightmare situation the first time I tried the use a cpap and I gave up.
The second time I had a sleep tech that was caring and determined to fit the mask and settings properly, and it was amazing the difference.
Secondly, YOU get to help fit the mask or whatever form your face-to-machine takes. And lie however you like, make sure they give you some slack in those wires so you can move some.
Try to schedule it where you don't have to go to work the next day because even with the best situation you will not feel like working and may have to nap off and on all day after your study.
Remember you are HIRING them to do this study for you. You have the right to ask for whatever will make it easier to get through it. That means you can take your own pillow, make them move the lamp to a side you can reach if you read like I do, whatever it takes. Be assertive and if they are obnoxious you have the right to walk out and schedule it elsewhere.