TXLadybug,

First read the two ASAA documents on CPAP use in hospital and surgical settings which are in the first post of this thread.  They should answer most of your questions.

Then, just as importantly, make sure you notify your doc. ASAP that you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP.  Ask to speak with the anesthesiologist and tell them as well.  We suggest you have your CPAP with you because you are used to it and it is set for you.  You most likely will have to clear it the day before through the center's instrumentation group in case you need to use it.  That ensures that it is functioning properly and will not spark.  You may not need it.  The anesthesiologist will be carefully monitoring your breathing and oxygen levels.  Please read the documents for more details.

Don't worry at all about your RLS.  The sedatives/happy drugs will more than take care of it.  I've had tons of procedures and my RLS/PLMD has been the furthest from my mind.  You will do fine.  If you have more questions, post them.

Vicki


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Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

I recenly got diagnosed with sleep apnea and three days later was scheduled for a hernia operation.

The anesthesiologist insisted on a spinal vs. a general and an overnight (with my CPAP immediately put on in post-op) even though it is normally a day surgery.

Quite the change over now and though they seem to be erring on the side of caution, it does get to be a bit much.  

My diagnosis was severe with 88.6 incidents per hour, though I have never had any of the normal symptoms associated with sleep apnea.  I don't nap, fall asleep in meetings, driving or feel tired at all.  It was the snoring and stopping breathing during sleep that sent me to the clinic.  I have had two seperate stays in a sleep clinic with almost identical results.

Just a short ramble... lol

Lets see, I have had my tonsils and adenoids removed and the uvula pallet trimmed, a colinoscipy, teeth extraction, all requiring sedation. Each time I told the attending doctor about my acute sleep apnea and each time I came out of the anesthesia with no problems. Last year I went into the hospital with an infection and spent four days there using my c-pap with no problems. The most important thing that you should do is supply your doctor and all of those who are involved with your procedure and recovery with all of your medical background so that they can monitor your progress.


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Taz

"I can't do anything about the past. I have no idea what will happen tomorrow. What matters is the present. And, just in case tomorrow should never come, I'm going to use the present as constructively as I can." (unknown)

I had acute kidney failure back in Feb of this year ('09) from taking some OTC meds that conflicted with meds that I was taking to treat my Type 2 diabetes (diagnosed earlier in the year).

It was a very traumatic experience since I've never been hosptialized for anything (49 year old male). As I was being admitted into the hospital, the attending ER doctor asked me if I had any pre-exisitng heath issues besides my Type 2 diabetes. I told them I had OSA and I was on CPAP and if it wasn't for this great forum, I would of never shared this information since I didn't think of the relavance it had to the issue at hand but I later found it did in a big way.

I also read from this forum that if I needed pain control, tell the doctors not to use morphine since it may cause issues in my ability to control my muscles to breathe and may make my OSA worse, but the most important advice from here was to insist on using my CPAP machine if kept overnight. This was NO easy task.

I had to have the doctors dispatch the head eletrical engineer of the hosptial to "inspect" my CPAP machine even though my CPAP was issued by their own sleep lab. The engineer subbmitted a "NOT APPROVED" liability form for me to sign as the nurses and doctors struggled to revive my kidneys. I was furious and asked why I was "not approved" to use my CPAP.

The nurse told me that this was a standard hosptial procedure to deny any "outside" device that taps into the hosptial power supply in fear of liablitiy issues if the "device" failed and was renendered useless from hospital power issues. In other words "If it breaks YOU pay for it".

Once I signed the waiver, I was allowed to set up my machine by my bedside and maintained the machine on my own. The CPAP was my only reminder of home. It was the only piece of machinery I recongized among the noisy ekg, blood pressure and IV gadgets that they had hooked up to my arms. I was finally able to fall asleep with my mask on after 36 hours of extreme pain and stress.

I can't thank this forum enough.

groggyinsacto


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