A concern about not being able to breathe during surgery

October 12, 2000

I have not yet been approved for surgery with Dr. --eagerly

awaiting insurance approval -- but there's something that really

bothers me. I've been told that the lap DS takes 5-6 hours, and I

can't even imagine lying flat on my back for that length of time. I

know I'll be under anesthesia, but I feel as if I can hardly breathe

when I have to lie flat on my back. I NEVER sleep on my back -- only

on my side or stomach. At night when I'm lying down, my nose seems

to start stuffing up immediately, and my husband says that I snore

(loudly at times). I know it's true because sometimes I wake myself

up with a snore or a snort! I guess my fear is that I won't be

able to breathe during surgery and they won't be able to continue, or

maybe I'll die because I can't breathe! Have any of you had this

problem, and was it an issue during surgery? When I had lap

gallbladder surgery a couple of years ago, I woke up with the oxygen

cannula (is that what it's called?) in my nose, and I remember a

nurse saying that I was having a " little trouble " breathing during

surgery. Is this common with those of us who are morbidly obese? Is

it anything to worry about? And what about the post-operative

period? At least the back of the bed can be cranked up in the

hospital so I'm not lying flat, but I don't guess I'll be able to

sleep on my stomach for a while after I get home. I've read many of

your posts recommending recliners for the early post-op days, and I

plan to get one before surgery. Another problem is getting up from

the flat-on-your-back position. I can clearly remember that agony

after the gallbladder surgery. I know these are relatively small

concerns when you consider what's on the other side, but I can't seem

to get this out of my mind. I'm worried that I'll be disqualified

from the surgery because of it. Can someone reassure me on this? Am

I one-of-a-kind?

Manary in Alabama

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