Question: My mother is currently in the hospital and the diagnosis upon entry with congestive heart failure, respiratory failure and carbon dioxide build due to suspected untreated sleep apnea. She is in stable condition; however, he carbon levels remain in the 80s and the doctors. She has been on a bipap/cpap durin her stay. The doctors are recommending that she use the machine at home being at sleep study test to determine the exact type of sleep disorder/apnea she has. I was told by the doctor that not hard her to use the machine pending the test. And test can't be conducted until she is release with a referral per the sleep centers I contacted. She had a test done several years ago (3 years) which showed mild sleep apnea; but, her GP doctor said did need a cpap or any treatment. My question is will using this machine pending the sleep study test cause more damage than good? [My mom was unresponsive upon admission to the hospital and she is alert and fluid has been draw off her body. The heart do says heart looks good and the lung doctors says her lung look clear. He has released even though her carbon remains in 80sand says this might be her baseline. ] The earliest we can get a sleep test is about 2 weeks and I am not sure how soon a doctor determine he specific of sleep apnea or disorder and ge the proper treatment in place. My 84years and has high blood pressure and is over weight. This is the first time she has been hospitalized to draw fluids off. In addition upon admission, she was diagnosed with bladder infection which is being treated.

The doctors are now talking release without the cpap and all other facts are the same. She has an appointment with her GP on Monday 1/4/2021. The GP hopeful will make the referral at that time for an updated sleep study. I contact a sleep center which has some available appointments for next week. Could being without this cpap for some time cause damage? The longest she been without the cpap/bicep at the hospital has been 2 nights. She has remainedalert during those times. The lung doctor stress the importance of getting a sleep test soon and proper treatment and he prescribed a breathing medication. Under this scenario, hopefully no longer than 2 to 4 weeks.

The doctors are saying she may not be a candidate for receiving oxygen pending her release the hospital. While she is alert; her carbon extremely high. And she is disoriented at times. The hospital refuses to run an MRI or additional test to determine the exact carbon levels or her ph level. At first, they were stressing the ph level needed to be a 74 & last time we were informed was a 73. Now, the does won't any definitive information whether the fluids remain around her heart and lungs or any information regarding why she remains disoriented. If she is release without the cpap or oxygen could this be dangerous? And if so what are the dangerous? What type questions should be asking the doctors? My mom is not ready to be discharged from the hospital. Should try get transfer to another hospital? I am very afraid the hospital GP and case manager are pushing for release without offering information about what happens next. They would as far trying to get us to turn her case over to hospice saying they provide the cpad/bipad. Told us they as far as her doctors and medication nothing change with the hospice. Of course, after questioning the hospice rep. it was clear she would be able to receive her medication and see her current doctors. I confront the case manager & she lied in an effort to sell the hospice option. I don't a good feeling about this situation and don't trust them. Her personal GP won't be back at his office until Monday to hopefully help with the transfer. Please respond I am terrific.

He is concious and disoriented at times appears. She s alert and knows who I am and does answer questions. But she has difficulty recall information early in the morning. The doctor advised that in her opinion she is not diordented. The hospital now plans to discharge her with oxygen pending the sleep study. I am hoping her family medicine doctor will do the referral for the sleep study test tomorrow. Do thing oxygen will be sufficient pending the sleep test which I am hoping to get scheduled next week? Also, the sleep study test is conducted how soon after will she receive her cpap or appropriate treatment? And should asked her family doctor for a referral to a pumologist/sleep specialist doctor at the same as the sleep study request?

The hospital doctor refuses to provide basic information concerning wha her ph and current carbon levels. Nor will she provide a definitive answer regarding whether the fluids around her heart and lungs are clear. Is there anyway to get this information prior to Her being discharge? I was going see her family doctor could get the information?