losing weight

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
chriml
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losing weight

Post by chriml » Mon Sep 28, 2015 7:22 am

I have a question, I have lost 50 pounds and I thought maybe my sleep apnea would get better. I still have another 50 to go but I tried to sleep without my cpap machine and My husband said I was snoring loud. UGGGGGGG Do you think my snoring will improve or will I be wearing this cpap machine for the rest of my life. I'm so discussed.

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LSAT
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Re: losing weight

Post by LSAT » Mon Sep 28, 2015 7:38 am

Losing weight can be nothing but a good thing...it may help your snoring and SA, but it is doubtful that it will completely eliminate the need for a CPAP.

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SleepyCarey
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Re: losing weight

Post by SleepyCarey » Mon Sep 28, 2015 8:18 am

Yeah, I think there's a subsection of sleep apnea patients who could experience complete remission with the loss of weight. But there are other causes of OSA including upper airway anatomy and other physiologic factors, which can't be solved by losing weight.

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chezdan9
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Re: losing weight

Post by chezdan9 » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:07 am

I think for many people who are carrying extra weight (myself included) - there is always a hope that if we lose some weight, we'll lose the hose (and mask). More and more, I am meeting SKINNY people who are using CPAP, which is leading me to believe that it is not solely a weight issue. Sad to say, but losing weight is no guarantee of remission from apnea.

HOWEVER, don't let that deter you from losing weight!! Shedding the pounds is ALWAYS a good thing when done properly. Don't let this one (potential) defeat knock you off track! Keep up the hard work and you will have many pleasant rewards, even if you don't defeat your sleep apnea.

Best of Luck!

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elixeus
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Re: losing weight

Post by elixeus » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:23 am

My experience has been the opposite. While I can't comment on trying to lose weight, I have lost 30 pounds without trying and haven't gained much back. Right now I'm 6 feet tall at 150 pounds and being treated for SA. Surely there is the possibility other health issues come into the picture if you have been given the diagnosis of sleep apnea. I know a lot of people on these boards deal with other issues that are independent or comorbid and may make their SA worse.

So it is hard for anyone to state definitively that losing weight will correct SA, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt it either. Technically obstructive apneas are due more to structural differences and loss of muscle tone in the back of your throat when you sleep, some of which lifestyle alone can't fix (aside from side-sleeping). If you are overweight, having extra fat deposited in the mucus membranes would only contribute, but losing the fat won't necessary fix an already narrow airway, or the loss of muscle tone that occurs commonly with SA.

Nevertheless, exercise is good for the mind and body so there may be some unexpected benefits we probably aren't even thinking about here.

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Julie
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Re: losing weight

Post by Julie » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:27 am

Hi, what concerns me is that you seem most worried about snoring, as if you haven't been given the proper info about OSA. Snoring is just a symptom, but when you have OSA what's going on is a lot worse in terms of consequences for you... it leads to cardiac problems, strokes, internal problems possibly kidney related, certainly cognitive trouble and depression. You should worry about those things and understand that Cpap can keep them from happening or getting worse, sometimes improving them, and snoring is the least of your problems.

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Re: losing weight

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:54 am

Untreated apnea has a profound negative effect on our metabolism.
Since you are halfway to your goal weight, I suggest you stick with using your cpap.
Stopping treatment might sabotage your successful weight loss--even once you reach your goal.
Only a laboratory sleep study can confirm whether you still need cpap then.
Remember, your objective should not be getting rid of the treatment,
but making you WELL, whatever that takes.

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Janknitz
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Re: losing weight

Post by Janknitz » Mon Sep 28, 2015 10:30 am

I lost 75 lbs but I'm still on CPAP. I wouldn't take back a single one of those pounds, but for me it didn't change my need for CPAP. Luckily, the other health benefits make it worth it.
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Wulfman...
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Re: losing weight

Post by Wulfman... » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:30 am

chriml wrote:I have a question, I have lost 50 pounds and I thought maybe my sleep apnea would get better. I still have another 50 to go but I tried to sleep without my cpap machine and My husband said I was snoring loud. UGGGGGGG Do you think my snoring will improve or will I be wearing this cpap machine for the rest of my life. I'm so discussed.
These pages are filled with posts by people who thought that losing weight would/could help with them getting off of their very beneficial therapy.......and found out they were wrong. Some people actually needed higher pressures after they lost weight.
For many people, OSA caused the weight gain and losing the weight doesn't get rid of the OSA.

Just keep using your machine and if it's data-capable, use the software to monitor your therapy. (at this point, it doesn't sound like you're monitoring your therapy with software)

But, losing weight is always a good thing.


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chriml
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Re: losing weight

Post by chriml » Mon Sep 28, 2015 2:23 pm

Well Thank you so much for all your posts. I am very disappointed with the answers (LOL) but it is what it is I guess.

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BlackSpinner
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Re: losing weight

Post by BlackSpinner » Mon Sep 28, 2015 3:46 pm

chriml wrote:Well Thank you so much for all your posts. I am very disappointed with the answers (LOL) but it is what it is I guess.
It is about a 50/50 chance. (But some of us got pregnant on a lot smaller chance; 4%- just saying)

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