Weight Cahnge = Adjustments to CPAP?

Theatre1sm · Post by **Theatre1sm** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:00 am

I've now been on CPAP for going on four months
I've been feeling more "in control" of my life since I'm not constantly in a fog. As a result, I've been getting acupuncture to assist in losing weight. I'm down ~ 7lbs so far. I know with weight changes I have to see my Endocrinologist for my Grave's Disease/Synthroid levels.

My question is do I need to see my sleep doc to reset/check my level for CPAP?

amos · Post by **amos** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:16 am

My sleep doc said that a 20-25 pound change in weight may necessitate a change in pressure.

Amos

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:05 pm

Yes, I would inform your sleep doc. that you are trying to and loosing weight. He will probably want to monitor your pressure closely, as weight loss will necessitate the need for changes. If you have a machine that is full data capable, it will be easier for your doc. to follow up on this. You might also want to be aware of any changes in the way you feel, any changes in the way the machine seems to operate (pressure seems to feel differently), etc. Those might be signs that the doc. needs to take a look at your pressure settings.

I am also modifying my lifestyle to loose weight. I hope I get off to as good a start as you have!

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:40 pm

If your mach is the one listed in your profile, and it's set to APAP, No!, It's a auto adjust APAP. If it set wrong or listed wrong, that needs to be corrected. I wish 7 lb would make a drastic difference, but I doubt it would, I gained 25 lb, mine didn't go up, but the feelbad did. Jim

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:03 pm

That is my machine, but right now the doc/RT have it set to straight CPAP with EPR, not the auto setting. I had to fight and argue with them (and pay some $ out of pocket) to keep that machine. I've only tried these settings one night. I may ask the doc to change them back.

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 4:07 pm

drummergirl,
There are directions somewhere on here to change the settings yourself.

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:31 pm

Yea, I know. I have that thread saved to my favorites. I'm just not sure what range to use. I'm anxious to see if the data looks any different from my first two weeks on trial with the auto.

Wyl · Post by **Wyl** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:11 pm

It just kind of depends. I lost ~50lbs between my 2000 and 2007 sleep studies, and my pressure titrated out at 10 both times.

What was weird was that in my 2000 baseline my BMI was 35 and I had 117 apnea events in 5 hours (22-23/hr. average). In 2007, despite having a BMI down to 27 (still overweight, but I'm getting there), I had 398 events in 6 hours (66-67/hr average). That seems very much the opposite of what one would expect to happen, and my sleep doc really couldn't explain it either.

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:32 pm

Yea, that's interesting!

I guess sometimes maybe loosing weight doesn't always ahve the effect on the SA. Of course, it always helps with other things. There are five people inluding myself at work who have SA that I know of. Out of these, only two of us are significantly overweight. One is at or near goal weight for his height, is very healthy, and works out regularly. I guess there's a lot of factors that play into it.