benefits of sucessful therapy?

[sleepyhead63]

I realize one of them is more energy and not soo sleepy durning the day but can you actually lose weight ? I mean, do you lose weight because you have more energy so you exercise more often or is it a metabolic thing in which improved sleep helps speed up your metabolism or something like that?

Also what about sleep apnea and mood disorders like depression, does it help as far as a chemical imbalance goes or is it your getting better sleep so you think more clearly which in turn you have a more positive outlook on life? Any thoughts?

[Wulfman]

This is a "Your Mileage May Vary" situation, but I think a qualified "Yes" could answer all the questions you asked.

Best wishes,

Den

[framus]

I may be experiencing an unexpected relief from sinus issues I've been having for years. I've had sinus polyps surgically removed 3 times since 1996, each time my sense of smell is recovered briefly but fades as the polyps regroup - in spite of the sinus medications I have been taking.

I've been using CPAP for about 2 weeks and my sinuses today are about as clear as they were after the last surgery in January, and over the last two days my sense of smell is returning.

I don't want to get too hopeful prematurely (probably too late already ) - it may be happening simply because winter approacheth - but I was going to check the forum for previous disscussions on this and thought I'd add a note to this topic.

[Goofproof]

Anything that makes you health better is a good thing, but for it to cure all our problems, not likely. Although, when we feel better we may be able to live with life choices that are better for us. It's more of a matter of if we are willing to do whats needed to make the change or continue down the old paths that got us where we are today.

Nomatter which path we choose, using XPAP sucessfully will make our trip last longer. "Or if we are married, it may just feel like it" Jim

[tuna]

Well sence starting xPAP, I have lost 20 lbs and went down one pants size

[jskinner]

I mean, do you lose weight because you have more energy so you exercise more often or is it a metabolic thing in which improved sleep helps speed up your metabolism or something like that?

http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/obes ... weight.htm

Also what about sleep apnea and mood disorders like depression, does it help as far as a chemical imbalance goes or is it your getting better sleep so you think more clearly which in turn you have a more positive outlook on life? Any thoughts?

Depends on if the depression is caused by sleep apnea or something else. If its the sleep apnea then yes it will probably help or cure it. Keep in mind that depression is a symptom not a disease itself and you need to find the cause (ok I'm ready for the flames on that statement

http://www.healthyresources.com/sleep/a ... press.html

[Goofproof]

Well sence starting xPAP, I have lost 20 lbs and went down one pants size

I found that 20 lbs and 10 more in two years, I didn't need either find. While XPAP has helped keep me alive, it was too little too late to help me burn any fuel. Jim

[RosemaryB]

At first I felt miraculous. I thought that as treatment progressed, I might just become like superwoman . I did kinda think that, but it's kind of like falling in love. At first you can't believe how wonderful it all is. Then reality settles in and you realize that you still have to work to make your relationship decent.

Treatment didn't solve all my problems. However, I'm better at working out the ones I have. More brainpower. More staying power throughout the day and evening. There are still only 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week. I do sleep better for about 7 of those hours, though.

My outlook is more positive. I think I still may need the bright lights for SAD this winter, though. I don't need to lose weight, but I've gained a little bit and my pants still fit the same. I was tending to put on weight around my middle (apple shape) but I'm wondering if that might change. It sure would be nice.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Power

[ColoradoDreamer]

I’ve been on CPAP for just over a year and have not seen any change in weight other than the ups (from Thanksgiving through New Year’s) and downs (summer months) that come with the time of year. I'm not overweight but do keep tabs on the weight. I have not experienced depression, so I cannot respond to the effectiveness of CPAP.

The one positive result that I have experienced (in addition to being more alert and feeling great in the morning) is that I made it through August to October without experiencing significant allergy attacks. As a result, I got to use the nasal mask the whole time without having to use the full face mask (ugh). I continue to take the same medications but this year I did not bump up the dosage to get me through the rough months (Most of the year I take half the prescribed amount). I think it may be the 6 to 8 hrs of filtered air each night (including the white filter) that has made the difference. Now, I must admit that there were several days where I felt the allergy attack coming on but I was able to handle it since the events were nothing like previous years.

[ozij]

Sleepyhead,
If your sleep apnea caused oxygen desaturation, your whole metabolism was messed up since our metabolic processes need oxygen - and the brain needs most of it.

Fighting for breath at night was also probably causing mechanical stresses on your inner organs heart included.

Human beings need sleep - and they need the different stages of sleep to function well and feel well.

Proper therapy will give more sleep, more oxygen and relieve some of the mechanical stresses caused while you're fighting to breathe.


O.

[GumbyCT]

I think it may be the 6 to 8 hrs of filtered air each night (including the white filter) that has made the difference.

What he said.

I do not normally have allergies but do notice when I get up I can smell the dust in the air. So I would say the filtered air does help. Now I notice the first couple hours in the AM, my nose may run a bit while it adjusts to the things that irritate it.

A clear head is just a bonus. Now I notice how many people are just so cloudy in their thinking (and how I was), some act like they are drunk!!

Oh I find I drink less beer, is that a good thing or a bad thingy. So now I pee less too. Where will it end, oh where oh where. My liver & kidneys thank me now. Guess I was drinking so I could get a good nights sleep w/o waking up, ha.

Little did I know just how little I did know.

[bluetiger69]

I have only had my CPAP machine for about 2 to 3 weeks now and I have noticed a huge diffrence in my energy levels and my emotional state. My wife says Im not such an a**hole now. Shes right I have become less iratable. My depression state however is higher, but that may be due to the aniversary of my mothers death arriving soon and I never really mourned her. I have not seen much in weight loss just a few pounds but hopefuly that trent will continue. I figure anything is better than what I had before. The doctor figures I've had sleep apnea since I was 13, that summer I ballooned and gained about 75lbs., ever since then I've had the snoring, the hard to breathe, and weight gain along with other emotional problems. Now Im 38 and since I've been sleeping with the CPAP, I feel much better.

[tillymarigold]

I am dieting, but losing weight faster than I should be given how few lifestyle changes have been required (I already had pretty good eating/exercise habits but still gained 70 pounds in 4 years).

I've lost 30 pounds in the last 3 months. It was like someone flipped a switch and all of a sudden the weight was falling off.

But I'm also quite young--your metabolism also slows naturally as you age, plus the more muscle tone you've lost, the harder it is to build it back up.