Edema w/CPAP Therapy

[GumbyCT]

I know that OSA can cause frequent night time urination and while that has decreased after treatment, I now notice edema. Noticeable swelling in both ankles at bed time with increased joint stiffness when waking but none or few nite time potty breaks.

Anyone else have any experience with edema following CPAP therapy? Or know what causes it?

Thanks,
GumbyCT

[curtcurt46]

There are many things that can cause ankle edema. It could be a medication you are taking or some other medical issue. I have never heard or read that using cpap could cause edema. You should probably seek the advise of your doctor on this matter.

[dieselgal]

My edema got a lot worse almost immediately after I started CPAP, I went to the Dr. to make sure nothing other than CPAP had changed and we could find nothing. After about 6 months the edema seems to have leveled off but I still have more ankle swelling than I ever had before. The Dr. says he has no information giving this as a side effect but from my experience and many others I think it can be a side effect for many of us.

[deglorious]

Hi Gumby, I've noticed edema of my ankles too but I chalked it up to not putting my feet up enough. I never had this problem before CPAP. I haven't been to the Dr. yet, but maybe next visit I'll remember to mention it.

Thanks for bringing up the subject.

Deglorious

[mindy]

IMHO, edema is such a common symptom that it would be surprising if at least some proportion of people on any kind of therapy would have it without there necessarily being a connection with the therapy.

Too much salty food can affect it as can various medical conditions.

Mindy

[Moby]

I noticed oedema in my legs/ankles a month or two into effective cpap. Quite severe, spongy up to my knees.

The doc diagnosed "dependent oedema" and advised supportive stockings at work. They help when I wear them and when I don't cannibalise them for headgear fixes!

There was a thread about this some months ago.

Di

[hades161]

For me after the first month or 2 on Cpap my Edema of the ankles and calves almost went away with the nighttime bathroom trips. But it came back in full force as winter hit and now I have it pretty much everyday. I feel cpap helped a lot in the begining due to a more proper kidney function.

Now after a year, though its kinda hard to tell. To many things can cause it and sadly I got a few of them.

I would go to the doctor though and have it checked as it is a sign of heart or thyroid troubles. Support hose and pee pill's will help but its better to figure out the cause and correct that.

[allen476]

I noticed that mine became worse after starting CPAP. I chalk it up as not moving so much in my sleep and not sweating in my sleep as much. I would ask your doctor for a check of your thyroid and a basic blood test to rule out anything else.

Allen

[GumbyCT]

I would ask your doctor for a check of your thyroid and a basic blood test to rule out anything else.

Done- had 20 min phone conversation with my doc yesterday regarding my edema. He just happened to call.

The problem is my PCP is an Internist who doesn't know or believe in OSA tho I do like him as a medical doctor - he is just that a medical doctor. And believes everything is fixed with medicine. Likely never getting to the root cause but treating the symptoms.

My sleep doctor is at the VA - if you know anything about the VA or their sleep docs - it seems they are ALL in training. I wouldn't expect to get an answer even if I knew how to get in touch with one of them. The VA's current theory is that providing the equipment is all they have to do - good equipment no doubt - but they think it is one-size-fits-ALL. Meaning you should never have a problem once the equipment is issued.

So folks, that is why I asked the Question here - to see if anyone else has had this problem. It does seem that I am not alone - having the onset of edema following the start of CPAP therapy. Now, I am wondering if it might be due to the wrong pressure?

The advice to see my doc is well taken and has been initiated.

[TossinNTurnin]

I would ask your doctor for a check of your thyroid and a basic blood test to rule out anything else.

Done- had 20 min phone conversation with my doc yesterday regarding my edema. He just happened to call.

The problem is my PCP is an Internist who doesn't know or believe in OSA ...

What is there not to believe? It's proven some people stop breathing in their sleep and that results in low oxygen levels.

What? He thinks it's good to have lower oxygen levels than people who don't stop breathing in their sleep???

Or does he not believe in CPAP, that it's benefits are unproven???

I'm genuinely confused by that statement.

[GumbyCT]

Or does he not believe in CPAP, that it's benefits are unproven???

I honestly don't know but I do think that is what he thinks - maybe the benefits are yet unproven or that OSA is truely the cause of just sooo many medical problems??

IMO, He truly is a good doc - he knows I do believe. In fact, I have seen where he has documented just that statement in my record.

How many of you have a doc call you at home to discuss your BP? Or call your cell phone to find out why your appt. was cancelled? It turned out that "Rumors of my demise were prematurely reported". Yes, I was listed as "deceased" so ALL my appt. were canceled.

But the point is - he called - not his secretary, not his nurse, he does these things that I have not had any other doc do for me. Plus he keeps me honest and on the straight & narrow for all my other medical needs.

After all, I had to be referred by him to the sleep clinic. There is NO other way but thru your PCP.

ps. Did I mention he knows how to work his own emale? Yeah, tell me who else can emale their doc? If I hold my breath does that mean I have OSA?

Don't shoot me - I'm just the messenger!

[TossinNTurnin]

Or does he not believe in CPAP, that it's benefits are unproven???

I honestly don't know but I do think that is what he thinks - maybe the benefits are yet unproven or that OSA is truely the cause of just sooo many medical problems??

IMO, He truly is a good doc - he knows I do believe. In fact, I have seen where he has documented just that statement in my record.

How many of you have a doc call you at home to discuss your BP? Or call your cell phone to find out why your appt. was cancelled? It turned out that "Rumors of my demise were prematurely reported". Yes, I was listed as "deceased" so ALL my appt. were canceled.

But the point is - he called - not his secretary, not his nurse, he does these things that I have not had any other doc do for me. Plus he keeps me honest and on the straight & narrow for all my other medical needs.

After all, I had to be referred by him to the sleep clinic. There is NO other way but thru your PCP.

ps. Did I mention he knows how to work his own emale? Yeah, tell me who else can emale their doc? If I hold my breath does that mean I have OSA?

Don't shoot me - I'm just the messenger!

The last place I lived, I had a doctor that called like your's did. A very rare thing indeed!

He was very open and receptive too. I got chicken pox at the age of 40 (didn't have it before) after my husband got shingles.

I looked it up online and found a medication that supposedly, if you take it within the first 24 hours of symptoms will lesson the severity of the outbreak. (It was a few years ago, I forget what it was). Anyway, it was an older medication, but it had JUST been approved for that particular use. I told him about it... he looked it up and then instead of being "put off" about my bringing this to his attention, he not only prescribed it for me, he kept praising me for finding out about it etc... he was a terrific guy. I truly, truly miss him.

Although, I've got to say with your doctor... what good do all the calls do if he hasn't explained to you why he doesn't believe in OSA or CPAP or whatever?

But, I agree... your doctor is a rare find and you should hold onto him. The very fact that you're personally able to get a hold of him gives you the opportunity to advocate on your own behalf and indicates that he doesn't place himself so far "above" you that you're not worth talking to.

So, I mean no offense. I was just confused about your statement. I don't think there's any "debate" as to whether OSA exists and can be a dangerous condition. There may be some debate on how to best treat it... but to not "believe" in OSA? That's rather befuddling -- so I was just curious as to his reasoning.

[Baitman]

Gumby,

If it is a help. I have been dealing with edema for ages, 320mg a day of lasix just to keep it under control. With the coronary artery disease, diabetes, pulmonary hypertension, morbid obesity and OSA, Take you pick as to which one is causing it. BUT ! And here is the good news, remember that goofy 5 day diet the docs had me go thru? By day 4, i had NO EDEMA at all! The diet ended, I passed the test, and now the edema is starting to rebuild, so I am considering putting myself back on it. When the edema diappeared, I had zero leg and ankle pain, now they are gettin sore again, so back to the diet for me. If you want the details of the diet, let me know, maybe it will and maybe it wont help you, but it sure worked for me, not to mention loosing over 20 lbs, lol.

[Perchancetodream]

For the last week I've experienced edema in my hands every morning. It goes away after a couple of hours, but is uncomfortable.

As for your doctor not really believing in OSA, I think my PCM is the same way. It seems a strange attitude for a doctor, but he appears skeptical that therapy can lead to much improvement in my overall health. On the other hand, he is more than willing to help me get all of the medical resources I need so I can't really complain. And, I like that he calls me at home with blood work results, etc.

Susan

[Moby]

here is the post I was looking for

[quote="nightingale"]RE: Subject:CPAP side effects
Follow-Up posted by Gregory Harper, RRT, RCP (gharper@erols.com) on 9:8:27 8/23/97
Follow-Up: Hello Jean. The use of CPAP can decrease the amount of urine that you produce with a consequent increase in water retention and body weight. For the first two weeks of CPAP therapy I suggest that you weigh yourself every day when you wake up in the morning. If you notice a sudden increase in your body weigh (more than 3-4 pounds in one day), please contact your physician. This is especially important if you have a heart condition. He may prescribe a "water pill" or diuretic for you. I believe there are several reasons for this phenomena in CPAP users, including changes in antidiutetic hormone secretion. But the most likely explanation is the hemodynamic (heart pumping) changes that take place with increased airway pressure. Consider for a moment that your body in an enclosed fluid system with the heart acting as a pump. The left side of the heart pumps blood (fluid) to the entire body and back to the right side of the heart. The right side of the heart pumps blood through the lungs to the left side of the heart. Now when you are just falling to sleep and, possibly, at other times of the night, your airway is open and the pressure that normally splints the collapsible airway open is transmitted to the lower airway and lungs. This causes the pressure in the lungs to increase and they hyperinflate. This then causes a decrease in blood volume that would normally return to the right side of the heart to "pool" in the lower extremities (the feet and ankles) and cause swelling, weight gain, and decreased urination. This is usually a temporary situation as your body adjusts to the increased airway pressure while you sleep. If it persists, contact your physician. Also, if you experience increased shortness-of-breath or are more tired than usual, contact your physician right away. I hope that this information has helped. Please contact me if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me. Good luck and persevere.

I just found the above and plan to take it over to my sleep lab tomorrow and have them read and see if this can be my problem. I am tired all the time too.

Nightingale