Am I stuck with this thing for life?

[treppenwitz]

Sorry if this has been addressed before, but I woke up this morning obsessing about a sobering thought.

My doctor has indicated that he thinks much (or all) of the blame for my apnea can be attributed to my being a bit overweight.

So while I have been using the CPAP for the short term, I have been working to reduce my weight in hopes of eliminating the cause of my breathing issues... and at some point, the CPAP.

However, last night I started thinking about the idea that by using the CPAP, I may be training my body not to breath normally on its own... essentially saddling myself with this machine for life.

Is there anything to this? Have there been any studies? Is there any danger to trying to go back to sleeping without the CPAP?

Thanks for your patience with what is probably a newbie question.

[Hueffenhardt]

If your apneas and hypopneas are solely due to being overweight, then yes, once you lose the weight your apneas and hypopneas will stop (or at least be so few that you won't need CPAP therapy anymore). CPAP therapy is not lowering your ability to breathe on your own at night or weakening your diaphragm or lungs.

And yes, there is a danger to stop using CPAP when you still need it - the same danger of untreated apneas and hypopneas.

[BlackSpinner]

You are breathing normally, the cpap only helps keep your airway open when it tries to collapse. Unless you have central apnea you are always attempting to breathe normally.
And so what? It keeps you alive, be thankfull. Accept that. You may or may not get off cpap when you lose weight, many of us don't because we put that weight on DUE to OSA.

[mayondair]

If your apneas and hypopneas are solely due to being overweight, then yes, once you lose the weight your apneas and hypopneas will stop (or at least be so few that you won't need CPAP therapy anymore). CPAP therapy is not lowering your ability to breathe on your own at night or weakening your diaphragm or lungs.

And yes, there is a danger to stop using CPAP when you still need it - the same danger of untreated apneas and hypopneas.

the only way to know if weight loss is enough is to have another sleep study. I understand that few eliminate the need for CPAP, some are able to lower their pressure, no way to tell without another study, though I think a check with a pulse ox might give you a good idea. I personally don't mind the idea of a life sentence, it's better than the alternative.

[bap40]

My cousin, female, had gastric bypass and lost over 100lbs. She does not need her cpap anymore nor does she need her high BP medication anymore.

[Geminidream]

Its possible to not need cpap anymore after losing weight, but not too likely...unless of course it was a substantial amount of weight. I have been about 20-25 lbs over weight for almost ten years and I know that losing that small amount is not going to fix my OSA issue. I am working on losing the weight right now, but considering I am sure I had OSA prior to the weight gain I doubt it will keep me from needing my cpap. So, its about a 50/50 chance one way or the other, but wait till the weight comes off and see how things are for you first. It does not breath for you, it just keeps the airway open so you could potentially sleep normal without it if you did not have OSA anymore.

[Julie]

It's unlikely you'll be stuck with it for life, regardless of weight, because medical science is changing so quickly and what's standard treatment today may have much easier answers tomorrow.

[JeffH]

You are most likely stuck with it for life, or as long as you want to live.

I've been on the hose for 12 years now. This last year I dropped around 90lbs. My pressure needs dropped from 12.5 to 12. This was determined by my ability to read my own data from my machines card.

Here's how I look at things I find difficult, and in reality, it is how life happens anyway. We only have to do, put up with, or endure anything for only one day. That's all any of us have anyway is a day.

Good luck

JeffH

[avi123]

del

[BlackSpinner]

The best way to handle it is to embrace cpap for life and do what you can to improve your health. That way you will not be disappointed. Basically you are going through the various stages of grief and loss due to the lifestyle change and diagnosis. Get some talk therapy and become in balance with your blessings.

[Janknitz]

I simply cannot think of using CPAP every night for the rest of my life. I can only think about TONIGHT. Tonight I will use my CPAP and do what's best for my health. Tomorrow is too far in advance to worry about.

One night (or nap) at a time--that's the best I can do. It's much less daunting that way.

[kempo]

What came first. The chicken or the egg. Looking back I am positive I had OSA when I was just a young man many years ago and in great physical condition. When I started xpap last July I was 50lb over weight. I have lost that weight and my pressure has not changed.

You need to start looking at xpap use as a positive experience not something that you are "FORCED" to do.

GOOD LUCK!

[jweeks]

My doctor has indicated that he thinks much (or all) of the blame for my apnea can be attributed to my being a bit overweight.

Hi,

Is that based on an examination of your airway structure, or is that simply one person's opinion? In general, apnea causes the weight gain, not the weight gain causing the apnea. It is very possible that you could lose enough weight to get back to normal, and still have a severe breathing problem. Then again, sometimes even small weight losses can significantly improve your breathing. The only way to know for sure is to lose some weight and then have a new sleep study.

Before I started on CPAP, I was gaining an average of 3/4 of a pound per month. That really adds up over 25 years. Since getting on the hose, not only have I been able to stop the gain, but I have actually started to shed a few pounds. I suspect that you will find it much easier to lose weight now that you are getting treatment.

If CPAP really does bother you, there is a very simple operation that can eliminate the need for the machine. It is called a tracheotomy. However, most people who investigate this option decide that they would rather continue using the machine. It is still an option for folks who have apnea that doesn't respond to CPAP. I very nearly ended up in that category since no amount of CPAP pressure works for me if I attempt to sleep on my back. I am pretty grateful that I have the option to use a machine when I sleep on my side.

-john-

[idamtnboy]

I swear I breathe easier during the day now than before going on the CPAP last August. Feels like my nasal passages are more open all day long. I even think it sounds crazy, except I'm the one experiencing it!

[Kahfree]

I asked the same question because so many people around me (not on the board, but in person) have suggested that its simply a "Weight issue" and the ultimate cause of it. Well, I decided to look back on my life and here is what I am discovering.

When I was a small child I would wake up gasping for air. My mother told me that I was ok and perhaps the room was too hot. Fast forward to my 20's. I would have terrible heart palpitations and one time my husband (now ex) had to take me to the hospital. I was told to lay off the caffeine. It did not solve my waking up and cant breath issue. When I got to my 30's, I was again waking up gasping, but attributed it to colds, hot room, dry room, asthma (diagnosed at age 22). At age 35 I was told I had high blood pressure and was put on meds.

Late 30's and 40's. Several things have happened that I did not attribute to OSA. In the last 10 years, I have waken up gasping for air and have mentioned it to family and friends. No one thought or mentioned sleep apnea. I began to see people standing next to my bed while I would wake up and sit straight up (from being on my back) and I thought, "Oh no, I am being haunted!" (Don't laugh, I really attributed it to ghosts since I could "see" someone. When I spoke to people they suggested that maybe I was one of those who can see ghosts. LOL.

When my father was passing away and on hospice, he lived with me. I wont say he did not see spirits, but he would ask me who they were. At night, I again would wake up gasping, and the thought was STRESS from my dying father and working full time. I also though the spirits came to taunt me while he made peace with the end of his life. I always had an excuse.

Everyone around me wanted to know why I am such a vivid dreamer. My dreams are so vivid that I can recall detail of the entire dream. Also, I developed heart burn so bad I would vomit. My headaches were terrible and in the am the migraines were so painful I could not lift my head. I have been having edema the last two years in my feet and my doctor said he could find no reason for it. I go to bed with a bottle of water at night because sometimes my mouth is so dry it wakes me up and its like there never was water. I was afraid I would swallow my tongue. Tired? All the time, but I attributed it to my business of child care. I had no desire to go out at night anymore and usually said no to offers and would instead go to bed. Naps were and so far, are still a must. Leg cramps were a nightly occurrence and it would happen in my feet and both front and back of my legs. I still have a numbness on my right hip/thigh that the neurologist said after many tests, "Its a pinched nerve" and sent me on my way.

Finally I decide to seek help and never though OSA. I thought it was my asthma. Well, surprise, the lung function test was negative for any asthma, disease or COPD. However, they listened more closely and suggested OSA. Was I overweight? Nope. I was a skinny child, a very tall and skinny teen and young adult and even in my 20's. I never really gained weight till my mid 30s, but then lost that. I kept it off till about 2002 when I moved to CA. I attributed that to stress of a new state. I finally lost all that and kept the weight off for a while, but all those symptoms remained. I am overweight again, and it came on fast in the last year or so. I am on a great diet now, and have lost some weight, but I know for sure that my problem must have gone back a long time but no one knew what it was.

I am glad for the machine, at least now I may eliminate all those troubles and just have fun living. Besides, even though I am not accustomed to the hose yet (a week tomorrow) I know that its just at night. During the day, I am FREE!

Take care and I wish you well and hope your journey is easy.