Maybe a silly question, but....

[SheZAAM!]

I've been on Cpap for over 2 years, only missing when I was sick, which is rare. When I got on Cpap my Dr said I might not need it if I lost weight. I'm now finally motivated and have been losing weight for a few months. I started out at 204 and was 177.6 this morning. I still have a ways to go. I know I'll need a sleep study when I'm at my goal weight to determine if I still need cpap or what pressure setting to use, if it's changed.

My question is....since the main reason I knew that I probably had sleep apnea was my freight train snoring along with my gasping & stopping breathing at night, plus extreme daytime tiredness. So.....if when I get to my goal weight, I don't snore, doesn't that mean the SA is gone?

[scrapper]

Maybe, but probably not............. weight contributes to the problem, but the lack there of does not solve the problem in most cases. I'm sorry..........wish I could tell you different.

See this recent thread:
viewtopic/t59718/quotLose-the-Weight-an ... yquot.html

[kteague]

So.....if when I get to my goal weight, I don't snore, doesn't that mean the SA is gone?

I have read on here of someone with OSA who never snored. I'm guessing that's the exception rather than the rule, but I'd be interested in hearing from some of our sleep professionals how often they see sleep apnea without snoring.

[jromano]

SheZAAM!,

Here's the scoop:

Yes, Obstructive sleep apnea can be caused by excess weight that exerts extra pressure on the airway, leading to full or partial obstruction of airflow.
But, Not everybody that's overweight has sleep apnea. Not everybody that has sleep apnea is overweight. Not to mention sleep apnea can also lead to weight gain.
This is similar to snoring: not everyone that snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone that has sleep apnea snores.

There are many, many risk factors for sleep apnea in addition to being overweight including but not limited to: family history, having a narrow airway (due to facial/bone/throat/jaw structure), being male, being older, smoking, having a large neck (this does not necessarily correspond to being overweight), and using muscle relaxants.

Short answer? Maybe, although not likely.
Regardless, congrats on all of your hard work towards a healthier lifestyle! That is a smart choice for everyone, sleep apnea or not.

Cheers,
Jess

[bap40]

My cousin had gastric bypass several years ago while on cpap. After she lost over 100lbs she no longer needed her cpap. So would say that it is possible in some instances.

[KatieW]

This is an interesting paper on Bariatric Surgery and Sleep Apnea:

http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/conte ... .full.html

[SheZAAM!]

Thanks everyone. The weight was going to come off regardless of being able to d/c the CPAP or not. It's not really an issue, but life would be better if I didn't need it. It's the same way when I had glasses, although they bothered me a lot more. Although I had Lasik specifically to get rid of my glasses when I was 30. The doc said I'd probably need reading glasses sooner than if I didn't have Lasik. I figured 10 yrs w/out any glasses is worth the price. Now I'm 42 and finding that my arms are too short to read stuff.

I've napped w/out CPAP and not heard any complaints about snoring, like I used to. I'll keep using it until I'm at my goal weight, about 140.

[Janknitz]

I've napped w/out CPAP and not heard any complaints about snoring, like I used to. I'll keep using it until I'm at my goal weight, about 140.

Excuse me, but you should keep using it until you reach your goal weight AND you've had another PSG that says you no longer need it. If this thread stands for anything, it's people telling you that you MAY not need CPAP when you lose your weight, but the only way to know for sure is to get another sleep test at goal weight to determine if you do or not. Otherwise you are taking a big chance with your health after all that work to get in better condition.

From what I've seen statistically, chances are you will STILL need CPAP even if you lose weight.

I theorize that there may be another factor not considered with bariatric surgery, since the article quoted by Katie states that the reduction of sleep apnea is greater for bariatric surgery patients than for those who have independent weight loss--I'm guessing the band used in bariatric surgery may reduce reflux issues that can contribute to sleep apnea. This is strictly my unscientific opinion, but it may be one reason why you can't extrapolate straight weight loss with reduced OSA quite as easily as weight loss after bariatric surgery.

[Lizistired]

I don't think the OP ever said anything about bariatric surgery.

I think I would try to get my hands on a auto machine and monitor my own progress.

[Janknitz]

I don't think the OP ever said anything about bariatric surgery.

No, but Bap did, but nobody should assume from that anecdote that just because Bap's cousin got off CPAP after bariatric surgery weight loss it means that anybody who loses weight will automatically get rid of CPAP .

[Muse-Inc]

Maybe, maybe not. Here's some things to consider:

• Did you develop apnea after gaining wt or vice versa? Many gain after developing apena.
• Do you have a narrow, recesssed jaw with large tongue, tonsils?
• As we age, our throat tissue becomes well, floppier more likely to collapse
• An APAP machine and slowly reducing the low pressure after showing a consistent reduction in the 90/95% pressure and good AHIs will show if having lost wt means you need less pressure. This is working for me.

Only a sleep study will definitely rule out apnea after major wt loss.

[pap4life]

I commend you for your efforts to lose 60 pounds. Whatever the determination will be with the CPAP when you reach your weight goal of 140 is a story in itself. Don;t try to mix apples and oranges. The weight loss alone is a very significant healthy endevour whether or not your CPAP needs to be continued or not.

[Cindy Lou Who]

SheZAAM!,
There are many, many risk factors for sleep apnea in addition to being overweight including but not limited to: family history, having a narrow airway (due to facial/bone/throat/jaw structure)

I certainly fall into the above category. My Father had apnea and died after three heart attacks. He told Mom she stopped breathing in her sleep, and in the mid '80's what did I know about apnea back then? Mom is a heart patient and has nerve damage. I've gone from 192 lbs to 174 lbs and while slowly loosing weight my snoring got louder and worse Sorry to tell you that, but that's what happened.

I hope you have an uneventful time (pun intended) when you have the PSG and you succeed in getting free of your xpap. BUT don't get down on yourself if the Doc says you're stuck with it. As my Dad demonstrated...apnea can kill you.
Good Luck with reaching your Goals!
Cindy

[SheZAAM!]

To clarify, I do plan to have another sleep study, but after I reach my goal weight. And no plans for bariatric. I was never obese enough to qualify anyway.

I never had reflux, but I do have a recessed chin. So maybe I'll still need Cpap, but I'll be skinny! I can live with Cpap, just as I have for 2+ yrs.