Weight loss and sleep apnea

[OzarkTurtle]

I have been on cpap for almost 2 years, I have no problem sleeping with my machine I sleep good. My question is I used to weigh 430 pounds which Im sure was one contributing factor to my sleep apnea, but I went on a diet and excercise plan and have lost 220 pounds and now weigh 210 pounds and feel great. I run 3 days a week and lift weights 3 days a week and am doing great and eating healthy. My concern is I lost my job and no longer have insurance so I cant afford to go to a sleep lab to be examined to see if my condition has changed. I guess my question is If I no longer have sleep apnea is it healthy to continue sleeping with my cpap.

[tillymarigold]

How do you feel? If you still feel good, then no point in changing things. If not, you could try reducing your pressure (1 cm at a time and keep at the same pressure for 1-2 weeks each time). It shouldn't hurt you to be on CPAP if you don't have apnea, unless your pressure is really high.

Sometimes apnea causes weight gain (instead of vice-versa)--if that's true for you, losing weight won't make the need for CPAP go away.

[kteague]

I like tillymarigold's approach. You are fortunate to have a data capable machine and can methodically test this without immediately going in for another sleep study. If as you lower the pressure you begin seeing more events, you'll have your answer. If not, you can decide when you get to a low pressure if you want to invest in a study to be sure. I just want to congratulate you on your efforts to lose weight and be active. What a tremendous reward in pounds for your efforts, and what an inspiration!
Kathy

[fadedgirl]

WOW congratulations on your lifestyle changes and weight loss. That is just awesome!!

I would presume that all that extra weight made your apnea worse, but it doesn't mean that you didn't have it beforehand and won't always have it no matter what you weigh. Of course, for some the only reason they have apnea is because of extra weight. Considering the negative effects of OSA, I'd be afraid to stop CPAP unless I knew for certain. I don't know if your machine gives you detailed AHI info? If so, I'd do what's been suggested and lower your rate a tad and watch the numbers.

Let us know how it goes, and again: Congrats!!!

[DreamOn]

OzarkTurtle, congratulations on your tremendous weight loss! That is quite an accomplishment!!!

There's a nonprofit organization called Awake in America that helps individuals without health insurance, with inadequate health insurance, or without the financial means to obtain a free sleep study. You may want to see if you qualify for their assistance. Their website is http://www.awakeinamerica.org/. Click on the left side of that website where it says "Sleep Study Relief Program FAQ" for more information. They also supply xPAP equipment to those who can't afford it.

Best wishes to you!

~ DreamOn

[Patrick A]

Wow and I was happy to have lost 12 pounds since I went to my sleep doctor in December. Good for you congrats.

[imtired]

im glad i read this. im almost at 350 and have not yet got a diagnosis for sleep apnea, but im sure that i have it. doctor isnt sure but referred me to a specialist. im hoping the cpap will be the life changing experience i need. this is my first day on the forum and this post gives me hope that im going in the right direction.

[Julie]

It's dangerous to quit without knowing for sure because if you have apnea, and don't use Cpap, you'll begin being tired all over again, begin looking to food to help keep you awake, and have no energy to do your workouts. Guess what'll happen next? Please don't quit until you know for very sure that it's ok to do so.

[slapmeawake]

You probably do need to be retested but lowering your settings slowly and seeing how you feel is a great approach. This is what I did also. I have lost 60+ lbs. and I was using my machine for the last 2 years. I had mild apnea and my titration was set at 9. As soon as I started losing weight my therapy suffered. I started waking up again. I went to the Dr. and she couldn't find any cause for it so said just continue on and we'll see what happens. I wish I would have put it together that as I was losing weight my need for higher pressure was diminishing. I didn't show any bad numbers just the awakenings. A light bulb finally went off so I started lowering my set number and now I have it set at 4-9, where it was 7-13. I just went back to the Dr. and she said she doesn't think I need CPAP now and the machine might be what is disturbing my sleep. My 90% number is from 4.5 to 5.0 so I am barely requiring the machine to raise pressure. She said to try to sleep without the machine and see how I feel. I have tried for 3 nights in a row and still am awakening but don't really feel a difference. The only thing is I get congested so she prescribed Flonase. Maybe with exercise and the last 25 lbs. I have to lose I will be able to completely get off the machine but now I think I'm so used to it I wonder how long it will take to be able to do without it. Great job on the weight loss and keep up the good work. Hope you can get help with a study etc. as its so important to continue therapy. Good Luck!!

[OzarkTurtle]

Thanks for all the nice comments and very useful advice. I guess I will contact my Doctor and check my options. Like I said I actually have no problems sleeping with my machine I just dont want to use it unessecarily if I dont need to. But I will gladly continue to use it for the rest of my life if I have to. Thanks again everyone!!

[DreamOn]

I would like to suggest that for anyone who feels they no longer need xPAP, it would be wise to purchase a recording pulse oximeter and check their oxygen and pulse data every once in a while during sleep to make sure they're doing okay. I would do this on a regular basis, for life, because circumstances (aging, weight regain, change in activity level, etc.) can change and may necessitate the use of xPAP once again.

[DreamOn]

im glad i read this. im almost at 350 and have not yet got a diagnosis for sleep apnea, but im sure that i have it. doctor isnt sure but referred me to a specialist. im hoping the cpap will be the life changing experience i need. this is my first day on the forum and this post gives me hope that im going in the right direction.

Welcome to the forum, imtired! We're glad you found us.

I hope you'll let us know your results after your sleep test. Many of us have had fantastic results from using CPAP, and we're happy to share our experiences to make it easier for others. Be sure to learn as much as you can about sleep apnea, equipment, etc., and feel free to ask any questions as things come up.

~ DreamOn

[Jaylee]

I just wanted to say that your weight loss is really inspiring! That is so wonderful I don't have any advice for you though, so I will defer to the others here on that