Can I lower my pressure after my weight loss?

[Dave5059]

I am new to this but I have been a guest for quite some time reading a few posts here and there. I am overweight and currently sit at a 12cm pressure setting. I use a CPAP and I was wondering if there is a chance that once I lose my weight, is there a chance that I would no longer need my CPAP and would I have to do another study to determine that? My friend lost his weight and no longer has sleep apnea. My also BIG concern is would it still be safe being on a CPAP with my pressure of 12cm if my sleep apnea gets less severe or if I no longer have OSA due to the lost weight? Or would I develop aerophagia? I have to go out of town so I won't be back for a couple of hours

[Krelvin]

Loose the weight, then you can check to see if you still need the pressure. It is only at that time you would possible know if lowering the pressure or stopping cpap altogether would be warranted.

For many, losing weight doesn't make a huge difference and it might have been OSA that helped put the weight on in the first place along with other factors.

[bwexler]

It would help if you could fill out your profile including the exact model of CPAP machine and mask in text format not picture. Then we can advise you if your machine is capable of providing the data necessary to determine if your therapy is currently successful or in need of an adjustment.
No continuing your therapy after you loose the weight won't harm you even if you no longer have apnea.
For most although loosing weight provides many health benefits, it seldom cures apnea.

[Pugsy]

I use a CPAP and I was wondering if there is a chance that once I lose my weight, is there a chance that I would no longer need my CPAP and would I have to do another study to determine that?

Yes...there is a chance...no guarantees though because remember a lot of skinny people have OSA so weight isn't the only factor.
Yes...to confirm for sure you would need another sleep study without cpap to see if the OSA went away.

My also BIG concern is would it still be safe being on a CPAP with my pressure of 12cm if my sleep apnea gets less severe or if I no longer have OSA due to the lost weight?

It's only air and it's unlikely that there would be any negative consequences to using more pressure than what might be technically needed. In fact some people currently do that on purpose anyway. On paper a lesser pressure gets the job done nicely but they simply feel that they sleep better and feel better overall with a little more pressure than what technically is sufficient.

Or would I develop aerophagia?

Doubtful that you would develop aerophagia issues in this situation. If you don't have that issue now there is no reason that would change just because of less pressure being needed unless something weird or odd happens.

Losing excess weight is always a good thing to do...lose what you can and then cross the above bridges when you come to them...if you come to them.

[Noctuary]

I've been losing weight too and things seem a bit different. I'm hoping I will have better sleep with less weight.

[tedburnsIII]

Since my split-night sleep study I have been in occasional contact with the technologists at the lab.

According to the lab, which is part of a major hospital in the area, I was told to have an additional study done once the patient has lost 20 or more lbs. 20 lbs. would be the minimum weight loss before another study would be recommended.

[Wulfman...]

I am new to this but I have been a guest for quite some time reading a few posts here and there. I am overweight and currently sit at a 12cm pressure setting. I use a CPAP and I was wondering if there is a chance that once I lose my weight, is there a chance that I would no longer need my CPAP and would I have to do another study to determine that? My friend lost his weight and no longer has sleep apnea. My also BIG concern is would it still be safe being on a CPAP with my pressure of 12cm if my sleep apnea gets less severe or if I no longer have OSA due to the lost weight? Or would I develop aerophagia? I have to go out of town so I won't be back for a couple of hours

Do you have a data-capable machine and are you monitoring your therapy with software? If you don't have a data-capable machine and if you're not monitoring your therapy with software, you won't know whether you'll need less or more pressure.
Yes, many people who lose weight actually need MORE therapy pressure. Sorry to break that news to you.
If your machine is non-data-capable, I would advise against making any changes.
Your pressure of 12 cm. isn't all that much in the whole realm of this therapy. I started out with 10 and increased it to 12 and now can't imagine using less......I'm used to it......it wouldn't feel like I was getting enough air at this point as I'm used to this pressure.

As was mentioned, please fill out your profile with the exact equipment and settings you're using.


Den

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[Wulfman...]

Since my split-night sleep study I have been in occasional contact with the technologists at the lab.

According to the lab, which is part of a major hospital in the area, I was told to have an additional study done once the patient has lost 20 or more lbs. 20 lbs. would be the minimum weight loss before another study would be recommended.

They make money from doing sleep studies. What else would you expect them to say?


Den

.

[SewTired]

Yes, many people who lose weight actually need MORE therapy pressure. Sorry to break that news to you.

The reason for this may be flab from losing weight. I had issues with sleep apnea that were alleviated sleeping on my side. Then I lost 30 pounds last year and I have been deteriorating since January. The doc said just like your skin gets flabby, you lose weight in breathing spaces and they get flabby and collapse.

As far as changing pressures, I am a newbie and have no advice. I know I will lose more weight, so I'm making sure that I have an auto machine that not only makes changes, but also provides data so that I can keep track of it.

Hey, but if weight is your only issue, you have a good chance of not needing a 2nd cpap. More than half of those patients who have bariatric surgery have been able to eliminate their need for a cpap.

[tedburnsIII]

Since my split-night sleep study I have been in occasional contact with the technologists at the lab.

According to the lab, which is part of a major hospital in the area, I was told to have an additional study done once the patient has lost 20 or more lbs. 20 lbs. would be the minimum weight loss before another study would be recommended.

They make money from doing sleep studies. What else would you expect them to say?


Den

.

Okay, I've lost 3 lbs since January! Time to go for another study, and I expect my insurance to approve it, based upon your counsel! Yay!

[tedburnsIII]

I am new to this but I have been a guest for quite some time reading a few posts here and there. I am overweight and currently sit at a 12cm pressure setting. I use a CPAP and I was wondering if there is a chance that once I lose my weight, is there a chance that I would no longer need my CPAP and would I have to do another study to determine that? My friend lost his weight and no longer has sleep apnea. My also BIG concern is would it still be safe being on a CPAP with my pressure of 12cm if my sleep apnea gets less severe or if I no longer have OSA due to the lost weight? Or would I develop aerophagia? I have to go out of town so I won't be back for a couple of hours

Do you have a data-capable machine and are you monitoring your therapy with software? If you don't have a data-capable machine and if you're not monitoring your therapy with software, you won't know whether you'll need less or more pressure.
Yes, many people who lose weight actually need MORE therapy pressure. Sorry to break that news to you.
If your machine is non-data-capable, I would advise against making any changes.
Your pressure of 12 cm. isn't all that much in the whole realm of this therapy. I started out with 10 and increased it to 12 and now can't imagine using less......I'm used to it......it wouldn't feel like I was getting enough air at this point as I'm used to this pressure.

As was mentioned, please fill out your profile with the exact equipment and settings you're using.

Den

.

All that said, BPAP is indicated at pressures of 15.

[Wulfman...]

Since my split-night sleep study I have been in occasional contact with the technologists at the lab.

According to the lab, which is part of a major hospital in the area, I was told to have an additional study done once the patient has lost 20 or more lbs. 20 lbs. would be the minimum weight loss before another study would be recommended.

They make money from doing sleep studies. What else would you expect them to say?


Den

.

Okay, I've lost 3 lbs since January! Time to go for another study, and I expect my insurance to approve it, based upon your counsel! Yay!

That's absurd! I never said anything like that. You obviously have a fully-data-capable machine and should be able to see what pressures are required or are working for you. Almost anyone with fully data-capable machines should be able to avoid further sleep studies.


Den

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[palerider]

According to the lab

They make money from doing sleep studies. What else would you expect them to say?

Time to go for another study, and I expect my insurance to approve it, Yay!

That's absurd! I never said anything like that.

what do you expect, Den, from someone so simple minded that they confuse "lab making money" with "insurance".

[HanzT]

I got really bad GERD last year and some other issues, and lost over 25 pounds in 3 months - I went from 193 to 165 and I'm 5' 10". All I was eating was soups, vegi's and salmon or other fish. No sugar at all, no dairy, no processed foods, etc to try to cure the GERD. It was crazy. I was still feeling bad so I got a sleep study done to check on things (even though I have a data capable machine). When the results came back, the doctor told me I no longer had sleep apnea! I said, What?!?!?! In fact, they let me sleep all night at the study without putting on a CPAP, which I thought was strange at the time. I was shocked because I could see events on my machine just the night before, and I would wake up with headaches, tired. I didn't know what to think so I just slept with my dental device to be safe. Well, I gained 10 pounds back and have been using the CPAP again as you might know if you read my other posts. I think its back, but the doctor wants me to come in for another sleep study as a "baseline". He says things that suggest I over reacting and I don't really have apena. What a crazy situation to be in. I personally don't think he really looks deeply into the study, just the overall AHI and says "you're fine". No deep analysis like Morbius has done for me here. This time I'm going to ask for the raw data.

Anyway, I guess that was a long way of saying, you might be able to impact your apnea if you loose weight. But everyone is different...

[Wulfman...]

I got really bad GERD last year and some other issues, and lost over 25 pounds in 3 months - I went from 193 to 165 and I'm 5' 10". All I was eating was soups, vegi's and salmon or other fish. No sugar at all, no dairy, no processed foods, etc to try to cure the GERD. It was crazy. I was still feeling bad so I got a sleep study done to check on things (even though I have a data capable machine). When the results came back, the doctor told me I no longer had sleep apnea! I said, What?!?!?! In fact, they let me sleep all night at the study without putting on a CPAP, which I thought was strange at the time. I was shocked because I could see events on my machine just the night before, and I would wake up with headaches, tired. I didn't know what to think so I just slept with my dental device to be safe. Well, I gained 10 pounds back and have been using the CPAP again as you might know if you read my other posts. I think its back, but the doctor wants me to come in for another sleep study as a "baseline". He says things that suggest I over reacting and I don't really have apena. What a crazy situation to be in. I personally don't think he really looks deeply into the study, just the overall AHI and says "you're fine". No deep analysis like Morbius has done for me here. This time I'm going to ask for the raw data.

Anyway, I guess that was a long way of saying, you might be able to impact your apnea if you loose weight. But everyone is different...

I've read that using XPAP just before a sleep study can affect the study results. In other words, there can be a residual effect and one needs to have several nights off of the therapy before having a sleep study.

I would question a doctor's judgment (intelligence) if they did NOT ask the person to refrain from using therapy right up to the sleep study.


Den

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