No longer need CPAP?

[Lauperfan]

I was diagnosed with moderate to severe apnea. I'm on my third night of therapy, but when/how would I know if I no longer need it? It's not a matter of losing weight for me, so is there a measure of when I'd no longer need it?

[Bill44133]

You most likely are on it for the rest of your life. Unless you have some type of miracle or the medical profession finds another way..

The only way to find out if you still need it is to do another sleep study..


I wish you well...

[Lauperfan]

For life?? Sounds extreme, no? I have friends who used it, but eventually didn't need it anymore. Surely, there are cases when it's not needed anymore?

[Goofproof]

When you die, or drown in De-Nile. I can hear the water hitting the sides of your Intertape already. BLUB, Blub! Jim

[Lauperfan]

Thanks, Goofproof. Not the serious answer I was looking for.

[Pugsy]

Did your friends have a follow up sleep study to document that they no longer needed cpap or did they just arbitrarily decide the don't need it anymore? The only way to know for sure is another sleep study.

Yes...some people do get off of the cpap machine for various reasons but it all depends on why they have sleep apnea and what they did to remedy the situation.
Example...I know one person who had central sleep apnea secondary to some really potent pain meds...once he got off the meds he no longer had central sleep apnea so he got to quit using his machine.

Losing weight isn't a guarantee because often weight isn't the primary cause...look at all the skinny people with OSA.

For life? Maybe, but who knows what treatments will be available in 10 years.

[Bill44133]

For life?? Sounds extreme, no? I have friends who used it, but eventually didn't need it anymore. Surely, there are cases when it's not needed anymore?

I know it is a tough pill to swallow... It is not extreme.. It is... what it is...

[bwexler]

For most of us it is when we look down and see ourselves in a nice satin lined box.
Goofproof was not joking, he simply has a lighter way of expressing himself.

There are many who relegate their XPAP machine to the closet or Craig's list. That does not mean they were cured, only that they discontinued treatment. A diabetic who substitutes chocolate cake and pizza for insulin, may not be cured, but is no longer treating his diabetes. My brother tried this shortly before his death.

You have received several honest answers. The fact that you don't like them, does not invalidate them.

[Wulfman...]

I was diagnosed with moderate to severe apnea. I'm on my third night of therapy, but when/how would I know if I no longer need it? It's not a matter of losing weight for me, so is there a measure of when I'd no longer need it?

Like the others have said, it's a therapy you'll probably need for the rest of your life. The sooner you accept that fact, the sooner you'll be able to "make peace" with it. You've probably had it for many, many years. Some of us suspect we've had it for most of our lives.
Lots of "normal" to "skinny" people have it and for some with extra weight, losing the weight can even require even more pressure. Unfortunately, too many people are led to believe that "surgery" can cure them........WRONG! Often times, surgeries only improve the situation for a short time and/or the the users may still require the therapy at even higher pressures, too.

Get used to it. It's your NEW way of life.


Den

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[Lauperfan]

It's not that I don't appreciate the advice. I do. That's why I joined this forum. I am just asking honest, nervous questions. I'm not a seasoned CPAP user, so I don't understand the seemingly flippant responses of "this is the way it is, get over it." I have many more questions and concerns that I feel are met with a "get over it" tone. I don't want this to be my normal, so maybe I joined this forum out of desperation.

[Goofproof]

There are two aproaches to sleep apnea, treat it, XPAP, for now is the Gold standard, or do something else, or just ignore it, the LEAD Standard, and accept the health results from doing so. Those include poorer health and lower quality of life and earlier death. Do those around you want to see you do that to yourself, over a little air. Jim

[Goofproof]

A lot of this treatment comes down to attitude. Sometimes people need a booster shot of reality to overcome attitude.

"Can't never got anything worthwhile done"

[jagzoo]

Hi lauperfen,

Seriously, none of us "wanted it to be this way" but we are doing what we need to do in order to be healthy.

You (and everyone else that is diagnosed) just need to do what you can now to deal with the OSA - Cpap etc.

If after a while (maybe a couple + years) if your readings on your Cpap remain with an AHI of, let's say less than 3 and you are feeling good - then go for a repeat Sleep Test and see for sure, if your OSA is "gone". Don't just stop - there is no way to tell from your Cpap readings as whenever you are using it - your OSA is being treated.

As others have said - a repeat Sleep Test is the only way to know! And you just had one - so you need to deal with what is Now - deal with the future when it comes. Meanwhile try to get healthy and stay alive.

Hang in there - everyone here knows how tough it is- and good luck!

[Wulfman...]

It's not that I don't appreciate the advice. I do. That's why I joined this forum. I am just asking honest, nervous questions. I'm not a seasoned CPAP user, so I don't understand the seemingly flippant responses of "this is the way it is, get over it." I have many more questions and concerns that I feel are met with a "get over it" tone. I don't want this to be my normal, so maybe I joined this forum out of desperation.

We were ALL new to this therapy when we started.

What do you want to be your "normal"? I can assure you that NONE of us asked for or wanted this condition. It's just that the vast majority of us just accept it as a way of improving our sleep and health. It's a "breathing disorder", not a sleeping disorder. When I was diagnosed and investigated what it was and how it's treated, I was so damned happy that I finally found out what was wrong and that this is all there was to treating it.

But, Sleep Apnea is prevalent in increasing numbers in the world. Yes, we have numerous forum members all around the world.

Flippant? No, we're just pretty straightforward and matter-of-fact around here.......sometimes blunt, sometimes try to inject some humor. Keep in mind that there have been thousands and thousands of people coming to the forum wondering the same things as you. Many handle it pretty well and some get belligerent and nasty when given the reality of the situation.

Your call. It's "baby steps" and "one night at a time".


Den

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[Julie]

Apnea is a condition, not a single event/crisis. Diabetes is a condition and you don't 'get over it' but must continue to treat it as long as you live (or until further notice by technology... something very likely to happen with OSA, but when is the question). There are very many advertised fixes out there, your dentist is likely to try and sell you on some, as is your ENT surgeon and who knows who else, but right now the thing that works for the great majority of us is Cpap (in whatever form you personally need). So we work with it, not against it, and do the best we can.