Weight vs Sleep Apnea

[CarpeNoctum]

Hi folks,
I'm an inactive member. Joined back when I was first diagnosed and you all were helpful. Like many SA sufferers...I have other heath issues and I was advised to lose weight. I took it seriously...started at 270 (at 6'2") and went on a fairly severe protein sparing fast. Been dropping about 20 pounds a month for 3 months now...so right at 210. Was able to drop pressures a bit and cpap is going better then ever...just a nightly routine is all. Since the diet is going well...I'm going to shoot for my High School weight of 185. Probably need another sleep study at that point.

I am an independent cpap user and always have been. I recently found a near perfect low hours machine on Craigslist and made an offer. It came with some accessories and one item I don't need looks to be a new Resmed blue zippered 6' cozy to help with hose condensation.

First person to PM me a mailing address gets it. I'll just throw it in a padded envelope and send it your way...no worries about postage.
CN

[CarpeNoctum]

looks and smells new

DSCN0031.JPG (118.04 KiB) Viewed 1350 times

[Miss Emerita]

Just wanted to congratulate you on your improving health and your successful SA therapy. I bet your story will be encouraging to plenty of other people.

[ChicagoGranny]

I'm going to shoot for my High School weight of 185. Probably need another sleep study at that point.

In a case like this, I would gradually drop the minimum pressure to 4.0 leaving the max at 20.0. If the machine raises the pressure above 4.0, you probably still need CPAP and can save the time and expense of a sleep study.

If the machine keeps the pressure at or slightly above 4.0, you might want to have that sleep study. Remember, even at 4.0, you are still getting CPAP therapy.

Good luck with your fitness goals!

[chunkyfrog]

I see your hose cover is blue. Would that be standard size?
Mine is grey--but it is for Slimline.

[CarpeNoctum]

I'm going to shoot for my High School weight of 185. Probably need another sleep study at that point.

In a case like this, I would gradually drop the minimum pressure to 4.0 leaving the max at 20.0. If the machine raises the pressure above 4.0, you probably still need CPAP and can save the time and expense of a sleep study.

If the machine keeps the pressure at or slightly above 4.0, you might want to have that sleep study. Remember, even at 4.0, you are still getting CPAP therapy.

Good luck with your fitness goals!

Thanks Granny...good idea.

And Miss emerita...thanks...it's going so well. Wish I could have gotten motivated 10 years ago!

Chunkyfrog...I believe you're right. Seems too small for a regular size hose. Thanks for the info cutie.
Cheers,
CN

[kteague]

Congrats on the weight loss! Please do let us know after you've lost the rest of the weight if your OSA resolves. You know after being here for some time that many of us are jaded on that, but I would love to hear a first hand success story.

[CarpeNoctum]

Thanks Katie,
Yes I've been around here enough to understand. I'm not losing this weight specifically to improve my cpap. I realized that it may just be easiest for me to explain it all.

I have a condition called left phrenic nerve paralysis or palsy. It usually occurs following open heart surgery, Mine happened during surgery after a serious car wreck. My diaphragm is all stretched out of shape and doesn't work properly. As you can imagine...this wreaks havok on my breathing. And there is a statistical link to sleep apnea...meaning that most people that have this also have sleep apnea. I was overweight when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea...so it's not possible to make any conclusions about the origins of my sa.

I am finally thin enough to where they will perform the surgical workaround. They do a plication....take a fold in the stretched out diaphragm and stitch it in place. I will be able to breath better and I'm hoping it will also help with apnea...but it's the breathing part...pretty important! Seeing a chest surgeon next week.
CN

[Miss Emerita]

Oh, best wishes for the surgery!

[CarpeNoctum]

Oh, best wishes for the surgery!

Thanks Miss Emerita,
I'm not worried...been through surgery before...and I'm going to a major teaching hospital. The possibility of breathing improvements is appealing after 10 symptomatic years.
CN

[Miss Emerita]

"Appealing" is putting it mildly! I hope you'll let us know how it goes. Best wishes!

[CarpeNoctum]

Good Morning cpap talk,
Thought I'd post an update since you all have been so nice. My diet is going well. It doesn't really feel like a diet anymore because my stomach has shrunk and I just don't feel hungry. I up my caloric intake to around 1000-1200 calories occasionally. Sometimes the way ketones makes you feel...can be unpleasant. Anyway...at the Doctor the other day I was at 207 and he pointed out that my last pulmonary tests were done at 285 about 10 years ago. My breathing was way worse then and I was up in the mountains...so supplemental O2.

There are several possibilities as to what's wrong with me. The initial test I had was non-specific, but there are several situations that may be causing this. There may even be the possibility of 100% recovery...which I had long abandoned. So onward and upward.

OK...I wasn't going to be gory...but he said that my lung could be collapsed from scar tissue and may be adhered to my diaphragm. And that it's actually my trapped lung that's pulling up my diaphragm into my chest...along with the normally higher intra-abdominal pressure from down below pushing upward. Sounds horrible and now...I'm feeling anxious...on top of everything else. So off to meditate. I can do this..I can do this

I was thinking about some of the old members. Is John still on here. Big guy on ASV? Sheriff Buford? I know Rocklin passed away. He was a character.

Anyway...my cpap is improving and after surgery...well ;ets just say I'm hoping.
Pleasant dreams,
James