are we all overweight here?

[emak]

I have been under the impression that OSA is 'almost' exclusively an obesity related condition. Myself I'm probably at least 70 lbs past skinny, So is there anyone here who is actually within 10-20 lbs of ideal bodyweight but still has OSA?

[Volcanomom]

I can only speak for myself, and I'm definitely in the hefty category. I did some reading though that suggests that it's a vicious cycle. The sleep apena disrupts the production of chemicals in your brain that suppress the appetite. Also, you're (at least I do) constantly trying to boost your energy by eating. So, I think that while carrying extra weight may start or increase the problem, it's a negative feedback loop. The weight makes the apnea worse, and the apnea makes the weight loss harder.

I don't know if it matters, but my apnea is mixed - I have central and obstructive and the central apparently is less tied to weight. Or that's my VERY novice understanding anyway.

[Wulfman]

It's more probable that "Obesity is an OSA-related thing". Depriving one's body of oxygen while we sleep puts our metabolism out of whack......and we gain weight......and develop diabetes and other bad things we don't want to have to deal with. It's one of those "chicken or egg" issues.

Den

[Guest]

I am several pounds (at least 40) over weight, too. I envision myself running like I used to do, or bicycling, swimming, hiking, etc., but I just don't feel like it. I'm in that terrible vicious cycle of knowing I need to do something, but not feeling like getting out and doing it. I have no one to blame but myself. I have access to a free gym membership through my employer ... what more do I need?!!!

[Slinky]

Nope. I'm 5'4" and have weighed 110-115 lbs since the age of 13. I'm 66 now. And I'm female w/a 13" neck. But I still have OSA.

[Mstreet]

At least ten years ago, my husband and I went on the Dr Atkins diet. I lost at least sixty pounds over a year's time. Of course husband lost quicker. We ate low carbs. Most people told us we were killing ourselves and ruining our kidneys. After hubby retiring, moving closer to extended family, building a new home, again learning a new geographic area, and starting a new job at 62 where I have at least 17 bosses and no supervior, work with almost a total women's workforce(who are pre-menstral, menapausal, or in hateful divorces), I gained all my weight back.

When I was told by my ENT doctor(whom I saw because I was losing hearing in one ear) that I probably had sleep apnea, I started this journey with my cpap machine, mask, etc.

In late December I went to my regular doctor, told her I had sleep apnea and was there anything I needed to do medically. She started berating me that I was too fat and must loose weight. I told her I needed help as I work in a place that smells of food cooking, my three old whom we care for eats all kinds of good tasting treats, etc. . She said an appetite surpressant would kill me, I must pay for it without insurance coverage, and come back in a month. Of course, my blood work revealed no problems.

The attitude of the medical profession is unbelievable. They seem to think we can just not see, hear, or smell food all around us. But I could go on this vein forever.

The plan is to get on the Dr. Atkins' diet or the old sugar buster diet, or the diet Suzanne _Summers_____???(the actress). Don't go for the LOW FAT products. Look at the amount of sugar in the low fat foods as compared to the regular food. Be careful with the artifical sweetners; they have sugarlike products.

Read all the diet books I have mentioned. The dietitians who advise you on diets, and the doctors who tell you about your diet and weight lose are usually little skinny people who have not weight problems.

This is a journey you must educate yourself on as we do here on this wonderful blog.

I am trying to again lose weight; so far I have lost about fifteen pounds in about two months.

Good luck

[sleepydoll]

I'm what we can call " well preserved in oil"!

About 45 pounds ago, I started to feel tired all the time...verry low energy, lack of restfull sleep etc. I put off for 2 full years my doctor's recomendation to be tested for OSA, until these past year ( denial can be very strong at times ! )...my doctor was right...and OSA was probably part of me for the last 10-15 years...

I was stating to cave in to emotional drains, offering the popular excuse that "I just can't help it," while frying my nerves and draining my little energy bank.

It's time now that I learn both how and why to "help it" — or at least become open to the fact that *I can.*
Don't get me wrong here...I just started this in June of this year!
This been said, I see much more clearly the damages of OSA on my quality of work, rest, and play!

I also make it a must to incorporate laugher into daily activities, just as is done with other heart-healthy activities, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day.

Change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn and
I see I can change the outer aspects of my life a little bit at a time, slowly but surely !
This forum has helped my beyond my wildest expectations...
Thank you for letting me share this with you!

D.

[Hawthorne]

I am about 5 pounds over ideal weight for my weight and height and have been this weight for about 20 years, but have had sleep apnea for almost 6 years now. Not all, with sleep apnea are overweight. Other factors are involved for some people.

[DreamStalker]

Basically ... although obesity can make OSA conditions worse, obesity is generally a symptom of OSA not a cause.

[sharon1965]

i was low to normal weight my whole life, even through both pregnancies where i gained only 20lbs and 17 lbs respectively......i eat a very healthy diet and was very active until i crashed about 3 years ago when i started to sleep around the clock and was too exhausted to do any of my normal activities like rollerblading, dog walking, swimming...i could barely make it to the top of a flight of stairs...at that time i experienced sudden, rapid weight gain of about 2lbs/week...i'm now about 40lbs. overweight and can't seem to budge an ounce of it...

of course my idiot GP told me to eat less, move more and take antidepressants...what a moron

[Snoredog]

speak for yourself, normal weight here.

was even thinner when I was diagnosed.

[jomac30]

I'm overweight and thought once I was on cpap I would have the energy to do something about it. Been on cpap a year and a half and still no energy. In all this time I've only slept all night twice. I don't know what's wrong. I'm trying different masks and went from cpap to apap, but no difference. If someone knows how to motivate people please motivate me. I don't need diabetes next. I already have high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

[deerslayer]

% of body fat 29.5 ...i/m walkin the tightrope ..OSA is just another risk factor http://www.aolhealth.com/tools/weight-and-health-risks

[pianomagoo]

I'm overweight and thought once I was on cpap I would have the energy to do something about it. Been on cpap a year and a half and still no energy. In all this time I've only slept all night twice. I don't know what's wrong. I'm trying different masks and went from cpap to apap, but no difference. If someone knows how to motivate people please motivate me. I don't need diabetes next. I already have high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

_______Jomac,
The only thing that motivates me at present is having the software and ability to monitor my progression. If I couldn't actually see for myself on a daily basis what was going on while I sleep__I wouldn't even be motivated to continue therapy because I don't physically feel any better yet. Do you have software? 30 minutes of exercise a day is good for your health whether you are overweight or not. I am about 25 pounds overweight since apnea but remember feeling better when I was a few pounds lighter. It is how you feel that counts.___

One of these days, soon, I am going to get back to the treadmill.

Anne_____

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, APAP

[Woody]

I am NOT OVERWEIGHT ! I am just to short for my weight! I do feel a lot
better and rested at a lower body weight. But losing weigth and KEEPING it off thats the problem. But as others have pointed out some of us here are skinny and have sleap apnia. I even have a friend who was 85lbs overweight
and on cpap at 10cm of pressure after she lost 60 lbs she was retitrated at
14cm of pressure. Well I guess I will go have a little 30min workout - how
do I hate exercise let me count the reps....