For those that are overweight.....

[SheZAAM!]

Does it bother you that you will have to sleep with a mask for the rest of your life because you are overweight? I know....there are many reasons why people get OSA, but the biggest contributor seems to be being overweight. I had a sleep study and was diagnosed 3 yrs. ago. I was mortified, humiliated, sad and angry that being fat caused this. I could say that I have it because of my small mouth, recessed chin, etc, but deep down, I know it's because I'm fat (5'6", 195#, 39 yrs. old). At that time I resolved to loose weight and told the sleep center, "Thanks, but no thanks). I went to Weight Watchers and lost 20#. I've since gained 10# back, but hubby reported that I didn't snore at first, then it came back. At the time, my OSA didn't bother me, but bothered my husband.

Fast forward 3 yrs. I am now tired all day. I'm also snoring, gasping, and stopping breathing at night. Now I have a machine. I'm still mortified that I have this because I'm fat, but apparently I'm not mortified enough to loose weight. I'm sleeping the night with my mask on, but so far, still tired and dragging my butt all day (plus napping).

I haven't told any of my friends or family. I'm too ashamed.

[sleepycarol]

All body types can have sleep apnea -- not just overweight people.

Yes, overweight people are more likely to have sleep apnea but other factors can and do play into as well.

My son-in-law's mother has sleep apnea and she is not overweight and more active than I am (also about 10 years younger).

I have a coworker that uses cpap and he is not overweight --

I admit I am overweight and it probably does factor into my sleep apnea -- do I think if I lost a bunch of weight I would no longer need my machine? No since I have been fatigued long before I gained weight.

It takes time to accept the fact that you have a "new bed partner" at night -- but it will help your body heal itself and provide the treatment that will in all likely hood prolong your life.

I am embarrassed by having to hook up to a machine at night -- no -- I want to be able to breathe and not worry about IF I will wake up in the morning.

[Wulfman]

Does it bother you that you will have to sleep with a mask for the rest of your life because you are overweight? I know....there are many reasons why people get OSA, but the biggest contributor seems to be being overweight. I had a sleep study and was diagnosed 3 yrs. ago. I was mortified, humiliated, sad and angry that being fat caused this. I could say that I have it because of my small mouth, recessed chin, etc, but deep down, I know it's because I'm fat (5'6", 195#, 39 yrs. old). At that time I resolved to loose weight and told the sleep center, "Thanks, but no thanks). I went to Weight Watchers and lost 20#. I've since gained 10# back, but hubby reported that I didn't snore at first, then it came back. At the time, my OSA didn't bother me, but bothered my husband.

Fast forward 3 yrs. I am not tired all day. I'm also snoring, gasping, and stopping breathing at night. Now I have a machine. I'm still mortified that I have this because I'm fat, but apparently I'm not mortified enough to loose weight. I'm sleeping the night with my mask on, but so far, still tired and dragging my butt all day (plus napping).

I haven't told any of my friends or family. I'm too ashamed.

You've got it backwards. The OSA caused the weight gain and is keeping you from losing it. When you're being deprived of oxygen all night long, your metabolism is being thrown out of whack.
You need to accept your equipment as a life-saving device that will help you regain some of what you had before.

Hang in there. We've all been there in some way. If you're having problems with your husband, tell him to get over it.....and if he REALLY loves you, he'll accept it, too.

Good luck.

Den

[CorgiGirl]

Weight isn't the only or major issue here. I'm overweight, but I don't snore and I have OSA (and trouble losing the weight because of my sleep disorder)...my husband had OSA when he was active duty Air Force and not fat...everyone is different. And OSA is no different than any other chronic disorder. It's not anything to be ashamed of.

I have noticed that I am not hungry all the time anymore and I am losing fat because I'm simply not eating as much as I was, even during the holiday season.

Hang in there. We're all here with you.

[Songbird]

Hi, SheZAAM.

Welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place, and I'm so glad you have. I've only been hanging out here for a few months, but I've learned this: the cpaptalk forum is full of people with all kinds of problems, troubles and challenges to be dealt with -- myself among them -- and the most all-encompassing thing I've learned about them can be summed up in one word: acceptance. You don't need to accomplish anything to be accepted here. You're among friends who also have many barriers in the road and will just accept you, regardless of any failures you might see in yourself. (Actually, I haven't met anyone without them; just some who refuse to recognize the fact.) Listen to what others have said to you, especially what Wulfman/Den said. It's all true. Hang in there... it WILL get better.

To answer your question, I'm not at all ashamed of being a hosehead. Yes, I've gained some weight over the years, and worse than that is the fact that I've recently learned my blood pressure, pulse rate and blood glucose levels have climbed above normal, regardless of the fact that all of them have been normal/low during most of my life. I also have DJD (degenerative joint disease), and it's gotten much worse in the past year or so, to the point that I've had to stop some activities that meant a LOT to me. I'm certain all of it is a direct result of having SA (sleep apnea), and I'm very hopeful that I'll be able to get all of them under control as I continue with my cpap therapy. Hopeful, though, not certain; I don't know how much damage was done before my SA was discovered. Time will tell.

In my mind, how we look counts to a certain extent, but being healthy is what really counts; simply being alive and feeling well enough to enjoy it. The destructive part of sleep apnea isn't snoring; it's that the brain and entire system of anyone with SA, including you, are deprived of oxygen. Oxygen deprivation kills brain cells, damages body parts and can even kill people. That's what truly matters... living, and living as well as possible.

Again, welcome to the forum. Good for you for asking your question -- many wouldn't. That took guts, and it tells me you're heading in the right direction. Keep up the good work!!

Marsha

[Captain_Midnight]

No need to blame one's self for OSA.

About a third of all OSA patients are of normal weight, or are underweight; and, I'm willing to bet that the fraction is much higher.

As Den says, OSA can lead one to obesity for a variety of reasons. For just one example, there is a hormone called a grehlin which keeps you hungry when you are actually full; and it's working overtime for OSA patients.<P>

Some, not all, xPAP users report that they can lose weight more easily after many months on the machine. I believe that in my case, it truly helps me. Not to the point where I through caution to the wind, but just having hormones more balanced, thoughts more focused, and mood more cheerful can help us on many habit control issues.

Best of luck. You are not alone. Keep in mind that many of us were happy to get the diagnosis of OSA because we can put a cause on many of our problems, and we have xPAP to help us overcome a large number of them.

[ozij]

http://www.beyondashadowofadiet.com

Beyond a Shadow of a Diet: Weight Loss Myths


O.

[SheZAAM!]

Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement and support, especially you, Songbird.

I had a pretty good idea that I had OSA before my 1st sleep study. I had a co-worker who was very open about his OSA and success on Cpap. In fact, I still remember his words about his first successful Cpap experience, "Dude, it was like an acid trip! The sky was so bluer, the grass was greener, it was the best night ever!" LOL!

I look forward to that.

[goose]

Welcome!!!! You've found a great place for information and help with your OSA and we're all in the boat with you, so grab an oar and paddle along!!!!


As others have said, being overweight isn't the determining factor, but OSA can cause you to gain -- I'm down 30lbs with 30 more to go (the easy 30 is gone..... ).....Once your treatment is working for you it's possible you'll find that losing some of the extra weight will just happen......

What struck me was "ashamed"....You should not be ashamed or embarrassed about your treatment. You might be surprised how many of your friends and acquaintances are in the boat with us.....After I was diagnosed, I found many sufferers that I didn't know about -- but it's not something we "advertise" anymore than you advertise any other affliction we may have.
Embrace your treatment. If people ask about it, explain it, maturely, passionately so that others understand it, and you never know, you may be the catalyst that brings others to the mask and a healthier life. There are many people out there that have OSA and don't even know it.....if you can explain symptoms, problems, associations etc., perhaps they'll go...."Wow. Maybe I should have a sleep test..."

Keep coming back and let us know how you're doing!!!!
Take care
cheers
goose

PS and since I've written this, you've already found someone that's doing exactly what I said....being open.....Though I'd have to argue that it's never been an acid trip to me.....Acid was far better than xPAP

[Bluebonnet_Gal]

I haven't told any of my friends or family. I'm too ashamed.

Don't be ashamed! Here's the way I look at it. Anyone can look at me and see that I'm overweight. I'd be more ashamed if a co-worker caught me dozing off at work! I was more ashamed the morning I was on my way to a doctor appt, I fell asleep at the wheel, hit a concrete guardrail and blew out a tire, then had to call a co-worker for ride to work because it would be several hours before my car was ready. When asked "what happened", I was so embarrassed to tell them that I fell asleep but at the same time grateful that I only ruined a tire - it could have been so much worse! Now I finally know why I've been so tired and sleepy for years. The weight has crept on me slowly and I definitely believe that if I had been getting the rest I needed all along, I would have been able to control my weight. I hope that after some months on xPAP therapy, after I am rested, I will be able to lose at least some of the weight.

This brings to mind a question for a poll. I've never set one up before, but there's a first time for everything!

you may be the catalyst that brings others to the mask and a healthier life. There are many people out there that have OSA and don't even know it

Goose is right - a neighbor told me how much better he felt after starting CPAP. That's what convinced me it was time I have a sleep study. I found out I have Severe OSA - no wonder I was feeling so terrible!

[lvwildcat]

Looking back...I always snored...DH always nudged me to turn me on my side to stop the snoring. I weighed 140 lbs when we first got married so I wasn't overweight but now sure that I had sleep apnea back then. My highest weight was over 300 lbs and my pressure was 15 then. Thanks to gastric bypass I now weigh 168 lbs;pressure is 9 and am waiting to see if Cigna approved an APAP so I can forego yet another sleep study for more titration.

[sleepycarol]

Way to go lvwildcat!! I was wondering how you were doing!!

Congratulations!!

[GaryGarland]

For whatever it's worth, when i graduated college in 1988, i weighed 155 (pretty thin for me, after working out a lot) - i got tested last week at a wellness center (extension to a hospital that has the best and most expensive exercise equipment i've seen - better than any "gym") and my lean body mass is 176 - meaning the only way i could weigh 155 again is to lose every shred of fat i have, and about 20 pounds of i guess muscle (or back hair) to boot.
I thought i needed to lose about 80 pounds (i teter between 240 and 250) and wanted to get to 170 - per testing including body measurements and an ultra violet light that went against my bicep, i apparently only need to lose roughly 30 pounds to get to the upper end of the healthy body fat scale (roughly 15%) - i was very excited!
the nurse felt i possibly wouldn't need a cpap machine if i lost the weight, however the sleep lab felt i likely would. as i have an apap, i'm pretty comfortable that if i start averaging closer to my lower setting, i'll just lower the settings further and let the machine "talk" to me.
i will say diet does not work for me - period. i have to move to lose the pounds - and as i'm getting older (41) i want to move less. but again, if 30 pounds means no machine, i'll have to be more dilient. new year coming up, and all that...

[Songbird]

... my lean body mass is 176 - meaning the only way i could weigh 155 again is to lose every shred of fat i have, and about 20 pounds of i guess muscle (or back hair) to boot.

Gary!! Eeeeeew!!! Thanks for my laugh of the day.

Marsha