Weight Gain and Pressure

[jrfoster]

Since my sleep study more than 3 years ago (at which I was titrated at 10cm) I have gained about 35 pounds. I have raised my pressure over time to 13cm and have been running an AHI for the last 3 months of 2.7. I am frustrated that I cannot get it lower than that. Tonight I want to up it to 13.5cm for the week to see if there is any difference.

Anyone else notice a correlation between large weight gain and pressure?

Jeff

[Julie]

I know that a loss of as little as 5 lbs. can make a difference to how good I feel afterward (and I don't think I'm alone).

[junie]

I gained alot of weight since cpap.

[reefdreamer]

I have gained 20 lbs since starting cpap a year ago. Not sure why...I thought usually people lose wt but obviously not me.

[DottyG]

NOOOOOOOO.....I want to LOSE weight once I start getting treated. You mean that might not be the case, and I might gain even MORE?

Y'all, I can't do that. I need to lose so much, and I thought this was going to help me.

[nobody]

I think it's probably just a coincidence.

Since my sleep study more than 3 years ago (at which I was titrated at 10cm) I have gained about 35 pounds. I have raised my pressure over time to 13cm and have been running an AHI for the last 3 months of 2.7. I am frustrated that I cannot get it lower than that. Tonight I want to up it to 13.5cm for the week to see if there is any difference.

Anyone else notice a correlation between large weight gain and pressure?

Jeff

[Muse-Inc]

Well, in my case, losing 53#s means I need less pressure to stent open my airways. I know I'd have to increase pressure if I...God forbid...gained wt.

[CollegeGirl]

I've gained more than 100 pounds since starting cpap. My pressure is still exactly the same, and my AHIs just as good.

[jrfoster]

I've gained more than 100 pounds since starting cpap. My pressure is still exactly the same, and my AHIs just as good.

Interesting. I am trying upping my pressue by .5cm this week to see if it does make a difference. It might not, but what the heck. People who have an AHI of always
under 2.0 drive me nuts!!!! Why can't I do that also? What is their trick? Or are some of us just doomed to middle of the range AHI's? Oh well, at the sleep study my AHI was off
the chart, so keeping it under 3.0 is good. But I am always striving for better results. Thanks!

Jeff

[My_Dream]

I also gained about 20 lbs since starting cpap but I can't say that it's as a direct result. You never know.

[BlackSpinner]

Pre cpap people gain weight because they are too tired to function and they lay around plus they chew to keep them awake.

Post cpap - people gain weight because they digest "better" while they are sleeping so more calories are stored - this will be especially true if you don't get more active after using cpap.

Many people lose weight after cpap simply because they get off the couch. Many other people take it as a wake up call to turn their lives around and start eating healthier and exercising as part of taking control of their therapy.

[roster]

NOOOOOOOO.....I want to LOSE weight once I start getting treated. You mean that might not be the case, and I might gain even MORE?

Y'all, I can't do that. I need to lose so much, and I thought this was going to help me.

If you eat the right things in the right amounts, have a good exercise program, and always use CPAP when you sleep, you can lose weight.

Pressurized room air has zero calories, zero carbs, zero fat, zero protein, zero sodium, zero nitrites.

[DJ_Boxer]

Pre cpap people gain weight because they are too tired to function and they lay around plus they chew to keep them awake.

Many people lose weight after cpap simply because they get off the couch. Many other people take it as a wake up call to turn their lives around and start eating healthier and exercising as part of taking control of their therapy.

Blackspinner: I agree with you after being on CPAP/BiPAP for just over a month (August 10th start date) I have more energy which means I eat less (I ate because I was tired and gained to be at my max 245lbs) and because of more energy, I move more than I used to. Last week at Weight Watchers I lost 2.2lbs.

To those who still gained: 1) have you been in to have the readings checked by your doctor 2) do you have any other underlying medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid... 3) also some med's can cause weight gain (especially corto-steriods) 4) How are you feeling during the day: are you using the machine daily/nightly 5) are you eating the same even though you feel better 6)maybe you should see a therapist if (certain things apply). I am not a med professional but someone who is knowledgeable(Parents:mom was nurse; dad: pysch doctor for VA).

[BlackSpinner]

6)maybe you should see a therapist if (certain things apply) not a med professional but someone who is knowledgeable

After spending several years chewing to stay awake and using food to deal with anxiety (that I now realize were mostly caused by OSA) I have developed really bad habits and attitude towards food. I am still coming home and crashing on the couch with food after a stressful day at work- this is a bad habit I need to break. So in order to break out of that cycle I am seeing a therapist.

Eating for comfort is a mental health issue - diet, exercise won't help if the underlying need to eat chips, dip and other comfort foods is still there. 45 minutes of exercise will only address one chocolate bar.

Eating for comfort is no different then smoking or drinking in order to feel good - it is an addiction that is controlling your life. It is no different then being an alcoholic. The only difference is that you can drive safely (unless your high blood pressure triggers a heart attack).

[CollegeGirl]

I should have said that I'm certain my substantial 3 year weight gain had nothing to do with cpap. In fact, without CPAP, I imagine it could have been even more.