Changes in Pressure with Improved Cardio Conditioning?

[mdintx]

Hey Folks,

I was wondering if any of you had experience with monitoring your pressures as you've improved your cardio training. What changes, if any, did you notice? My winter break (my workplace shuts down) is coming up and I'm going to be getting back to the gym during that period. I hadn't been going for some time but I noticed some odd experiences and numbers since returning a few days ago.

Thanks!

Mark

[Snorkler]

What type of odd experiences have you had? Have your AHI numbers or pressures changed?

[BlackSpinner]

I spent 2 weeks un digging a six foot deep ditch of clay. Working out hard several hours a day and it made not one bit of difference.

[mdintx]

What type of odd experiences have you had? Have your AHI numbers or pressures changed?

I was using my Swift LT at 12 with EPR at 1. I only use the EPR with the Swift cause I have a difficult time exhaling against it. My numbers had been going great AHI of 3 or less with an AI of 0. The next couple of nights, I got AHI's at ~8 and ~11 with AI's at ~1.5. I've never had AI numbers like that. I also woke up feeling like my head was going to explode. It was an intense pressure - almost like it was too much. The 2nd night, I took off the mask and slept the final hour without it and felt so much better an hour later. So last night, I go back to the SoftGel and set it to 11.6 (no EPR). Woke up with an AHI of 3 with AI of .5 and felt loads better (except for my reddened bridge ). It's just a lot of weirdness....

[Gerryk]

I honestly can't say if that is part of it or not. I had uppp surgery and my tonsils removed last spring. My pressure before surgery was 21/17 BiPap. After the surgery my machine was set to auto and my pressure was adjusted down to 14/8. My pressure was reduced to 14/5 last month and I have notices that my pressure is usually about 8 or 9/ 6 or 7. I have been on the treadmill for about an hour every third day since late August and have also lost 45 pounds since my surgery. So I can't say if it is that I am still healing from the surgery which the doc said I was, or the weight loss or cardio or a combination of all of them.
I am just happy that my numbers are so low now.

Gerry

[dsm]

Hey Folks,

I was wondering if any of you had experience with monitoring your pressures as you've improved your cardio training. What changes, if any, did you notice? My winter break (my workplace shuts down) is coming up and I'm going to be getting back to the gym during that period. I hadn't been going for some time but I noticed some odd experiences and numbers since returning a few days ago.

Thanks!

Mark

Mark,

I have gone through quite a change in the past year - started cycling to work, firstly just 1-2 days per week (15+15 kms) in Feb. Now do it most days of the week. Weight had got up to 107 kg 18 months ago & is now typically around 88 kg. Heart rate max used to be about 160 (rarely reached) but of late am seeing heart rate go up to 170 when I really pile the pressure on (cycling up hills).

Re cpap, I have found I can drop my epap by 1 CMs and not have any problems - I believe I could also drop ipap by the same, but 5 weeks ago discovered based on a hunch, that I could control nocturnal leg cramps by adjusting the gap on my machine from 3.0 to 3.8 - these cramps have plagued me for years (pre cpap) - have often discussed them here at cpaptalk plus doctors visits & recommendations etc: - the clue for doing that adjustment was how the intensity of cramps varied noticeably if I used one brand of machine over another. After thinking through why I decided it was probably blood CO2 levels based on the way epap & ipap were working (I may be quite wrong in my theory, but the adjustment has been 100% successful thus far (5 weeks)).

Today am a lot fitter than I was 18 months ago - but, I still need cpap therapy as I can see fairly quick deterioration if I stop it. 1st thing I see is the daily tiredness then losing interest in controlling what I eat then in doing exercise then in work & these are my alarm bells.

Exercise seems to greatly improve general well being but for me cpap therapy is a must no matter how fit I am or what I weigh.

Hope this info helps

DSM

(PS: aged in mid 60s)

[tattooyu]

That's great DSM! I'm 36 and trying to get my exercise tolerance up. I'm having some post-gallbladder surgery (2007) issues now which are making me fatigued. However, overall, I feel better. I'm hoping that my cardiac output will improve as well. I've only been on therapy since February 2009.

[dsm]

That's great DSM! I'm 36 and trying to get my exercise tolerance up. I'm having some post-gallbladder surgery (2007) issues now which are making me fatigued. However, overall, I feel better. I'm hoping that my cardiac output will improve as well. I've only been on therapy since February 2009.

tattooyu,

I think for many of us cpap is a necessity no matter the exercise. Am thinking that natural aging plus for me some developmental issues in the throat.

What I really enjoy from successful therapy is wanting to exercise & jogging was not good for my feet or knees & thus can create long term joint problems. Cycling & swimming are perhaps 2 of the better ones to chase.

Good luck with you program

DSM

[Muse-Inc]

...wondering if any of you had experience with monitoring your pressures as you've improved your cardio training. What changes, if any, did you notice?...

Mark, I'll let ya know. I used to do 35-75 mins (mostly on higher end) on my exercise every day; got a bad cold and stopped as I had sleep issues too. I've been hit or miss about exercise, mostly miss since then; I've been dealing with my ongoing no job angst with the holidays, unexpected house guests who'll be returning over Christmas, dealing with insurance & mortgage holder & now gen contractor for roof & interior damage from a storm (new experience for me) -- sometimes it's all just too much and I feel overwhelmed. Decided I need to get back to daily exercise, so I'll be able to post if I see changes in my numbers/pressure. I was completely sedentary at diagnosis; it took 9 months before I had the energy to do more than a few mins on bike, then within a few months was doing at least an hr/day; after losing 45-50 #s my pressure was reduced from 11 to 9 CPAP (noticeably thinner face and throat). Could be the reduced pressure was a result of both better conditioning and lost wt tho my docs think it's the lost wt. My sleep doc & cardio think the apnea will disappear along with the excess wt...we'll see.

[mdintx]

Hey Muse,

In terms of weight loss, I don't have very far to go. 10-15lbs would put me in a comfortable spot. 25lbs would be ideal but require pretty darn good discipline. Where I feel it most is in terms of my cardiovascular conditioning and my strength. I'm starting this weekend so we'll see how it goes.