CPAP and water retention

[jluvdc]

Hello! I'm new to having a CPAP machine and new to this forum. I'm hoping that you all might be able to help me with a question. I started using a CPAP about 3 1/2 weeks ago, my setting is 13. The therapist said I had severe obstructive sleep apnea. Prior to using the machine I was awake about every 2 hours to use the bathroom. Since I've been on the machine I normally sleep all night, though a couple times I have got up once. The problem is, since I've started using the machine and not using the bathroom all night I've started to retain fluid. Right now I'm probably retaining around 15-20 pounds of water. I was already overweight to begin, but this increase has also led to back pain if I try to walk or stand for very long and is just overall uncomfortable. The therapist said that most people have the reverse happen, a decrease in fluid retention and to discuss it with my primary care physician. Which I am going to do, but most doctors never take me seriously so I'm not sure he'll be helpful (This will be a new doctor that I haven't met yet).
So I'm wondering, has anyone else had this happen? I can't find that I've changed anything else lately, in fact I had been sleeping decent and had more energy and was looking forward to exercising more (which is not happening cause of the back pain).

Short version....anyone else have major fluid retention when starting CPAP therapy?

[Goofproof]

Not everything can be blamed on CPAP thrapy, The reason you aren't going at night is if your sleeping sound you body shuts down the pump. You weren't orgionally designed to get up and go potty in the middle of the night. If you are retaining water, that's a medical problem that needs treated, could be heart related, require 2 @ 40mg Lasix daily to pull the water away from my heart. Some heart med's cause swelling too, I on one of those too. Diabeta doesn't help much either. See the Dr. Jim

But stopping XPAP, if you have Sleep Apnea, isn't the answer.

[sleepydoll]

The problem is, since I've started using the machine and not using the bathroom all night I've started to retain fluid. Right now I'm probably retaining around 15-20 pounds of water....this increase has also led to back pain if I try to walk or stand for very long and is just overall uncomfortable.
Short version....anyone else have major fluid retention when starting CPAP therapy?

I truely don't think that CPAP can cause edema ( swelling due to water retention.)
What really worries me is the fact that you also experience back pain. Lower back pain, may indicate that you're having kidney problems...and this can be caused by high blood pressure with water retention, affecting your kidney as well..
Basic line : NOT GOOD !!
This is where "LASIX", a diuretic that Goofproof talks about, comes into place.
I strongly suggest that you see a doctor quickly on this subject....you could have serious health problems that weren't diagnosed prior to your cpap therapy.

You can check out what some other people said about swelling and CPAP on another forum (apneasupport.com) at this thread:
http://www.apneasupport.org/mobile/thre ... &&start=10

keep us posted!
D.

[bap40]

Same as above. You need to see your doctor. There can be many things that cause water retention and only your doc can figure this out for you.

[kteague]

I agree with previous posters about getting evaluated to determine a cause.

I'm one whose edema is better the more I sleep. I've been on water pills for idiopathic edema since the 80's - never determined a cause. A couple years ago ended up in the hospital with the fluid so backed up in my chest I couldn't breathe. At one point recently had progressed to weeping edema, now with some med changes the problem is minimal. Because I changed 2 meds around the same time, I'll never know which held the key. I quit Mirapex. Taking four 40mg lasix a day wasn't budging the water. Doc added Metolazone 30 minutes before the lasix and now my edema is so minimal I take only 1 lasix about every 2 or 3 days. If I take any more I get too flushed and get leg cramps.

I guess the only thing worse than not knowing why, is knowing why and having a real problem. Hopefully you'll be able to ward off trouble by dealing with this early on. Holding 15-20 pounds of water has to be miserable.

Tell this new doctor that you are taking measures to regain your health (cpap treatment) and hope they will be able to help you regain your health, and they'll likely be more prone to take you seriously and help you. I don't think it's my imagination that when the doctors look at my chart and see I'm losing weight or when I tell them I'm going to water exercise classes, the interaction changes. Not that I didn't get good treatment before, just seemed to change the dynamics. Just saying, by letting the doctor know that you are really interested in your health, you are setting the tone for your expectations of your new doctor. Best wishes as you move forward.

Kathy

[Goofproof]

I agree with previous posters about getting evaluated to determine a cause.

I'm one whose edema is better the more I sleep. I've been on water pills for idiopathic edema since the 80's - never determined a cause. A couple years ago ended up in the hospital with the fluid so backed up in my chest I couldn't breathe. At one point recently had progressed to weeping edema, now with some med changes the problem is minimal. Because I changed 2 meds around the same time, I'll never know which held the key. I quit Mirapex. Taking four 40mg lasix a day wasn't budging the water. Doc added Metolazone 30 minutes before the lasix and now my edema is so minimal I take only 1 lasix about every 2 or 3 days. If I take any more I get too flushed and get leg cramps.

I guess the only thing worse than not knowing why, is knowing why and having a real problem. Hopefully you'll be able to ward off trouble by dealing with this early on. Holding 15-20 pounds of water has to be miserable.

Tell this new doctor that you are taking measures to regain your health (cpap treatment) and hope they will be able to help you regain your health, and they'll likely be more prone to take you seriously and help you. I don't think it's my imagination that when the doctors look at my chart and see I'm losing weight or when I tell them I'm going to water exercise classes, the interaction changes. Not that I didn't get good treatment before, just seemed to change the dynamics. Just saying, by letting the doctor know that you are really interested in your health, you are setting the tone for your expectations of your new doctor. Best wishes as you move forward.

Kathy

Are you having your Potassium monitored, I have to take 2@20meg of Klor-con daily to keep my levels up. Jim

[kteague]

Jim,
Thanks for asking. I have bloodwork every few months that includes potassium but not specifically to monitor the lasix effect. The doctor did mention the possibility of needing to add it if keeping my edema down was going to cause problems. When I was taking the 4 lasix no fluid was moving so my potassium didn't drop. I'm at a good place right now but if things change I will pursue that option because whatever it takes to keep from the fluid backing up is what I need to do. I'm not sure what Metolazone does to prep for the lasix, but I get more action now out of 1 lasix than I used to out of 4.
Kathy

[Goofproof]

Jim,
Thanks for asking. I have bloodwork every few months that includes potassium but not specifically to monitor the lasix effect. The doctor did mention the possibility of needing to add it if keeping my edema down was going to cause problems. When I was taking the 4 lasix no fluid was moving so my potassium didn't drop. I'm at a good place right now but if things change I will pursue that option because whatever it takes to keep from the fluid backing up is what I need to do. I'm not sure what Metolazone does to prep for the lasix, but I get more action now out of 1 lasix than I used to out of 4.
Kathy

I was glad to hear you were on 4 Lasix, not because you were, but because of wondering how high a dose you could take if you had to. I thought I might have been maxed out, it's also nice to know other drugs can help out Lasix. Jim

[jluvdc]

Thank you all for the responses. I am really hoping its nothing very serious as I am only 31 and I was hoping I had more time to get into shape before I started to develop all sorts of health problems.

[~lyn~]

My mother and siblings can gain 4-10 pounds (perhaps more) water weight within 2-3 days of consuming MSG or similar additives. Have you tried cutting out the MSG?

[legalredhead42]

I have the EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!! I've been getting up every hour all night long for five years because of severe obstructive sleep apnea. My machine is set at 16!!! As soon as I started using the machine, I slept through the night, but I'm retaining water like crazy - can't even wear normal shoes! My back kills me when I stand or walk, and I just feel bloated and miserable. I'm taking high blood pressure medicine. My kidneys are working - I pee several times a day and I drink lots of water and don't salt my food. I've been using the CPAP about three weeks now. It does seem to be getting a little better, so I'm hoping my body is adjusting to the change, but if I can't get my shoes on by the end of the week, I'm going to the doctor. I had the same problem before and quit using my CPAP because of it. I stopped retaining water immediately, but obviously, my sleep apnea was still a big problem, so I started using it again.

[M]

Hi there,
My husband just got out of the hospital due to fluid retention which I think was caused by the CPAP. He never had that problem before and he started the CPAP MACHINE 8 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST SYMPTOMS. While in the hospital all labwork came back normal, chest x-ray normal, echocardiogram normal. He has CML and is diabetic with major vision problems but the doctors will not confirm that CPAP has anything to do with this new symptom. We were told to go back on the CPAP to see if the same symptoms present themselves. So just to let you know your not alone. I you have any updates please let me know.

[archangle]

I had problems with leg swelling whenever I visited my dad for quite some time. I sleep in a recliner most of the time and I finally figured out that difference was his recliner. I changed the recliner in his house and my problems went away.

I believe the problem was that his recliner pressed differently on my legs and cut off circulation in my legs to some extent.

Perhaps with CPAP, some people change their sleeping position and affect their circulation. It might be worth trying changes in sleeping position, putting pillows under the legs, etc. to see if it helps. If nothing else, at least it's cheap and easy to try.

[BlackSpinner]

Perhaps with CPAP, some people change their sleeping position and affect their circulation.

What often happens is for the first time in years you lay still and sleep for HOURS. Sleep without movement can be hard on the body that is used to moving. The first couple of weeks my hips and shoulders hurt quite badly.
You need to get good quality mattress pads and work at creating sleep positions that do not create other problems.