Reality check

[RJames]

Ok so I work in medical offices as an IT professional and also do a lot of CMA duties as part of my daily routine..

Most of (and mind you I say most) of the most critically afflicted patients I see go through the main office (allergy,immunology) are just plain FAT... (which came first?)

Most of what I have been able to verify indicates that by far, most CPAP patients are also just plain FAT and have larger than normal necks as well as being in very poor physical shape...

I am 40lbs overweight and so fall directly into this category.... I also fail to exercise regularly..

According to our resident sleep specialist... he is betting if I lose the weight, I will likely lose most of the apnea issues...

So... I am facing up to the fact that if I want to be healthy, I gotta quit stuffing my face... (oh this is gonna be fun)....

[Mary Z]

Good for you for your reality check. Keep us posted on your progress, RJames.
Hope that didn't sound sarcastic, I'm really glad you're taking the bull by the horns, and wish you good luck.

[Gerryk]

From my experience and my friends who are on cpap, you put weight on with age like most people but some of us hit a tipping point and OSA kicks in. So now we are tired and do less and put more weight on.

I do exercise regularly. I have been walking daily every day and only missed a few days since January. I walk between an hour to an hour and a half at a pace between 3.5 to 4 mph. recently I was able to start running, well actually jogging for about half or more of the time.

It becomes a viscious cycle and we do need to exercise. No matter how tired we get we need to at least walk to begin helping ourselves if we are over weight. You also have to be a little extra careful when exercising when so tired so you don't stuble or get hurt in some other way.

Gerry

[chunkyfrog]

I'm pretty sure I had OSA when I was UNDERWEIGHT.
I remember dozing off all the time, and feeling tired, then, too.
--You never forget being so sleepy you drop your BABY.
No doubt there is a connection.
At some point, obesity and OSA seem to feed each other, and the effect is nearly unstoppable.

[Gerryk]

I do hace to say that I know now that I had OSA for years. I had it in high school. When I was treated for OSA and had surgery and felt better, I remember getting in my car and driving someplace and for the first time in my life now being tired or having to worry I may fall asleep.

[BlackSpinner]

Oe...

I am 40lbs overweight and so fall directly into this category.... I also fail to exercise regularly..

According to our resident sleep specialist... he is betting if I lose the weight, I will likely lose most of the apnea issues...

So... I am facing up to the fact that if I want to be healthy, I gotta quit stuffing my face... (oh this is gonna be fun)....

There is a chance that will happen, it will also make you healthier but I was 5'3" & 112lb and extremely active when I first started to get OSA problems that eventually made me so tired I stopped working out and started to nibble to keep awake. Forty lbs later I am still trying to break the bad habits.

[NateS]

Ok so I work in medical offices as an IT professional and also do a lot of CMA duties as part of my daily routine..

Most of (and mind you I say most) of the most critically afflicted patients I see go through the main office (allergy,immunology) are just plain FAT... (which came first?)

Most of what I have been able to verify indicates that by far, most CPAP patients are also just plain FAT and have larger than normal necks as well as being in very poor physical shape...

I am 40lbs overweight and so fall directly into this category.... I also fail to exercise regularly..

According to our resident sleep specialist... he is betting if I lose the weight, I will likely lose most of the apnea issues...

So... I am facing up to the fact that if I want to be healthy, I gotta quit stuffing my face... (oh this is gonna be fun)....

Whenever I am in a doctor's office or a hospital, I am always surprised at how many medical staff personnel are themselves significantly overweight.

Do you have any theories as to what can account for that? Naturally, the rest of assume us that working in the health industry would be a high incentive towards weight control, but it doesn't seem to be.

Nate

[Maxie]

Yes, weight is a problem in many ways but if I could lose weight and not have apnea I would be a very happy camper. My sleep doctor said that apnea that is due to having a narrow air way is determined by whether he can see down my throat without a tongue depressor. I have a very narrow mouth so I was not particularly surprised that he could not see down my throat without his tongue depressor.

[MaxDarkside]

I'm 6' 1", 170 lbs, BMI of about 21-22. Not fat.
<<== I look like my profile picture today
Moderate to severe OSA. Weight may contribute, but is not a cause.

[jen4700]

Whenever I am in a doctor's office or a hospital, I am always surprised at how many medical staff personnel are themselves significantly overweight.

Do you have any theories as to what can account for that? Naturally, the rest of assume us that working in the health industry would be a high incentive towards weight control, but it doesn't seem to be.

Nate

Stress. Not being paid enough. Weird hours. There is a study (don't know the name) that has followed nurses and heart conditions for over 20 years. Weight is one of the things they are tracking. Sorry, don't have a ref.

[SleepingUgly]

I would feel like I won the lottery if there was even a tiny chance that I could be cured by losing weight. Go for it.

[RJames]

Ok so I work in medical offices as an IT professional and also do a lot of CMA duties as part of my daily routine..

Most of (and mind you I say most) of the most critically afflicted patients I see go through the main office (allergy,immunology) are just plain FAT... (which came first?)

Most of what I have been able to verify indicates that by far, most CPAP patients are also just plain FAT and have larger than normal necks as well as being in very poor physical shape...

I am 40lbs overweight and so fall directly into this category.... I also fail to exercise regularly..

According to our resident sleep specialist... he is betting if I lose the weight, I will likely lose most of the apnea issues...

So... I am facing up to the fact that if I want to be healthy, I gotta quit stuffing my face... (oh this is gonna be fun)....

Whenever I am in a doctor's office or a hospital, I am always surprised at how many medical staff personnel are themselves significantly overweight.

Do you have any theories as to what can account for that? Naturally, the rest of assume us that working in the health industry would be a high incentive towards weight control, but it doesn't seem to be.

Nate

Is actually in the news this week about a self insured medical facility that will not hire you if you are overweight... They are also releasing those that are overweight as well... The medical field is FULL of the obese and morbidly obese.. Stopping and thinking about it, do I want someone that can not take their own health and lifestyle serious to be taking care of mine? I am thinking not... "do as I say, not as I do" just really smells...

Now... how about that drug rep? Saving all the sexist crap for the politically correct, ours are almost exclusively very fit, fairly well educated women that are none too hard on the eye..

I am going on a sub 2k calorie intake for the next 90 days... and then modify my lifestyle so that I can maintain something closer to a healthy weight..

[BlackSpinner]

Is actually in the news this week about a self insured medical facility that will not hire you if you are overweight... They are also releasing those that are overweight as well..

I would rather see them working with these people to actually help them do something about it. They had better make sure they have lots of money on hand for lawsuits.

I am going on a sub 2k calorie intake for the next 90 days... and then modify my lifestyle so that I can maintain something closer to a healthy weight..

Forget the calorie thing and drop carbs and sugar. Much easier and more satisfying and sustainable.

[Heavylids]

I've been overweight twice in my life and I'm 54 yrs old now. Once 10 year ago while I was married. I was about 50 lbs overweight and my wife said I would snore and "hold my breath" when I was sleeping. Probably apnea then because I had the same tired feeling every day but I was younger and I tolerated it. Then I lost the 50 lbs plus a few more 6 years ago (d-i-v-o-r-c-e). Slept like a baby after that, no snoring and I felt great.

Over the past few years though I've gotten lazy and gained back 40 lbs of the weight I lost. Now I definitely have apnea. I'm down a little over 10 lbs so far and I'm going to keep going until I get close to my ideal weight of 180 lbs. Even my sleep doc said last week that if I lose some weight my apnea would probably lessen or subside to normal nightly events. I'm going to be cautiously optimistic and hope to be off the hose in about six months or so. If I don;t get lazy again...I love to cook and eat. It's my only vice.