Weaning off CPAP

[GT COOP]

After 12 years of using a CPAP, I have been told that I no longer need it (lost some weight). First 3 days have woke up feeling like I just got slapped a whole bunch. Doc said it may take a bit of getting used to (I gues anything would after daily use for 12 years), and also said that some sleep without CPAP part of the night and then put it on half way through. That might be tough for me - so, I am fishing for suggestions or thoughts from any that have experienced this. Thanks GT

[GT COOP]

Sorry - to be clear, I am looking for suggestions on how to come off the CPAP, with the least amount of discomfort etc. GT

[chunkyfrog]

If it doesn't feel good to quit--don't.
You wouldn't miss it if it wasn't still doing some good.

[greatunclebill]

what were your pressure setting and ahi numbers and did the doc do a sleep study to confirm this? if you have been using it for 12 years you know why you are using it to help you. i would get a second opinion on stopping by a sleep doc or better sleep doc.

[LSAT]

My suggestion would be to have another sleep study before you Quit. Just because you dropped some weight doesn't mean you are no longer having apneas or that your oxygen levels are good all night.

[Sloop]

Well the gentleman (or gentlelady) is correct. It is definitely possible to "cure" your OSA IF you lose enough weight - at least in those of us where excess weight is the determining factor.

I went on CPAP some 20 years ago after spending 3 nights in UVA's Sleep Lab. I was moderate/severe with apneas.
Three years later, I had lost 65 lbs and went back for another sleep study. ZERO apneas and just a normal study. I was declared "cured". I remember the night I first went off CPAP, it was like giving up your best friend. But I did it without any problems.

Seven or so years later, I had put all the weight back on, and ..... do I need to say what happened? I've been on CPAP ever since.

[chunkyfrog]

Unfortunately, there are still a number of medical professionals who know that obesity can contribute to apnea,
but have no idea that even a mild case of apnea contributes to obesity,

[Diablode]

There is no "weaning off". If you feel like crap without using it, than you still need it. Weight is only 1 of the contributing factors for sleep disordered breathing. Only a night in the sleep lab should show you whether you need it or not, no matter what a doctor says.

[archangle]

Welcome, GT.

Just like there are misinformed people who think they don't need CPAP, there are people who think you'll never get over needing CPAP, so good luck becoming a non-hosehead.

How did your doctor come to the conclusion you didn't need CPAP any more? Unfortunately, many doctors don't understand apnea and CPAP.

Help us out, and sign up for an ID and tell us what CPAP machine and mask you have. There's a link in my signature line on how to add it to your profile. If you have the right machine, there are some tricks that can help with what you're trying to do.

Also tell us your pressure settings if you know it. If not, just tell us the machine type you have and we will tell you how to find it out.

It's usually easy enough to tell you how to dial back your CPAP if your doctor doesn't think you need it.

[BlackSpinner]

After 12 years of using a CPAP, I have been told that I no longer need it (lost some weight). First 3 days have woke up feeling like I just got slapped a whole bunch. Doc said it may take a bit of getting used to (I gues anything would after daily use for 12 years), and also said that some sleep without CPAP part of the night and then put it on half way through. That might be tough for me - so, I am fishing for suggestions or thoughts from any that have experienced this. Thanks GT

There is no "weaning off" either you need it to breath or you don't.
Make sure you have a good sleep study. Also track your AHI with a lower pressure then you normally would use. You do have a machine with data and the software don't you? Because otherwise you are just winging it.
Losing weight is no guarantee you don't need a cpap machine. Some people have actually needed HIGHER pressure after losing weight.

[Captain_Midnight]

As an apnea patient who is at normal weight, I recommend caution here; and maybe a second opinion (or at least a pulse oximeter that records a night's blood O2 levels.)

Interestingly, I had a new pulmonologist for my annual check a few weeks back, and she took one quick peak down my throat and exclaimed..."you've had sleep apnea all your life." I've generally suspected this, but it's nice to have a confirmatory diagnosis.

We all know that OSA is underdiagnosed, and I suspect that it is goes most frequently diagnosed among those of normal body mass.

.

[gasp]

As an apnea patient who is at normal weight, I recommend caution here; and maybe a second opinion (or at least a pulse oximeter that records a night's blood O2 levels.)

Interestingly, I had a new pulmonologist for my annual check a few weeks back, and she took one quick peak down my throat and exclaimed..."you've had sleep apnea all your life." I've generally suspected this, but it's nice to have a confirmatory diagnosis.

We all know that OSA is underdiagnosed, and I suspect that it is goes most frequently diagnosed among those of normal body mass.

.

I'm curious what did the doc see after peaking down your throat that led her to draw that conclusion?

[Captain_Midnight]

I'm curious what did the doc see after peaking down your throat that led her to draw that conclusion?

Glad to share, maybe the info will help someone. The doc described a generously sized uvula. I didn't ask about the rest of the throat architecture, as I think that I might have a slightly unusual hyoid process, but that waits for next year.

.

[GT COOP]

Thanks for the support folks and apologies for not providing more info in my original post. I did do a sleep study one month ago after I lost the weight, and after having apnea for 12 years (and likely more) do realize it is not all weight related, my numbers came back from my Doc not even close to apnea figures (I lost 75 lbs) so was obviously hoping that my nightly buddy would no longer be needed. But that being said, am only 3 days in, first three days felt groggy when I first woke up and fine shortly thereafter. Still trying to succesfully transition if I can. Just wondering if anyone has successfully left our beloved hose-friend behind and if so how they went about it. If I feel like crap every morning a week or two from now, my wife can welcome back the sweet sounds of the CPAP back. I have accepted cpap and it changed my life for the better, but I want to give this a go - in a healthy way - if I can. No judgement please, would just be nice to sleep on my stomach agin once in awhile.

[GT COOP]

Oh and my pressure is 8, reduced (self reduced as I lost weight) from an 11. The dryness, even though I have humidifier, got to be too much after the lbs started to come off.