Losing weight, how do I know when I no longer need cpap?

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:48 pm

Hi,

I'm a newbie. My hubby and I both have dueling cpaps! However, I am losing weight and have lost 55 lbs so far. My apnea is definitely due to obesity. My question is: Does anybody know if there are any signs to indicate I may no longer need the machine? This week I've been having minor headaches off and on. Thanks for your help, JKR

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Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:17 pm

how do you know that your obsesity causes your apnea? these days med people think it may be the other way around, that apnea helps cause obesity. so that they like to talk about their being a correlation rather than causation. also, thin people also have apnea. doctors used to think that obesity caused apnea so they only checked fat people for it. now they check thin people and are finding it. so hate to tell you, but you and your cpap machine may be a lifetime thing.

caroline

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:33 pm

Well, when I was thinner, I didn't snore at all and seemed to rest fine with no tiredness next day. Then as I gained weight, I had more and more trouble sleeping and felt groggy all day. My snoring became more and more pronounced as I gained weight. I thought it was just the extra weight and then was told by a couple of more knowledgable people that being obese increased my risk for sleep apnea. Anyway, I was tested and told I did have sleep apnea. Yes, I know that apnea can contribute to some weight gain and poor muscle tone. However, I have previously talked to other people who lost large qtys of weight and no longer needed their cpap. There are a number of causes of apnea but since I had no issues while thin, it seems mine is most likely due to obesity. I have also had problems with my mouth blowing open in the past week which has not been an issue in the past three years I have had to use a cpap. JKR

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:43 pm

JKR:

yes, so maybe for you the obesity caused the apnea, or maybe the apnea started at the same time that you got heavy but the obesity didn't cause the apnea. obviously, you can figure this out once you get to your ideal weight. i also wonder how many people who lose a lot of weight just abandon their cpaps, incorrectly thinking that they no longer have apnea. obviously, you generally gain energy as you lose weight. maybe i am just jealous because i know i will likely always need cpap--my snoring unfortunately remains whether i am thin or chunky.

caroline

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:50 pm

The only way to know for sure is to have a sleep study.

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:58 pm

We think my husband will always have the apnea. I suppose I will have to have a sleep study when I stop losing weight. I'm wondering if they can adjust the pressure meanwhile or if I have to wait for the sleep study. It really is kind of like a cartoon when you try to get your mouth to close when the air is blowing your lips apart. JKR

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:37 am

JKR, you might want to get an autopap. Set it for a range of pressure(s) instead of using just a single pressure. Let the autopap find what you need while you're losing weight. You may have some pretty drastic pressure changes over time, and the autopap can automatically adjust for that. Later when you've achieved your weight loss goal, get a sleep study to see how things stand.

Good luck!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:32 am

Gee, Rested Gal, that sounds like an excellent suggestion! Thanks, JKR

elliejose · Post by **elliejose** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:34 am

Follow RG's advice. She always seems to have the best advice. I'd not trade my auto for anything (except I may have to go bipap, if so I am aiming for an auto there too.) When I started having sleep apnea, I weighed 95 pounds. So in my case I know it's not weight. However, both my mom and dad had it and neither of them was overweight. At that time sleep apnea was unheard of but as a child, I remember listening and waiting for them to breathe again, and the noises they made!!! At her heaviest my mom only weighed 103 lbs. So I agree that an auto is your best bet. As your needs change, so will the machine.

needingu · Post by **needingu** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:37 am

My therapist told me if I lost 20 lbs they would need to lower the pressure most likely...So I would keep an eye as to whether it would still be needed.
IMO possibly with lower pressure.. Sounds great! I'm eating cereal two times daily with fruits and 1/2 cup milk.. instead of the meal but balanced for the third and supplements and exercise. I would like to drop 30 lbs weight 164 and 5'3". BMI 29 should be 25.. Wish me luck.......
_________________Good luck to you.. Your doing good. Win one at a time.

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Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:50 am

Well, needingu, if your therapist told you that the pressure would need changed at 20, odds are that at 55 I definitely do need some kind of adjustment. I've been doing Medifast since March 4 and have lost the 55 lbs that way. I plan to stick with it as long as it continues working and it is pretty idiot-proof which I guess makes it the plan for me.

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:08 am

Hmm, guess I should have checked the automatic log in cause my user name didn't show up on previous posts. JKR

Cameron · Post by **Cameron** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:16 am

JKR wrote:However, I have previously talked to other people who lost large qtys of weight and no longer needed their cpap.

Did each of those "other people" have a sleep study to show they no longer needed their cpap? Lots of people who have lost large qtys of weight announce to the world their OSA is now gone without knowing if it really is. Some people confuse snoring with sleep apnea and assume if they're no longer snoring, they no longer have sleep apnea. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If you're interested maximizing your treatment while you lose weight, I agree with rested gal and elliejose, get an autopap.

Once you've reached your goal, arrange for a sleep study and see if your OSA is gone. If you don't have the followup PSG, you will never know for sure.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:43 am

It's great for us to lose weight for our overall health.....BUT.....don't pin your hopes of getting rid of OSA on weight loss. AND, if you have that followup PSG at some point, don't rush to sell your CPAP machine and throw away your masks.....it just MAY come back. For a long time I wondered about the "chicken and egg" situation with regard to OSA......but, after thinking alot about it, it has become my belief that in the majority of situations, OSA (and poor sleep, in general) is what leads to weight gain and not vice-versa. At some point, they (OSA and weight gain) "feed" on each other and send us into a downward physical and medical spiral.

Good luck,

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:47 am

I've been thinking about being buried with my Pro2, just in case. Jim

Mask

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Losing weight, how do I know when I no longer need cpap?

Losing weight, how do I know when I no longer need cpap?

lose weight? quit CPAP?