Weight Loss = Bye bye CPAP?

OK, I managed to drop a few lbs (335 to 282). My charts show virtually no events and my pressure is pretty much a flatline.

I have awakened in the wee hours and gone without PAP (sleeping on my stomach). My wife reports no evidence of snoring or events. Is it time for another sleep study to see if I even need PAP? Any other signs/tests I should try before the expense of a full sleep study?

Or am I just dreaming. sigh...

LinkC wrote:OK, I managed to drop a few lbs (335 to 282). My charts show virtually no events and my pressure is pretty much a flatline.

I have awakened in the wee hours and gone without PAP (sleeping on my stomach). My wife reports no evidence of snoring or events. Is it time for another sleep study to see if I even need PAP? Any other signs/tests I should try before the expense of a full sleep study?

Or am I just dreaming. sigh...

No expert at all but I'd say wake up from the dream It's so unlikely.

You could try using as low of a pressure as you are comfortable with and see what the pressure wants to do at much lower pressures....assuming you are still using the range you have been using for quite a while.
If the pressure still doesn't do anything and no events get flagged then maybe that in lab sleep study might need to be done.

Even 4 cm has therapy value and I don't know that you would be able to do it or not after using your 11 to 15 range for so long.
The only way to know for sure if OSA is gone is with another sleep study but if you use a much lower pressure and events happen then you will have your answer in a different fashion without the sleep study.

Yea I believe for most people weight loss and getting real fit will make you not need CPAP machine. But for some people, they have sleep apnea for other reasons.

If you decide to try Pugsy's recommendation, then please tell the rest of us your results. Reducing your pressure to as low as tolerable will likely give you a better picture than a sleep test. A sleep test is only relevent for that one night. Using a lower constant pressure will give you results for many nights.

Good luck!

First off, a big congratulations on the weight loss. If I lost over 50 lbs I'd strut. Hey, sometimes dreams really do come true. You've been on this journey long enough to have a healthy balance between hopes and expectations. I'm sure you'll exercise due diligence in this. Keep in mind that you'll want to keep any experiments as equal as possible in regards to sleep position. Please do let us know how things go, and good luck!

LinkC wrote:OK, I managed to drop a few lbs (335 to 282). My charts show virtually no events and my pressure is pretty much a flatline.

I have awakened in the wee hours and gone without PAP (sleeping on my stomach). My wife reports no evidence of snoring or events. Is it time for another sleep study to see if I even need PAP? Any other signs/tests I should try before the expense of a full sleep study?

Or am I just dreaming. sigh...

try a sleep study before you make the conclusion. congratulations.

Thanks for the replies. Good ideas. I'll drop the top end gradually and see what results I get. I'll report back when I get some reliable data.

Hi LinkC,

I think what Pugsy was saying is to drop the low end pressure not the top end. i.e. if you are on 11-15, you should lower the first number (EPAP min) as low as you can support it down to 4-15 if you can. The second number (EPAP max) is not really doing anything if you say that your pressure is staying flat anyway.

Hi,

If reduction in weight improves your Sleep apnoea, than its better than anything. This can be a hope for all the users who use CPAP machine.

Please keep writing your achievements.

Congratulations.

Minor setback. We went on a Mediterranean cruise. Wonderful time, but I put back on about 15 lbs. Sigh.

Now you know better than to go to a place where the food is soooooooo delicious.
Congrats on the weight loss pal, you will take off that 15 lbs soon, don't stress. Happy to hear that you both had a great time.... wish I had been there
Cheers
Nan

Enchanter wrote:Yea I believe for most people weight loss and getting real fit will make you not need CPAP machine. But for some people, they have sleep apnea for other reasons.

Enchanter's Blessing, how much more proof can you stand. Congrats on losing the weight, but time to stop dreaming, keep the XPAP.

I'd rather keep the XPAP treatment than be bothered by another sleep study.
BTW, I've gained one 100 lb since starting XPAP, my treatment pressure is the same as it was when I started. I'd say weight wasn't a factor in my sleep apnea. Losing weight is a good thing, as long as it's done in a healthy way. Jim

[quote]Hi,

If reduction in weight improves your Sleep apnoea, than its better than anything. This can be a hope for all the users who use CPAP machine.

Please keep writing your achievements.

Congratulations.[/quote

Just a caution for those who assume their OSA is due to their being overweight. While it is a risk factor, one can't just assume it has been solved if you lose weight. Get re-tested! I'm 5-6 and weigh 125 lbs and have moderate OSA, tested in a 2 day in lab hospital facility. So, not all OSA is weight related. However, being overweight is known to raise ones' risk for a myriad of other health problems, so congratulations to the OP for losing the weight!