Does Apnea ever resolve itself?

I was diagnosed with OA in 2012 with AHI of 39 and loud snoring. I had zero confidence in the sleep study and did nothing until around 2014 when I bought a used S9 and tried it for 9 months. Some success initially but ultimately (after about 9 months) did not see sustained improvement in the way I felt even though my AHI was usually under 2.0 & often under 1.0. Packed the S9 away and stored it in the closet.

Fast forward to today. Still wake up tired. Realized I have lost 50 lbs since 2012. Wife says I rarely snore. Decided to dust off the S9 for another try. My first 4 nights have shown a max AHI of 0.1 to 0.2. Too early to tell if I am feeling better but my question is: Does apnea ever just go away? I know another sleep study would be the definitive answer but I really don’t want to go through that again. I plan on giving APAP another try for 6 months to see if It makes a difference in the way I feel. I was very surprised to find that getting back on the machine was so much easier than when I first started using it years ago.

What would OSCAR graphs look like if a person used APAP and did not actually have apnea?

It is possible that loosing 50 pounds would cure sleep apnea. It would certainly help. If your machine says you have an AHI of 0.1 or 0.2, that means you are doing well with the machine. It says nothing about what it would be without the machine.

jgcrain wrote: ↑

Sun May 30, 2021 7:13 am

Does Apnea ever resolve itself?Quote jgcrain

Rarely.

jgcrain wrote: ↑

Sun May 30, 2021 7:13 am

What would OSCAR graphs look like if a person used APAP and did not actually have apnea?

Here is the way I would test this.
- Check the OSCAR Daily Detail pressure line.
- If the pressure increases during the night, it's an indication your airway is beginning to collapse.
- If the pressure doesn't increase, drop the minimum pressure 1.0 cm the next night. As long as the pressure doesn't rise, drop the pressure each night by 1.0 cm.
- If you get to a minimum pressure of 4.0 and the pressure still doesn't rise during the night, there is a chance your apnea is resolved. But, this is not certain because even at 4.0 cm, CPAP is still providing a benefit.

If you are not accustomed to interpreting OSCAR charts, post the daily details chart in this thread for some help from members.

I also wonder what position you sleep in - there are people who can do without Cpap - starting from a low test result early on - if they manage to not sleep on their backs overnight, but do learn to sleep on their sides. They stop snoring, have minimal AHIs on testing and feel better for having gotten good sleep. But it's something you need to pursue step by step and not just wing it and cross your fingers. If you PM me, I'll link you to a (substantial) story of one who did it following the science - ex-member of the forum.

While snoring may indicate apnea, its absence is no proof that apnea is gone.

While I am ABSOLUTELY NOT an expert, it is my understanding that most apnea patients are obese and that the excess fat may be a contributing factor in blocking the airway. In which case, it seems reasonable to me that it is possible (not certain) that a significant weight loss may contribute to minimizing/eliminating sleep apnea. Just my two cents worth.

Your understanding's way out of date - most apnea patients are NOT fat, and often the opposite... nor are all older males, lots of young women have OSA too.

clownbell wrote: ↑

Sun May 30, 2021 6:29 pm

While I am ABSOLUTELY NOT an expert, it is my understanding that most apnea patients are obese and that the excess fat may be a contributing factor in blocking the airway. In which case, it seems reasonable to me that it is possible (not certain) that a significant weight loss may contribute to minimizing/eliminating sleep apnea. Just my two cents worth.

Your two cents is of no value in this establishment.

The stereotype of only fat old people having OSA is long since dead. People need to get past that stereotype.

clownbell wrote: ↑

Sun May 30, 2021 6:29 pm

it is my understanding that most apnea patients are obese

While sometimes being obese is a factor it sure as hell isn't the only factor. I weighed all of 110 lbs when I got diagnosed.
I have a good friend who didn't weigh 100 lbs when she got diagnosed and I doubt she weighs 100 even now.

Children and babies get OSA...teenagers that are skinny as a rail can get OSA...marathon runners (those people are always skinny it seems) can get OSA. There's a beautiful little girl named Larissa (I think it is) that we followed from a toddler to school age...here on the forum. Do a search for "Larissa" and start reading.....she was never fat.

Get over the "only fat people get OSA" thing.

It's now been documented that sometimes having OSA actually causes the obesity and not the other way around. Skinny people get OSA and THEN they pack on the weight. It's a hormonal thing.

BUT...for some people those extra pounds are enough of the primary cause for OSA that losing the extra pounds can cause a reduction in the airway issues to a point where they don't make criteria for earning the OSA diagnosis. So it can happen but it isn't all that common because most people have more than one reason for having OSA.

And then the really hard part if those people were lucky enough to lose the diagnosis with the weight...they have to keep the weight off for the rest of their life.
We all know how difficult that is.
I have a good friend in Canada who did it though...she lost well over 100 lbs and has worked hard to keep it off and she got to also lose here cpap machine BUT she is the exception AND her excess weight was the ONLY cause of her saggy airway tissues.

There is really nothing on the cpap machine's reports that can conclusively tell us that a person has lost the OSA. Remember it can't go lower than 4 cm pressure and for some people all that is needed to hold the airway open is as little as 4 cm. I have seen people come out of a titration study in a lab with a prescribed 4 cm pressure because it worked.

The ONLY sure fire way to know for sure...another sleep study but now they make home studies that are extremely detailed and very reliable...much easier to do than the in lab studies IMHO and as long as they do a Type 2 study....very accurate.

clownbell wrote: ↑

Sun May 30, 2021 6:29 pm

most apnea patients are obese

My BMI is 20.5, and I have severe OSA.

"It's not the size of the neck on the outside; it's the size of the airway in the neck." - Dr. Mack Jones

Apnea has on occasion actually "resolved" itself--
--when the patient dies of related conditions, the the apnea is no more.
Happy?
You actually can be right--but you will not be around to enjoy it.

What would OSCAR graphs look like if a person used APAP and did not actually have apnea?

Since it's been since 2012, you are way overdue for a new sleep test. That's the ONLY way to be certain your apnea is "resolved". Ask for one.