Curious on the reasons here for a CPAP

Beyond the obvious sleepy night/day, I want to know what is causing other people's sleep apnea.

I initially thought mine was weight related, was up to 225lbs @ 5'10" but now down to 210lbs and I still need it. But growing up I have been as low as 155 lbs and still had weird sleep problems. If I don't wear it I feel like I have a hang over.I am hoping when I reach 180/190 that I won't need it anymore, but the other part of my curiosity is if you wear it after so many years, is your body dependent on that pressure? I know some people that wear oxygen all the time eventually can't get off of the stuff because the body forgot how to breathe in normal air.

Poll is missing the fact it can easily be multiple choice and you have not included all the choices. I know now that when I was in my early 20's I had OSA. I was no overweight then. Smoking didn't help but I eventually quit that in 1980. My wife said that I slept weird (been married 37 years now). She would hit me to start breathing, the snoring was loud and thought it was strange that I would sit up on the edge of the bed and "sleep" sitting up for long periods of time. Eventually, CHF started to get in the way, mobility issues, fun heart pain, weight gain....

Been a hose head for 8years now. There is no one cause, but there is a decent cure that works most of the time.

redFishBlueFish wrote:Beyond the obvious sleepy night/day, I want to know what is causing other people's sleep apnea.

I initially thought mine was weight related, was up to 225lbs @ 5'10" but now down to 210lbs and I still need it. But growing up I have been as low as 155 lbs and still had weird sleep problems. If I don't wear it I feel like I have a hang over.I am hoping when I reach 180/190 that I won't need it anymore, but the other part of my curiosity is if you wear it after so many years, is your body dependent on that pressure? I know some people that wear oxygen all the time eventually can't get off of the stuff because the body forgot how to breathe in normal air.

Why?


Den

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redFishBlueFish wrote: but the other part of my curiosity is if you wear it after so many years, is your body dependent on that pressure? I know some people that wear oxygen all the time eventually can't get off of the stuff because the body forgot how to breathe in normal air.

my my, what a mess.

1) the esophagus is what you SWALLOW FOOD with... it has nothing at all to do with breathing.

2) poeple cannot "become" dependent on cpap, you're quite welcome to quit using it and go back to how you were before.

3) poeple do not become dependent on oxygen therapy, either. they can stop using it and go back to where they were before they started.

such nonsense.

Not to sound like I am bragging but I have been thin for years so weight wasn't an issue with my sleep apnea. According to a previous sleep doctor, my tongue is crowding a small jaw and probably causing the obstruction although of course without a sleep endoscopy, she can't say for sure. I also suspect my nasal issues are a contributory factor although I am just speculating and can't say for sure.

Regarding dependency, one is no more dependent on cpap than they are on glasses, hearing aids, etc.

49er

Biggest known reason - OSA. Isn't it???

Not an option so this is not a valid survey.

49er wrote:Not to sound like I am bragging but I have been thin for years so weight wasn't an issue with my sleep apnea. According to a previous sleep doctor, my tongue is crowding a small jaw and probably causing the obstruction although of course without a sleep endoscopy, she can't say for sure. I also suspect my nasal issues are a contributory factor although I am just speculating and can't say for sure.

Regarding dependency, one is no more dependent on cpap than they are on glasses, hearing aids, etc.

49er

That's my biggest scare is a dependency on it. The withdrawal symptoms with oxygen I spoke of must be psychological then. Glad to see someone here is interested in replying beyond trolling. Do you know anyone that was ever able to get off of the cpap, or is it a life long thing like glasses?

palerider wrote:

redFishBlueFish wrote: but the other part of my curiosity is if you wear it after so many years, is your body dependent on that pressure? I know some people that wear oxygen all the time eventually can't get off of the stuff because the body forgot how to breathe in normal air.

my my, what a mess.

1) the esophagus is what you SWALLOW FOOD with... it has nothing at all to do with breathing.

2) poeple cannot "become" dependent on cpap, you're quite welcome to quit using it and go back to how you were before.

3) poeple do not become dependent on oxygen therapy, either. they can stop using it and go back to where they were before they started.

such nonsense.

I fixed the terminology with the survey. And why can't people become dependent on a CPAP machine? Again, any proof that people aren't becoming addicted with the use of oxygen?

englandsf wrote:Biggest known reason - OSA. Isn't it???

Not an option so this is not a valid survey.

OSA, BOA, OPP, how about we stop using abbreviations and explain what OSA is?

"addicted to oxygen" is a pretty good synonym for "being alive". Well, ok, as long as you are not an anaerobic bacteria!

redFishBlueFish wrote:And why can't people become dependent on a CPAP machine? Again, any proof that people aren't becoming addicted with the use of oxygen?

you can't prove a negative.

you can however, point to the complete lack of proof of a positive.

google it, oxygen therapy, read up on it, you'll find that every credible medical source says "THERE IS NO DEPENDENCY".

as to a cpap, sure, I'm dependent on it, because without it, I have apnea. but using it didn't make me dependent.

that's just stupid. "my throat closes up so I need a machine, oh my, if use that machine, it might" ... what? make your throat close up? seems like you're ALREADY 'dependent' on it, before you start... otherwise, you wouldn't need it.

if anybody is trolling here, it's you.

To answer your question, I would love for cpap to be for the rest of my life. During the rare times it worked, it was like I was experiencing the world in bright living color vs. the gray black and white world that I deal with from lack of quality sleep. I would never give it up and don't understand why anyone would if it helps them.

Sorry, I don't mean to be so negative but am really confused why you would be worried about getting off the machine when I am dying for it to work and am scared shitless that that won't happen.

49er

redFishBlueFish wrote:

49er wrote:Not to sound like I am bragging but I have been thin for years so weight wasn't an issue with my sleep apnea. According to a previous sleep doctor, my tongue is crowding a small jaw and probably causing the obstruction although of course without a sleep endoscopy, she can't say for sure. I also suspect my nasal issues are a contributory factor although I am just speculating and can't say for sure.

Regarding dependency, one is no more dependent on cpap than they are on glasses, hearing aids, etc.

49er

That's my biggest scare is a dependency on it. The withdrawal symptoms with oxygen I spoke of must be psychological then. Glad to see someone here is interested in replying beyond trolling. Do you know anyone that was ever able to get off of the cpap, or is it a life long thing like glasses?

palerider wrote:

redFishBlueFish wrote: but the other part of my curiosity is if you wear it after so many years, is your body dependent on that pressure? I know some people that wear oxygen all the time eventually can't get off of the stuff because the body forgot how to breathe in normal air.

my my, what a mess.

1) the esophagus is what you SWALLOW FOOD with... it has nothing at all to do with breathing.

2) poeple cannot "become" dependent on cpap, you're quite welcome to quit using it and go back to how you were before.

3) poeple do not become dependent on oxygen therapy, either. they can stop using it and go back to where they were before they started.

such nonsense.

I fixed the terminology with the survey. And why can't people become dependent on a CPAP machine? Again, any proof that people aren't becoming addicted with the use of oxygen?

englandsf wrote:Biggest known reason - OSA. Isn't it???

Not an option so this is not a valid survey.

OSA, BOA, OPP, how about we stop using abbreviations and explain what OSA is?

You didn't offer a choice that pertains to my situation.
My airway tissues got floppy after menopause...just like everything else that comes along with menopause.
Everything starts to sag or goes south.

redFishBlueFish wrote:That's my biggest scare is a dependency on it.

It doesn't work that way. The machine doesn't force you to breathe...it just adds a little pressure to what you are inhaling so those airway tissues don't flop closed. Only the high end ASV machine will actually breathe for you and even using those don't result in any sort of physical dependency. I use one of those machines and have zero issues breathing on my own during the day. Using the machine doesn't weaken any muscles or anything like that.

My OSA as diagnosed when I weighed around 110/115 pounds...don't remember exactly but body weight was NOT a factor. Just sagging airway tissues.

Will you ever be able to do without the machine? Maybe...maybe not. Yes, some people whose OSA is related to just being overweight but if they are like me and have saggy airway tissues along with the excess weight they may or may not be able to do without the machine. If you have excess weight...losing it is never a bad thing and it might work for you. It might not. Never hurts to try and nothing but good will come from losing unwanted pounds.
But if you can't stop the sagging airway tissues....you can't. Cold hard facts of life but are you "dependent" on the machine....not like a lot of people think. We breathe on our own just fine during the day don't we?

Yes, I have known people able to do away with the cpap machine. It's not impossible.
Besides...we don't know what advances in medical care might be available in 5 or 10 years. If you are a young person you may well see something that is an effective alternative to the cpap machine at some time in the future. We never know what the future brings.

If you are thinking that being overweight is the trigger for your OSA...lose the weight and have a follow up sleep study to see the the airway tissues quit being so saggy with the loss of the weight. You might get lucky. Even if you aren't that lucky...you will be better off without the weight for general health reasons if nothing else.
It won't help me...I know that and accept it. At my age I don't know if I will live to see a method to control OSA that is better than the cpap machine and without negative side effects that the current alternatives offer.

Also, I am pretty sure that I have "Obstructive Awake Apnea", too. Well, not really apnea, but flow limitations. I have an enlarged thyroid, and when I lay on my side I'll get a series of breaths where I have a short little squeak at the very end of each breath.

I'm pretty sensitive about this whole "dependency" crap. The doctor who diagnosed my goiter told me "Well, you COULD take thyroid hormones, but I hate to start you on that because it's really hard to get off once you start." She did send me off to the endocrinologist to get my thyroid nodules biopsied, and he promptly put me on Synthroid. I have Hashimoto's, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid, as is about as common as dirt (approx 10-15% of women over 45 have it) and there is no excuse for anyone whose medical degree didn't come out of a cracker jack box to think that an autoimmune disease is a moral failing. Normal antibody levels are zero, and as long as you are under 35 it's considered ok, and mine was 246. (After a couple of years of Synthroid I'm down about 45-55). I fired the idiot doctor after this. I have some serious health problems which are real and treatable. I need real doctors and nurses, not some voodoo witch doctor spouting insults.

Unless you are very conscious, throughout the day, of every single breath you take, and make it a point to 'take' it, you will still keep breathing - your body has not forgotten how to breath, normal air or anything else. You breathe whether or not you want to, e.g. if you become unconscious (never mind just asleep) at some time, unless you're in cardiac arrest, your body will go on breathing!

Pugsy wrote: If you are thinking that being overweight is the trigger for your OSA...lose the weight and have a follow up sleep study to see the the airway tissues quit being so saggy with the loss of the weight. You might get lucky. Even if you aren't that lucky...you will be better off without the weight for general health reasons if nothing else.
It won't help me...I know that and accept it. At my age I don't know if I will live to see a method to control OSA that is better than the cpap machine and without negative side effects that the current alternatives offer.

I am slightly overweight but I've had this problem when I was at proper and underweight. I am looking for a light at the end of the tunnel because as of right now, this CPAP machine is limiting my career aspects. The reason I am on a CPAP machine is because I forget to breathe at night. When I sleep my body stops breathing randomly and either I wake up violently or my wife hits me.

You haven't mentioned if you have central sleep apnea - if you do loosing weight won't help.