My Success With CPAP...I'm Apnea Free!!

Hello all,

It has been well over a year since I last visited this board. I used to read it and post to it rather regularly. I began my CPAP therapy on the day prior to New Years Eve (December 30, 2006). I have endured 7 sleep studies in total including 5 Titration, 1 nap, and 1 MWT. As my name implies, I am a pilot, have been since 2005. I don't fly commercial aircraft, just the little single engine planes, for me it's the Cessna 172.
About 6 months ago, I saw myself in a photo from a distance...You know the one that you look at and say "Oh my God...That's me? What Happened!?" (I was 275 lbs) Feeling the extra energy that my therapy had provided, I joined a gym and began to eat healthier. Over the summer, I visited my FAA medical examiner for my bi-annual physical to get my medical certificate. I had been taking Provigil and Lunesta since starting me therapy to help me fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning. Fortunately for me, by the time I went for my physical, I had already lost 40 lbs and stopped taking the meds. Unfortunately, I did not know that the FAA specifically states that they will not issue a medical certificate if those medications are being used and I stated on the application that I had taken them. I continued to work hard at my weight loss by making sure that I had 1 hour available to workout and that my eating habits changed so that I ate less in portion sizes, more healthy meals, healthy snacks and consumed water like crazy. I went for additional tests, had to prove that I had not filled any of the prescriptions for months, got notes from my doctors stating that I was fit to fly. I sent those off to the FAA last week and visited my sleep doctor around the same time. I wanted to see if maybe the weight loss would have eliminated my sleep apnea. After all, I had lost a total of 85 pounds, and reduced my BMI from 35 to 23.9. I had essentially lost 1/3 of my total body weight in 6 months. Last night I went to the sleep center for a split study. It was decided that I would sleep without CPAP for half the night and if it was necessary, I would be put back on to get the correct pressure for my new weight. I was extremely happy when I woke at 5 am on my own, no CPAP!! Although it is not official, the tech "told me" without telling me, that I was without events. I just need to schedule my follow up with the doctor and send the results to the FAA. I am so excited to finally go back to sleeping without the hose. Knowing I can travel without having to lug my machine with me. And finally, getting my medical back!!!

Congrats on your weight loss! Congrats also on passing your sleep study. Weight loss won't help everyone get off xpap, but I'm so glad it worked for you!

Brenda

What a great success story Pilot_Ron I bet you feel wonderful too!!

Thanks for taking the time to return to the Forum (Welcome back) and give us a ray of hope on how taking care of yourself, working with Professionals, consistent therapy and dieting can really pay off!!

You have a renewed license on life as well as flying. As you gaze out on the clouds and it's beauty, you can say to yourself, I'm truly blessed


Continued success,


SG

That's awesome, Ron. Congrats on being apnea free! That rush must have been as good as the one you get when you soar into the skies! You worked hard to get there. Glad it worked out.

Congrats Ron. I think that is wonderful news. Just continue to feel better, and happy flying.

Good news! I had gotten the impression from this board that losing weight will NOT make sleep apnea go away--yet my sleep health center still advised me to lose weight specifically to treat sleep apnea so I was confused why they told me that. I'm glad to hear that losing weight stopped your sleep apnea.

Weight loss won't always solve apnea issues, although it is typically recommended.

My mother has undiagnosed apnea and is dying from it. No one, including her, believed she could have apnea because she only weighed 105 pounds.

Thanks for all the kind words. Kyralynx is correct in that it will not always correct the problem. That is exactly why I went for the split study last night. I have been working closely with my doctor since my first appointment. If there were any significant changes in my weight or how I felt, I went straight to him to schedule a new sleep study. I honestly believe it is because of that I was able to stay ahead of the ball in that if I ever started feeling like the therapy wasn't working, we retested and adjusted the pressures based on the results. When I started therapy, I was 250 lbs, I had gone all the way to near 275 at my max weight. I was tested at both weights and the pressures changed significantly. As I lost the weight, I began to reduce the pressure. Now I reached my goal weight and the recomended weight for my height, I was tested again. By no means should weight loss alone be considered a cure. The only way to know for sure is to have a study done. I know a lot of people who suffer from sleep apnea who are not overweight. One thing is certain however, being overweight has NO PHYSICAL BENIFITS; not a single one. Even if you know for sure that you will still suffer from sleep apnea, work on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and try to keep your weight at a normal level. At the very least, you WILL feel better, you WILL be healthier, you WILL live longer.

If losing weight just makes successful therapy possible at a lower pressure, that can be a blessing. I'm sure this varies a lot from person to person, but I can hardly believe how much less effort I have to put into fighting leaks at 15 cm than I did at 17.

Glad to hear that you lost weight.
But, I'm a little skeptical about you being "Apnea Free".
How many nights before your last sleep study did you go without using your machine?
I've seen others who have done what you did and they had to be off of their machines for something like a week or two before their sleep study.
Did/do you snore without using your machine?

Personally, I can't even sleep in a prone position (in bed) without my machine......it became my "comfort zone" a long time ago.

Good luck.
I would also advise not selling your equipment just yet.

Den

Pilot_Ron wrote:...maybe the weight loss...lost a total of 85 pounds...Last night I went to the sleep center for a split study...Although it is not official, the tech "told me" without telling me, that I was without events...I am so excited to finally go back to sleeping without the hose...

I so needed to hear this today (been a depressing day following a bad night)...thanks for posting! Congrats on the wt loss and soon your medical OK...quite an achievement! My sleep doc & cardio keep saying they think my apnea and its side kicks will disappear when I lose enough wt. Down 55#s so far I still have a lot to lose; just broke an 8-month stall that frustrated all attempts to lose. Hadda wait until the labs showed my thyroid wasn't working...docs ignorned my repeated complaints since last Dec that it was wonky again . Ron, you give me hope again!

Congratulations on your tremendous accomplishment, Pilot_Ron!!!

I know how difficult it can be to lose excess weight. I lost 100 pounds myself about three or four years ago. I lost weight at a healthy pace....it took a year, and I did it through calorie counting and increased exercise. I started by walking, gradually added more aerobic activity, and then added weight training. I felt terrific! I kept the weight off for a year but, unfortunately, I have now gained back about half of what I lost. It's very easy to revert to old habits, so be mindful of that. I don't know if it's going to be a continuing trend, but the pounds seem to be coming off with virtually no effort since I starting CPAP (and forced side-sleeping right before that)! I would like to get back to a healthier weight again.

I was only recently diagosed with OSA, but I'm certain that I've had it for at least 15 years. In retrospect (knowing what I know about OSA now), I believe I had a severe case at my highest weight. I had all the more severe OSA-related symptoms then. My OSA is presently classified as mild/moderate. So I do think that weight loss can help some (but not all) people. As I lose weight, I'll be able to monitor my progress with my CPAP equipment. My needed pressure is already low, so we'll see what happens. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to completely stop treatment, and at this point that's fine with me. After only a week I am feeling so much better -- I am more alert, my blood pressure is coming down (yay!), and I even look forward to going to sleep each night! Wearing a mask is a bit of a pain, but I think I'm "hooked"!

Anyway, I wish you continued success!

Best wishes,

DreamOn

Well done pilot !! 85lbs is a huge amount. I bet you are saving more on fuel in your Cessna now and have reduced your carbon footprint too

You have given me hope! Because I'm in the process of losing wieght. I started at 320 lbs. currently I'm at 275 lbs. I know I still have a long way to go thanks for the hope and the rey of subshine at the end of the tunnel!

Congratulations for the accomplishment. Remember that sleep apnea is a progressive condition and you could develop it again even without gaining weight.

Pilot_Ron wrote:...... One thing is certain however, being overweight has NO PHYSICAL BENIFITS; not a single one. ..........

- Protection from injury in an auto accident.

- Can survive longer during famine.

- Longer time until hypothermia onset.

- Less likely to be hit crossing a street (greater visibility + drivers don't want to total their vehicle).

- Reduced probability of being injured in a sexual assault.

- Dad will never use you as balloon boy.