How has your sleep apnea changed over the years?

My last sleep study was when I was 30. I had an AHI of 55, mostly composed of hypopneas. Titration showed I need a pressure of 7cm.

An ENT mentioned to me that my sleep apnea will probably get much worse as I get older. Right now it's mostly tolerable, except I probably need nasal surgery so that I can get back to breathing through my nose. Anyway, it got me wondering, how has your sleep apnea changed over the years? Is there any data which could help me predict what my sleep apnea might look like in 30 years? 50 years?

Nearly everything declines as we age--the amount and rate varies with the individual.
There is no shortcut to replace monitoring your treatment and general health.
The bright side is that treatment is improving every year.

balor123 wrote:My last sleep study was when I was 30. I had an AHI of 55, mostly composed of hypopneas. Titration showed I need a pressure of 7cm.

An ENT mentioned to me that my sleep apnea will probably get much worse as I get older. Right now it's mostly tolerable, except I probably need nasal surgery so that I can get back to breathing through my nose. Anyway, it got me wondering, how has your sleep apnea changed over the years? Is there any data which could help me predict what my sleep apnea might look like in 30 years? 50 years?

Are you asking about "treated" or "untreated" sleep apnea?
As long as you're using a CPAP machine, your sleep apnea shouldn't get any worse.
From my own data over nearly nine years, my "treated" sleep apnea (Apnea Hypopnea Index and Snoring Index) has/have actually gotten better, using virtually the same pressure over all those years.

If you do NOT use your machine, you'll probably be dead in 30 - 50 years......maybe sooner.
You'll have a much longer lifespan if you faithfully use it.
Personally, I don't even consider NOT using it.

I probably would have benefited by some nasal surgery, too, but with my CPAP machine, I believe I've been able to avoid that.


Den

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I was titrated 6 years ago with a prescribed pressure of 10.....over the past 6 years I have switched to an auto with a range of 10-14.

I have used XPAP for about 28 years now, and am now 83 1/2 years old. I have not noticed and worsening of my apnea problems at all. And my treatment is still functioning quite well. Equipment has changed considerably, however. I really doubt that I would have survived til now without treatment. As yet, I can use my machine, recharge the humidifier, etc. with absolutely no difficulty.

TheDuke

No change at all in 8-9 yrs, and in fact might be better if anything (on cpap the entire time), though I'm otherwise older and slower in more ways than one.

Balor - I know you didn't ask, but you seem to be spending all your energy on going around and around about every conceivable angle and some not ever questioned before... energy that could be directed to getting into just getting a good routine going with whatever equipment you do have available that doesn't leak terribly, and getting some sleep. Little things will eventually work themselves out, but do you need ALL the answers right now before even really starting? The point is to get some decent sleep with reasonable equipment asap, keep tabs on what may not solve easily after a fair trial, and address those things one by one as you go along, but not try to pre-solve the atom before the bomb is even designed. Give your brain a break and have a little faith!

Like everything else on my body that has sagged, I need more pressure after 4 years.

do you need ALL the answers right now before even really starting?

I've been using CPAP since 2010. The questions are just coming up now because of the trouble I've had over the past year. I've been on the FFM mask for a few days now and it's slowly getting better again. So far no jaw pain. Will be ordering the hybrid mask tomorrow - not open on weekends.

I'm also just a very curious person. I hope you at least find the questions provocative. I haven't seen a lot of them asked or answered anywhere else. Either way, I appreciate your patience and am getting a lot out of the answers Hopefully others will too.

It helps to see people reporting that their pressures aren't really changing. The highest pressure I've noted so far is 14 so I think when I get the new mask I'll check if it looks like I'm able to tolerate such a pressure or close to it. I figure if I can handle a probable worst case pressure now, then I don't need to worry about more aggressive treatment. That is predicated on the orthodontist being able to fix by dental problems however. Jaw surgery may be unavoidable At least if I want to have teeth in 20-30 years.

There have been lots of changes to the therapy in the last 20 years. I am sure there will be even more in the next 20 years.

Aren't you concerned that experimenting with trying higher pressures on a great big maybe may be a bit much to take on while you're still struggling to get things stabilized at your current required pressure? It would cause me to feel overwhelmed and defeated if I had trouble tolerating the higher pressure, and you may never need that pressure or any pressure increase. I'm not aware of any clear predictors of change or degree of change. Admittedly, avoidance seems to be a weakness of mine, but I don't like to borrow tomorrow's troubles - got enough of today's to deal with. Good luck with your mask issues.

I could tolerate it for a few nights

What Wulfman said !
main thing is you stick with it & monitor stats to fine tune. don't be too hasty adjusting settings , give it time. Especially if you were prescribed a certain setting after a sleep study. i was on apap since 2007 by the VA & am very grateful ! i watched my stats & made small adjustments over time . now after a new overnight study am on straight cpap 10. recently twicked to 11 to see if it will bring ahi down(not that it was bad) any since it had been going up somewhat over time.Maybe splitting hairs.
Bottom line, being on the hose has helped keep my head clear during rest, which otherwise led to sinus issues, etc. Feeling Blessed these days having slowed down biological clock ! ...i sorta relate to the movie about the dude that was born old & keeps getting younger
Rock On

weight has alot to do with it at well.
if you are overweight, as in FAT, loosing some fat will only help everything about your body

How profound... I'm sure no one else here has thought of that.

Julie wrote:How profound... I'm sure no one else here has thought of that.

well duh, thats why it gets mentioned all the time kitty