Losing weight, how do I know when I no longer need cpap?

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:52 am

Thanks, Den. I definitely agree that the apnea and obesity feed off each other. I guess I can't be sure that the apnea will be gone with the weight though it seems like many bariatric physicians make that claim so maybe that's another way I've gotten into that line of thinking. I do want my daughter to be tested for apnea because since both her parents have problems with it, it seems that she would be a likely candidate. She is very resistant to the notion, however, because she doesn't think she can tolerate something on her face. She seems to sleep an excessive amount during the day and I think she would have so much more energy with a machine if she does, indeed, have apnea. JKR

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:05 am

Jim, I definitely needed a chuckle!! thanks, JKR

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:18 am

JKR wrote:.....because she doesn't think she can tolerate something on her face.

Tell her that it would be far more preferred than (too soon) a coffin lid.

It's definitely not "normal" sleeping with something strapped to your face, but after awhile becomes more tolerable. At some point in the last year, I came to wonder how I could sleep all night without it.

Best wishes,

Den

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:54 pm

I think it can go either way. Weight gain can cause OSA and OSA can cause weight gain. I did seem to snack more before APAP. I think I was looking for the energy lost throug a lack of deep sleep.

[quote="Wulfman"]It's great for us to lose weight for our overall health.....BUT.....don't pin your hopes of getting rid of OSA on weight loss. AND, if you have that followup PSG at some point, don't rush to sell your CPAP machine and throw away your masks.....it just MAY come back. For a long time I wondered about the "chicken and egg" situation with regard to OSA......but, after thinking alot about it, it has become my belief that in the majority of situations, OSA (and poor sleep, in general) is what leads to weight gain and not vice-versa. At some point, they (OSA and weight gain) "feed" on each other and send us into a downward physical and medical spiral.

Good luck,

Den

brasshopper · Post by **brasshopper** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:36 pm

...I remember, more than once. waking up and thinking, "That damn snorer is incredibly loud - he is so loud he woke me right up."

Then I'd realize that it was me - I woke myself up, listening to my own snoring.

This was when I was in boot camp - I weighed 175, at 6'4". I am still almost thst height now, but I weigh a great deal more - more than a great deal more.

The point is that, based on the changes in circulation that they discovered in my 30's and the time they said that it took for those changes to go down in, I was probably already experiencing Sleep Apnes at a weight that I would only be able to reach with an operation that caused me to lose weight.

There are a percentage of people who will be helped by baryatric surgery. There is a perventage who will not be helped by weight loss at all - your history may help you discovrer your chancer - as will the overall perventages.

brasshopper · Post by **brasshopper** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:08 am

...I remember, more than once. waking up and thinking, "That damn snorer is incredibly loud - he is so loud he woke me right up. We gotta get together and complain 0 then I realized that he was"

Then I'd realize that it was me - I woke myself up, listening to my own snoring.

This was when I was in boot camp - I weighed 175, at 6'4". I am still almost thst height now, but I weigh a great deal more - more than a great deal more.

The point is that, based on the changes in circulation that they discovered in my 30's and the time they said that it took for those changes to go down in, I was probably already experiencing Sleep Apnes at a weight that I would only be able to reach with an operation that caused me to lose weight.

There are a percentage of people who will be helped by baryatric surgery. There is a perventage who will not be helped by weight loss at all - your history may help you discovrer your chances - as will the overall perventages which are reported.

We love our old, dumpy, useless dog who can't remember whether he is in the room or not - except as it reacts to him in xPAP - he hears the xPAP machine go off and he seems happy. because it means he might be fed soon - or I mght phase him out

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:24 am

I'm not considering bariatric surgery in case anyone has that impression. JKR

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:26 am

I was 60+ lbs overweight when I was diagnosed / started with CPAP. After a 40 lb weight loss I was re-titrated - and needed a slightly higher pressure. I am now 62 lbs lighter and tried going without CPAP. DH said I was back to gasping for air and snoring within an hour of falling asleep. So, in my case, the weight loss did nothing to help my OSA.

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:43 pm

I talked to my r therapist today. She had me turn the pressure down from a 7 to a 5 to see how that would work. JKR

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:34 pm

5 cm is approaching the air starvation level for some people. Does she have a clue?

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:38 pm

I can only hope!! JKR

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:52 pm

DME_Guy wrote:I did seem to snack more before APAP. I think I was looking for the energy lost throug a lack of deep sleep.

My doctor at the hospital where I had my sleep study done told me that there is a certain chemical the body produces that will let a person know when thy are full. I can't remember the name of it but in my pre cpap days eating a whole bag of any kind of snack and still feeling hungry was a common thing.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:23 am

Goofproof wrote:I've been thinking about being buried with my Pro2, just in case. Jim

You crazy man!! ROTFL!!

hmmm...on second thought...

JKR · Post by **JKR** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:25 am

Well, tried my cpap at the new lower level. Didn't seem to have any problems during the night. Felt just mildly fuzzy when I woke up but maybe that will go away. If not, may have to kick it up to a 6 as therapist mentioned. JKR

Losing weight, how do I know when I no longer need cpap?

Back when I was in the Navy...

Back when I was in the Navy...