CPAP sleep issues & Metabolism

I've had CPAP issues for close to 10 years now, my pressure has been adjusted several times over that time period. Most of the time what triggers a change in pressure is how I start to feel, very tired, gaining weight etc. I wondered if others have trouble with their metabolism & gaining weight when their sleep is off.

Well, there could be a problem with your not having been treated adequately (do you use software to track your progress at home?) or not enough pressure being set on your machine, or other completely unrelated things like thyroid issues, etc... no way from here to guess what's going on without more info. What machine do you use and what type of mask? What are your pressures (or pressure if you just use straight Cpap vs Auto) set to? What about sleep 'hygiene' habits (i.e. no alcohol before bed, no caffeine for hours prior to bed, regular hours, and what about acid reflux/GERD issues)? There are way too many questions to be answered before we can help, and we'd like to, so get back with answers and we'll see what's what. "Metabolism" could cover anything or nothing depending on the situation. Extra weight either before going on Cpap, and/or afterward (if other issues besides OSA are involved) needs to be looked at, but Cpap does not directly cause weight gain - and in fact should give you more energy so that you lose weight, if anything.

This makes great sense as sleep is tied to the hormones that regulate many areas of our body: Thyroid, insulin, ghrelin, leptin, etc. It's one reason that many OSA sufferers are overweight--it may be that the apnea caused the obesity more than the other way around.

Good for you being in tune with your body and seeking help when needed.

tennisgrl34 wrote:I've had CPAP issues for close to 10 years now, my pressure has been adjusted several times over that time period. Most of the time what triggers a change in pressure is how I start to feel, very tired, gaining weight etc. I wondered if others have trouble with their metabolism & gaining weight when their sleep is off.

This is why I strive to monitor my data several times a week. Keeping the therapy working well is part of what has kept me going down in weight each year (BMI reached 35 now 29) and has likley been part of why I need only half of the pressure I did at BMI=35.

I believe a healthy metabolism is exactly what we should strive for.

My pressure is set currently at 12. I have the ResMed S8 Series II with the humidifier attachment. My machine will not allow me to use the heated coils, as my doctor did suggest, so I am working on getting a new machine. I use the pillow mask by mirage swift. I have to use the humidifier or I feel so dried up and get nose irritation. But I haven't been able to increase the temp on the machine past 1.5-2 because then I just get a bunch of water in my mask. Hence why I am also trying to get the new machine. I've tried other masks but they cause irritation to my face, like I will get a welt type mark where the mask was, so I have stayed with the nose pillow type mask but even those if they have 2 layers in the pillows, I get irritation. I don't know if others have such problems, but I just wish I could stay at a set pressure & not have any issues. I feel when I'm not sleeping right using the CPAP, my whole body functions get messed up, I will be super tired, gain weight very quickly etc. until my sleep gets back to normal.

tennisgrl34 wrote:My pressure is set currently at 12. I have the ResMed S8 Series II with the humidifier attachment. My machine will not allow me to use the heated coils, as my doctor did suggest, so I am working on getting a new machine. I use the pillow mask by mirage swift. I have to use the humidifier or I feel so dried up and get nose irritation. But I haven't been able to increase the temp on the machine past 1.5-2 because then I just get a bunch of water in my mask. Hence why I am also trying to get the new machine. I've tried other masks but they cause irritation to my face, like I will get a welt type mark where the mask was, so I have stayed with the nose pillow type mask but even those if they have 2 layers in the pillows, I get irritation. I don't know if others have such problems, but I just wish I could stay at a set pressure & not have any issues. I feel when I'm not sleeping right using the CPAP, my whole body functions get messed up, I will be super tired, gain weight very quickly etc. until my sleep gets back to normal.

tennisgrl34,

What about trying the same Elan Cloth Nasal Mask that I am using? I have had no problems whatsoever.

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