Sleep Apnea

jakejacobsen

I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea over 6 months ago. I was just curious has anyone cured them selves by losing weight? Is it un-weight related? I was just curious I would love to pack my CPAP up and put it in the closet but my wife isn't in agreement. She wants me to go back to the Dr and have a sleep study to confirm. I am going to go back to the Dr but would like to know at what weight loss level were you better? I don't want to go through the Dr apt, then sleep study then be left on the CPAP.

Thanks,
~ Jake

DiamondInTheDirt

Ive heard its related to weight. I watched at tv programme i think in the uk...Embarassing bodies i think..they look at all sorts of conditions, and one very overweight girl came into their clinic, and she was diagnosed with it. She was told to looseweight, and i think it got better after she did!

KyleJCooper

Without question, 100% yes. Obesity is probably the primary contributing factor in the development of sleep apnea. During my training in pulmonary medicine, I frequently spoke with patients that said that weight loss was improving their condition.

There are some studies out there that look at neck circumference compared to the incidence of OSA, but the problem is that there are no studies that talk about specific levels of weight loss where you chance of being cured are higher. It's very patient-dependent.

The only reason I agree with your wife is because if you are still having significant apnea at night, you are increasing your risk of the development of pulmonary hypertension, which is a deadly disorder.

Keep working on the weight loss, and when you are skinny enough to be sure you're not gonna lose much more, go get the sleep study and put the CPAP to rest once and for all as the ULTIMATE NSV!

Hoppymom

I have just started losing with 23 pounds gone. I think you need to get to a normal BMI before you will see really good results. CPAP is definately weight related. I agree with your wife, a sleep study is needed before packing up the CPAP. I am kind of addicted to mine. I have tried to go without after sinus surgery thinking that might have helped. Nope, couldn't fall asleep without it. I think your last sentence kind of says it all. You want to just go off of it and everything is going to be ok. It will take a lot of weight loss to fix the problem. This is a costly process with drs., sleep centers and CPAP companies all getting their hands in your pocket but I think it's necessary to have the study and be sure.

netchik

My Father in law doesn't have an ounce of fat on his body, he is healthy and very active, particularly for his age, and he has Sleep Apnea. Yes, weight can contribute, but listen to your wife and get the sleep study done. It could be that regardless of your size, you are a sufferer. I hope not - I really hope that on your weight loss journey that removing this from your life is a happy by-product of your healthier body.

Good luck!

Helenatrandom

My husband has sleep apnea. He uses a CPAP. He asked the doctor if losing weight would help, and the doctor said not with the kind he has. (Sorry, I don't understand the differences, and I wasn't with him to ask questions.) I can understand why you want to be done with the CPAP, but I think you should wait until you are almost done, then ask your doctor if you should have the test to confirm that you still have it. If the doctor tells you what he told Bob, you won't have to bother, and if he says it may help you, then you don't have to have it done again later if the results aren't what you'd hoped and you lose more weight.
Good luck to you! I know it's a pain to have to take all that stuff with you any time you go on vacation, or even for an overnighter somewhere. I hope yours is the kind that can be reversed!

Puffins1958

Yes. I did have sleep apnea, yes, I did go do the sleep study, yes, they do attach wires ALL over, yes, it is a PAIN. I did lose alot of weight initially. Bottom line is, sleep apnea is gone. But, I did have a mild form of it. I guess it all depends on how often you stop breathing in the middle of the night, and how much REM sleep you do get.

I wish you luck.....

deathstarclock

Not sure if this answer will help you but I have sleep apnea and I have %14 body fat. I've learned that sleep apnea and obesity are related, but due to my case I'm guessing there's different kinds of sleep apnea.... *shrug*

whit1108

My son had sleep apnea. Two weeks after her was born he was sent to the childerns hospital for 4 weeks in icu. They found out he had sleep apnea. He was sent home on the machine and he had to wear it for a year. Going back to the dr ever few months to get it read off. For him to get off the machine he had to sleep two nights at the childerns hospital and have no sleep apnea shown on the results to get off of it. He is no longer on it but still has checks up down at the childerns hospital to make sure everything is still going okay. If i were you i would stay on it until ur dr says ur okay to get off of it. Its a scary thing to have, I rememeber MANY sleepless worrying nights if and when the machine alarm would go off. IM SO HAPPY is he doing better now and no longer on it.

JoDeeD

My husband is a home respiratory therapist that deals mostly with CPAP patients. There are many reasons for having sleep apnea. The most common one is obesity, but not the only. I agree with your wife. You should probably have a new sleep study done prior to getting rid of the machine. Many times the machines have a card in them that can be downloaded to show how many times you have episodes throughout the night, but it is only a guide and not as accurate as a full sleep study. Great job on the weight loss. I would continue with your weight loss and possibly maintain for a while before completely getting rid of your CPAP under your physicians guidance.

Tangerine302

I agree, not always due to weight. My dad has it and uses the machine when he sleeps. He's normal weight and doesn't need to lose any. Good luck with it. I guess you can always get another study done after you lose weight to see if anything has changed.

Steem707

I had sleep apnea until I had my tonsil's taken out. A sleep study is the way to go. Weight is the easiest answer but it may be something else.