Sleep Apnea

bamagrits15
bamagrits15 Posts: 131 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have pretty bad sleep apnea and am waiting for the oh so lovely waiting period to be over on my insurance since a job change to get a CPAP. About 2 years ago I went on a "divorce diet". Not a term I actually like but the truth was that's why I lost weight. 50lbs. I started running. A lot. And I loved it. Then I had a wreck. Messed my leg up. Couldn't run. Gained back the weight I lost plus 10lbs. The weight has caused sleep apnea. So my question is has anyone else found that once their sleep apnea is under control you can lose weigh better? Honestly I know my body is so drained often it confused exhausting for hunger and I overeat so much at night before my responsibilities allow me to go to bed. I just want some feedback on how controlling sleep apnea has helped others.

Replies

  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    It should at least stop any more gain. It turned into a spiral with my husband- the lack of sleep made him eat more which made him gain which made the apnea worse. He has lost some since getting the CPAP.
  • bamagrits15
    bamagrits15 Posts: 131 Member
    My hope is that once my body gets back into a healthy sleep pattern I won't feel starved at night. I also hope I have the energy to run again because I sure do miss it.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I have sleep apnea and a CPAP. I got it last fall. It was one of the things that finally led me to get myself in gear and get healthy. My AHI was 87, which is ridiculously bad. Anyway, once I got it and caught up a bit on sleep, it was much easier to focus on other areas of my health (food, exercise, etc.) You will feel so much better when your sleep improves. Nowadays I only use the CPAP off and on. My goal is to get rid of it entirely by the one year mark.
  • HappyTrails7
    HappyTrails7 Posts: 878 Member
    Sleep apnea can also cause heart problems, which is actually what lead me to be tested. My AHI was 67.
    While a CPAP isn't a cure all, a good night's sleep will help all areas of your life.
  • CPRsMom
    CPRsMom Posts: 15 Member
    I may have sleep apnea. Does SA really cause weight gain or does it cause you not to sleep well and therefore over eat. Thanks
  • shellypaints
    shellypaints Posts: 49 Member
    I have pretty bad sleep apnea and am waiting for the oh so lovely waiting period to be over on my insurance since a job change to get a CPAP. About 2 years ago I went on a "divorce diet". Not a term I actually like but the truth was that's why I lost weight. 50lbs. I started running. A lot. And I loved it. Then I had a wreck. Messed my leg up. Couldn't run. Gained back the weight I lost plus 10lbs. The weight has caused sleep apnea. So my question is has anyone else found that once their sleep apnea is under control you can lose weigh better? Honestly I know my body is so drained often it confused exhausting for hunger and I overeat so much at night before my responsibilities allow me to go to bed. I just want some feedback on how controlling sleep apnea has helped others.

    You probably already had sleep apnea and it was mild but gaining weight makes it worse, which can cause you to gain more weight which increases severity which causes more weight gain...

    I had a trauma that resulted in an obstruction that caused my apnea when I was 16; I'm 48 now and it was very gradual process that wasn't detected till 15 years ago - the apnea not the obstruction. The obstruction was detected earlier this year and I had surgery to correct it. I can now sleep without a CPAP and I have energy to exercise and lose weight.

    Your body gets it's energy from 2 sources oxygen and calories. If oxygen is depleted your body craves more calories. I was averaging a blood oxygen level of 91% normal is 98%, they put you on oxygen at 89%.
  • sjaplo
    sjaplo Posts: 974 Member
    I love my CPAP - have had it for 10+ years now. It enabled me to start exercising again as before I would have to go to my car at lunch to nap. However - I'm not sure apnea leads to weight gain as I've gained 20lbs three times while on the machine :laugh: .
  • shellypaints
    shellypaints Posts: 49 Member
    I love my CPAP - have had it for 10+ years now. It enabled me to start exercising again as before I would have to go to my car at lunch to nap. However - I'm not sure apnea leads to weight gain as I've gained 20lbs three times while on the machine :laugh: .

    Scientific studies according to my sleep Dr. have proven that sleep apnea causes weight gain and is now believed to be the main cause of congestive heart failure. These have all happened in the last 5-6 years. He explained to me the cause/effect of low oxygen energy deficit and the body substituting by craving caloric energy. I don't have access to JAMA, Lancet, NEJM, etc to link to. But there is a ton of info just by googling.

    My DH is on a CPAP and has gained about 60lbs. He's had his for about the same amount of time. I think he needs to be reevaluated by another Dr. because of the weight gain and because he's no longer sleeping well. He does need to exercise and eat less too. When was the last sleep study you had to check the effectiveness of your CPAP? DH hasn't had one since he was Dx and put on it. I can't help but wonder if it's really doing its job.
  • briansbschubert
    briansbschubert Posts: 1
    i have a cpap i was at 284 it was grate now iam down to 217 i dont use it waiting to go back to the doctors
  • seabee78
    seabee78 Posts: 126 Member
    I was under the impression that the opposite was true: Weight gain causes sleep apnea (barring any nasal problems like deviated septum)

    When I was 330lbs i had severe apnea and felt like crap every day that I didn't use my CPAP. Now (still overweight at 255lbs) I hardly use my CPAP maybe 2 nights a week and I still feel great. I still have 35lbs to go to meet my goal.
  • shellypaints
    shellypaints Posts: 49 Member
    I was under the impression that the opposite was true: Weight gain causes sleep apnea (barring any nasal problems like deviated septum)

    When I was 330lbs i had severe apnea and felt like crap every day that I didn't use my CPAP. Now (still overweight at 255lbs) I hardly use my CPAP maybe 2 nights a week and I still feel great. I still have 35lbs to go to meet my goal.

    That used to be the belief, but studies in the last 5 years have shown that the apnea causes the weight gain which then makes the apnea worse causing more weight gain, further worsening the apnea causing even more weight gain, and on and on. vicious circle isn't it?

    I had severe obstructive sleep apnea - I had a severely deviated septum from having a broken nose. I just recently learned all of this info. I was fortunate to have surgery to correct this and I no longer snore nor am I having episodes. Now I just need to lose the 90 lbs that I gained over the years. I had my first apnea surgery, a UPPP in 1999. But it only delayed the weight gain and allowed me to maintain my weight at the time of 150.
  • Janette3x4
    Janette3x4 Posts: 135
    I just slept with an oximeter on 2 nights ago and will find out the results on Tuesday. My oxygen during the day is good (97-99%) but I wake up a lot at night.
    The C pap looks like it would be difficult to sleep with, but of course I will give it a go if I need it.

Categories