Sleep Apnea Questions

jacqueline0821
jacqueline0821 Posts: 667 Member
in Motivation and Support
How many of you have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea as your weight has increased? Did it go away with weight loss and improved health? I am going for a sleep test in about 6 weeks to determine if I have Sleep Apnea. In addition, I am snoring so bad that my husband and I are no longer sleeping in the same room. Any advice until I can successfully get this weight off and become healthier would be appreciated. Your stories are welcomed!!

Replies

  • chromilo
    chromilo Posts: 33 Member
    I took the sleep test by bringing a device home with me instead of going to a lab. Result was that I have mild sleep apnea but not enough to warrant getting the cpap. My wife did say I stopped snoring after losing some weight. Two others I know were prescribed cpap masks because they were diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. Weight control through diet and exercise was the way to go but cpap does bring down odi numbers to normal levels every time you use it that is. One of them had to get a chin strap to keep his mouth closed during sleep because he would always get sick after using the cpap machine for a few days without the chin strap. They both said it's not the most comfortable while sleeping so I would lose weight quickly.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    I have never had a sleep study done, but I know that my snoring became unbearable when I was at my heaviest. At a lower weight I only snore when getting sick or extremely tired. As I've lost weight, I have been told I'm not snoring anymore. For many people it can be altered with weight loss, but not for everyone. Best of luck to you!
  • Malenurse51
    Malenurse51 Posts: 181 Member
    I was diagnosed when I was at my highest weight. We had to move to different rooms too (not a fun time). I've since dropped but I'm so used to the CPAP that I hesitate to sleep without it. I haven't asked my wife if I snore anymore.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Hubby got sick of wearing earplugs so pushed me to get tested. The CPAP greatly improved my energy level during the day and my blood pressure improved too. I decided to stay with the CPAP even after significant weight loss as I sleep better with it. My latest test shows that I am borderline.

    Look at it this way. The diagnosis likely added ten years to my life.
  • steph124ny
    steph124ny Posts: 238 Member
    When I meet my husband he did not snore unless he was sick. Now we sleep in different rooms. Although he will not admit it, he has gained at least 50 pounds since then. It affects my marriage and I hate it. He just recently started back at the gym with me so hopefully he is starting to see that I really do love him and miss having him near me at night. But I need sleep too!!!!
  • Malenurse51
    Malenurse51 Posts: 181 Member
    steph124ny wrote: »
    When I meet my husband he did not snore unless he was sick. Now we sleep in different rooms. Although he will not admit it, he has gained at least 50 pounds since then. It affects my marriage and I hate it. He just recently started back at the gym with me so hopefully he is starting to see that I really do love him and miss having him near me at night. But I need sleep too!!!!

    That was one of the things that drove me to getting checked and getting the machine.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    My pulmonologist plans to retest me this spring now that I've lost so much weight, 130 total, about 100 since diagnosed. I read on here earlier this week about someone who was cleared after losing weight. Anyone should get retested, not stop CPAP on their own. It's not just about snoring, it's about breathing. There's a life and death difference!
  • Malenurse51
    Malenurse51 Posts: 181 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    My pulmonologist plans to retest me this spring now that I've lost so much weight, 130 total, about 100 since diagnosed. I read on here earlier this week about someone who was cleared after losing weight. Anyone should get retested, not stop CPAP on their own. It's not just about snoring, it's about breathing. There's a life and death difference!

    WOW! Good for you! I AM impressed!
  • jrstarling
    jrstarling Posts: 8 Member
    I got tested after I had my son 14 years ago. I gained more weight after being diagnosed. I have lost 60lbs over the last year and didn't use my cpap for a couple months. My husband told me I was still snoring and I knew I wasn't getting good sleep. Started using my machine again and can tell a difference in how I'm feeling.
  • dutchandkiwi
    dutchandkiwi Posts: 1,389 Member
    I have never been diagnosed but I know that just before I found MFP I did wake up a few times feeling as it I could not breath and that I would snore if sleeping on my back. Both are gone now.
  • satisatisati
    satisatisati Posts: 260 Member
    I had this problem of snoring but as soon as I lost my weight. No problem since then
  • flatlndr
    flatlndr Posts: 713 Member
    At the risk of repeating what others have said, I was never checked for sleep apnea, but when I was at my heaviest, my wife found my snoring unbearable, and she was starting to raise concerns that I should get checked for apnea. As I lost weight, my snoring abated, and my wife had to find other things to grumble about me. ;)
  • jacqueline0821
    jacqueline0821 Posts: 667 Member
    Thanks for all of the responses! I am definitely going to continue with the testing and begin my weight loss journey. I feel that because it is affecting my health so much that I will be able to stick with it this time.
  • llbrixon
    llbrixon Posts: 964 Member
    :)
  • kes840
    kes840 Posts: 66 Member
    Weight loss may or may not help the apnea. Some people (like me) just have the anatomy for it.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    My SO was tested and came out borderline a couple of years ago. He decided to lose some weight, about 30lbs of beer belly, and his snoring dropped dramatically.

    On the next test he was just on the good side, so it was recommended he (me in reality) sew a tennis ball in the back of an old tshirt to stop him rolling onto his back. We never got around to that.

    After another 10lbs loss, and reaching the normal BMI range, his snoring virtually stopped.

    Last test he was cleared. No more tests needed.

    If he sleeps on his back he also has his arms over his head!

    Cheers, h.
  • Nikion901
    Nikion901 Posts: 2,467 Member
    kes840 wrote: »
    Weight loss may or may not help the apnea. Some people (like me) just have the anatomy for it.

    I got sleep apnea after breaking my nose. Of course, it got worse after I gained weight. I use a nasal mask and have used a Cpap for a number of years now. Expect I will continue needing to use one since a sleep study done after I lost some weight showed that the condition had worsened from when it was first diagnosed.

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