sleep apnea and weight loss

mousecat88
mousecat88 Posts: 18 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
hi everyone! I was recently diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. I am still waiting for the appointment to get a cpap. I've been reading a lot about people losing weight after getting a cpap because they have a lot more energy during the day and their hormones are better regulated through proper sleep. does anyone here use a cpap and if so have you noticed any positive changes during your day and during your weight loss effort?

Replies

  • kirstinethornburg
    kirstinethornburg Posts: 300 Member
    I use to use one for me had a slight diffenece in how offten I was getting colds. For me it did not help much with weight loss.
    My weight loss is more do to diet changes such as no breads, no pastas, no processed foods and lower carbs. Hope you have better luck with your cpab then I had with mine when you need to replace your supplies for it. I found it to be more of a hassel for me then the benefits and Found the suppliments I drink that come from Univera are a much biiggger help with energy then the c pab was
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,288 Member
    When I got my CPAP, it helped me sleep more restfully, thus have more energy during the day. It also got rid of my near-daily morning headaches, and frequent irritated throat. Furthermore, untreated sleep apnea is associated with higher risks of things like heart disease.

    Get your CPAP, make up your mind to use it (even if that requires an adjustment period), and perhaps the improved energy and clarity of thought you get from sleeping better will help with your weight loss. I'd had my CPAP for a long time before I decided to lose weight, so I don't have personal experience with that part.

    Some people find that the weight loss cures their sleep apnea, too (though it hasn't cured mine).
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    My wife went on a CPAP a month or two ago and has improved her mood (hormones and fatigue I think). My guess is that you can focus better on your net calorie control if you are feeling more rested. Holistic health I guess.
  • mousecat88
    mousecat88 Posts: 18 Member
    I'm not even sure if I truly need a CPAP. My doctor never called me back to the office to discuss the results after the in-home sleep study before sending out a referral for me to a get a CPAP and the results from the at-home study say I have 6 apneas per night. Which is only one above normal. Does that really justify a CPAP? I mean, can't I just... quit smoking and lose weight before going all out with a CPAP?
  • mespreeman
    mespreeman Posts: 70 Member
    The CPAP didn't help me with weight loss. Have had it for years. I did feel better though.

    I'm hoping the weight loss will help the CPAP more than the other way.
  • ElPasoMark
    ElPasoMark Posts: 47 Member
    edited May 2016
    mousecat88 wrote: »
    I'm not even sure if I truly need a CPAP. My doctor never called me back to the office to discuss the results after the in-home sleep study before sending out a referral for me to a get a CPAP and the results from the at-home study say I have 6 apneas per night. Which is only one above normal. Does that really justify a CPAP? I mean, can't I just... quit smoking and lose weight before going all out with a CPAP?

    And you didn't call the doc back or visit to follow up & find out what's what? If you have obstructive sleep apnea in addition to giving you a good night's sleep a CPAP could save your life. 2 friends of mine passed away due to sleep apnea. I've been using one (Actually a BIPAP [2 different pressures]) for nearly 5 years and can't imagine not using one now. I sleep a LOT better, and lighter, than I ever did before.
  • ElPasoMark
    ElPasoMark Posts: 47 Member
    mespreeman wrote: »
    The CPAP didn't help me with weight loss. Have had it for years. I did feel better though.

    I'm hoping the weight loss will help the CPAP more than the other way.

    A CPAP isn't used for weight loss and it isn't a weight loss tool. It's to keep your airway open so you can breath and get a goods nights sleep. Losing weight could possibly help with your sleep apnea.
  • mousecat88
    mousecat88 Posts: 18 Member
    ElPasoMark wrote: »
    mousecat88 wrote: »
    I'm not even sure if I truly need a CPAP. My doctor never called me back to the office to discuss the results after the in-home sleep study before sending out a referral for me to a get a CPAP and the results from the at-home study say I have 6 apneas per night. Which is only one above normal. Does that really justify a CPAP? I mean, can't I just... quit smoking and lose weight before going all out with a CPAP?

    And you didn't call the doc back or visit to follow up & find out what's what? If you have obstructive sleep apnea in addition to giving you a good night's sleep a CPAP could save your life. 2 friends of mine passed away due to sleep apnea. I've been using one (Actually a BIPAP [2 different pressures]) for nearly 5 years and can't imagine not using one now. I sleep a LOT better, and lighter, than I ever did before.

    Yes, of course I called the doctor. She would not call me back and kept having her nurse call me and just tell me to go for the full sleep study and the CPAP. I've been waiting 2 months for them to get the preauth and set up the appointment. I called another doctor a few days ago and I'm seeing them on Monday for the referral because my current doctor is nonresponsive and taking too long.
  • mousecat88
    mousecat88 Posts: 18 Member
    My current doctor's office is basically the community clinic and sees way too many patients than they can handle. They do referrals in the order they are ordered by the doctors and the wait time is about 6-8 weeks right now before they "get to you". So, basically, they are telling me I need a CPAP and my O2 is 70% at night, yet making me wait months before I get the CPAP.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    Just a quick little bit of info.

    Your home test is what's called a "negative result." That's why they're sending you for a full study. My insurance wouldn't cover a full study unless my home study gave a negative. But, mine showed a positive, so I didn't need to go in for a full study - my home test qualified me for a CPAP. Luckily, the sleep center here was able to get me a unit in just a few weeks.

    As far as weight management goes, I haven't noticed any difference. Of course, I'm not actually trying to do anything with my weight currently. I do, however, seem to sleep better and have a little more energy.
  • mousecat88
    mousecat88 Posts: 18 Member
    The home test identified "6 apneas per hour, 1 being obstructive" and said I had mild sleep apnea. It said the normal rating is "5" and I rated at a "6". I am under the impression they are doing the full sleep study and CPAP titration at the same time. Which I understand for efficiency-sake, but what if the full study shows I don't need it. I guess then I wouldn't pay to pick up the machine...
  • mousecat88
    mousecat88 Posts: 18 Member
    To clarify, I am not at all opposed to using the CPAP. If I need it, I need it. And if I lose a bunch of weight, I can do another study to reassess the need down the line. I've just read some about how regulating sleep affects hormones and has led some people to have better weight loss success, and was curious about that.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    mousecat88 wrote: »
    The home test identified "6 apneas per hour, 1 being obstructive" and said I had mild sleep apnea. It said the normal rating is "5" and I rated at a "6". I am under the impression they are doing the full sleep study and CPAP titration at the same time. Which I understand for efficiency-sake, but what if the full study shows I don't need it. I guess then I wouldn't pay to pick up the machine...


    Oh, you originally said 6 per night. 6 per hour should be a positive, so I wouldn't think you'd need a full sleep study.

    When I got my CPAP a few months back, it was set up to be at one pressure initially (5.0 - I don't remember exactly which units it uses, as psi doesn't seem quite right), and increase if it senses a problem, then slowly decrease, after the issue had been corrected. The unit wirelessly sends out the data each night, which the doctor can access and issue/authorize changes, which can be sent to my machine wirelessly.

    Unless they're going to fit you with an older model, I can't imagine why you'd need anything more than a brief mask selection/fit and instructions on how to use the CPAP.
  • mousecat88
    mousecat88 Posts: 18 Member
    TR0berts wrote: »
    mousecat88 wrote: »
    The home test identified "6 apneas per hour, 1 being obstructive" and said I had mild sleep apnea. It said the normal rating is "5" and I rated at a "6". I am under the impression they are doing the full sleep study and CPAP titration at the same time. Which I understand for efficiency-sake, but what if the full study shows I don't need it. I guess then I wouldn't pay to pick up the machine...


    Oh, you originally said 6 per night. 6 per hour should be a positive, so I wouldn't think you'd need a full sleep study.

    When I got my CPAP a few months back, it was set up to be at one pressure initially (5.0 - I don't remember exactly which units it uses, as psi doesn't seem quite right), and increase if it senses a problem, then slowly decrease, after the issue had been corrected. The unit wirelessly sends out the data each night, which the doctor can access and issue/authorize changes, which can be sent to my machine wirelessly.

    Unless they're going to fit you with an older model, I can't imagine why you'd need anything more than a brief mask selection/fit and instructions on how to use the CPAP.

    yeah, sorry, I meant 6 per hour. the nurse had said that the home studies aren't as reliable so I should have a full one done in the lab. I really have no clue. I'm going to another nurse on Monday to get a second opinion about all of this.

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