What is Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea (alternatively sleep apnoea) is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas, last 10 seconds o...
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CPAP problems; weight loss answer?
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I am a 49 year old male who has always been "large," ever since I was a little kid. I have had sleep apnea/been using CPAP for about 10 years.
I am getting increasingly frustrated with it. In order for the thing to work without leaking, I have to sleep on my back. That causes lower back pain. Between that and mask discomfort, the most I can sleep straight through is 5-6 hours. Many nights (like tonight) I am lucky to sleep for a couple of hours. Any suggestions as to how to deal with this? I recently met an amazing woman who told me her life story. Among other amazing things, she disclosed that she had once weighed 230+ pounds, but had made a commitment to lose weight, and over the course of 4 years, had lost 90 pounds or so. She had two rules she followed: never eat until your stomach was growling, and stop eating before you are full. I have noticed also that she really has deemphasized food and its rituals in her life. I decided then and there that if she could do it, I could do it too. So, I have been dieting and exercising, and have lost 35 pounds in the last 40 days or so. (About 256 to about 221). I plan to lose a lot more, although I expect the rate of weight loss to slow down quite a bit as I get closer to a healthy weight. Does anyone have any information about how much weight you have to lose to get to the point you no longer have sleep apnea and get off the CPAP? Posted on 08/13/09, 07:08 am |
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i am not saying that weight loss won't take sleep apnea away but i have a friend who is very small and she has it ..... i know it is frustrating . i have been wearing my mask for about three years and sometimes i can't hardly stand it . it is always leaking and blowing air in my eyes and i am constantly waking up and trying to adjust it .. 
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weight loss usually reduces apnea but is unlikely to stop it
you dont need to lie on your back, get comfortable lie any way, if your mask has straps, tighten them or get another mask that allows you to sleep in any position find an experienced mask fitter who has a range of masks to try on you, while you lie on their bed with their CPAP set at your pressure
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yes that ladie is right thats how i lose weight...and cardio..but i was 309...my o2 was 66% with cpap 16 setting..then lost 65 pounds then 62% o2 they changed the cpap to bi pap 18/10 settings added 3 litters of o2 per min..sleeping better and 7 -9 hrs..BUT IT'S TAKING 2 MONTHES TO GET TO THIS..AND MY HIGH BLOOD P HAS GOTTEN BETTER.. but i dont what it isa but i sleep longer and better with 200 apnea's a night and 400 hypo apnes a night ?? figre that one??
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its not always the weigt..its the way the trhoat and toniles and annoids and all the tissues in the same tight are..is what closes the off..if you could see a x ray or MRI of ur inside neck u would no what i mean...fat will cause this in 80% of suffers...the other 20% is unknown..some people have to get a tracke put in there throat's to get the o2 they require....but no matter what you have to do this ..its a slow death..
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea CAN be but is not always weight related, but I have been told that weight will ALWAYS add to Apnea issues
I weigh 415# - when I was at my 'fighting' weight of 235# I did not have Apnea at all, so take from that what you will. Unfortunately teh weight gain is a side effect of/consequence of Narcolepsy - and Im struggling to get that under some level of management. But I am certain that when teh weight goes the Apnea will follow :-)
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Hi all....I found a GREAT mask. Nothing touches your face at all except the nose pillows. It is made by AEIOMED and is called the Headrest. You'll have to pull up their website to get how it works..it is very adjustable and the nose piece has a wire skeleton that you can adjust as well. That might help with the actual mask being uncomfortable.
Also, as far as losing weight....my apnea is caused by damage to my throat caused by having my tonsils out as an adult, and two seperate surgeries to remove my thyroid. For me, losing weight isn't going to work. But as my Doc says...if you're overweight, losing the weight certainly will increase your overall health which won't hurt. Good luck! Carol
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All I know is that it has to do with BMI. I cannot help mine by losing wt. because I'm already below the cut off.
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