Fehrenbach16, the answer is pretty much yes you will be on it for the rest of your life, but at least you will have a long, comfortable life. Some people try to lose weight and think that will cure them, it can help but there is no sure for sleep apnea. I look at it like if I was a diabetic, I would have to inject myself everyday for the rest of my life, not much difference really.

I asked my doctor that very thing when first diagnosed. His answer was that maybe I could lose weight and no longer need a CPAP but that he had never seen it happen with any of his patients. He's had many patients with SA that lost weight and still needed a CPAP. He's had patients have their tonsils and/or adenoids removed and still needed a CPAP.
It helps to understand what SA is. And I'm certainly no expert, but in short, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, 9 times out of 10, occurs when either the tongue slides back and covers the airway or the windpipe collapses on itself. That is where the air pressure of your CPAP comes in. It is set at the pressure needed by you to keep your windpipe open.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is totally unrelated to weight or the tongue or a collapsing wind pipe. And though I don't have it I think it may be a bit more difficult to treat. CSA is basically when your brain "forgets" to tell your lungs to breathe.
So, long story short, yes, you will probably have to use a CPAP from now on. But it's really not so bad. I'm in my 3rd year of use and it's a non issue. It's become a part of my routine, same as putting on PJ's and brushing my teeth. I used to wear contact lenses and getting my CPAP gear together every night takes less time and preparation than taking out contacts, rinsing them off with sterile solution, and putting them in a little case for the night.
The best part? I sleep SO well every night. And I wake up and function as I'm meant to during the day.
I've posted in here before about how my life has changed since CPAP therapy, so I won't bore anyone with the story again. Suffice to say, I'm a much different, and much better person than I was pre CPAP use. Message me if you're interested in hearing my story.

When I got my machine the rep told me that there are actually MORE thin people on CPAP than overweight people. I'd never heard that before, but she sells the machines, so I guess she would know. Come to think of it, my dad who was thin also had a CPAP machine.

Some people who have weight loss surgery are able to stop using their CPAP machine- I wasn't one of them. I lost 100 lbs, and my sleep apnea went from severe to moderate. I have been using my CPAP machine since 2003. The CPAP machine is my security blanket. I was very sick before I had my sleep study. I almost lost my drivers license. The CPAP saved my life.

I think of my CPAP as therapy not a cure which is why I have worked so hard to learn all I can and use every comfort measure I can.

My husband is still being tested, but in the preliminary interview the physician who attended him seemed to think that if he lost weight the problem could go away (he started having problems since he has gained some weight). We hope so. . . but in the meantime hopefully he will first be officially diagnosed & treated!