CPAP users, lend me your ear!

[kfaery215 14]

I have been on a CPAP machine since 2012. To be perfectly honest, I love my machine. I cannot sleep without it and I do not even try to. My doctor keeps going on and on about how so many months post-op I will likely be able to come off the machine. But what if I don't want to? Has anybody had thoughts like this as they were post op? It's not 100% the case that just because you are overweight you need to have a CPAP machine. I believe that I have had sleep apnea probably for most of my life. Just based on how my mother described me sleeping indicates that I was at least predisposition for it. I'm a little apprehensive and a little more reluctant to think about giving it up.

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[Delphac 12]

I have also been diagnosed with sleep apnea and use my CPAP machine all the time. I do not sleep well without it. I do not plan on going off of the machine unless my "Sleep" doctor tells me to. After I lose a substantial amount of weight, I'll talk to him about it. I'm sure he would want to do another sleep study on me before taking me off of it. However, I believe I have had sleep apnea for most of my life. Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea (and I was also thin at the time) I was told that I stop breathing during sleep...So I feel better (and safer) using my CPAP machine.

[ummyasmin 1,603]

I've had to lower the pressure setting a little bit I'm not giving up this baby unless my body tells me it doesn't want it!

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[kfaery215 14]

Thanks for the reassurance! I agree with both you guys. I will see what my body tells me and also do another study down the road.

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[CyndieRI 251]

I have sleep apnea too and also love my CPAP. I can’t imagine not using it. I plan on continuing to use it unless it causes me problems!

[Hrsnjs 267]

I can't live without my CPAP! My apnea is almost for sure due to my weight, I did not have any issues til I gained so much weight. I can't sleep without mine and love it. BUT...I'd love to not have to use it. I'm not just going to test it out, I need my dang sleep. But once I lose a large amount of weight I'd be willing to do a sleep study to determine if I still need it at all. I hope it corrects.

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[MONA H. 27]

I sleep with one as well... and even though it's far from sexxxy...I can't wait until I no longer need that contraption on my face[emoji16]

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[Matt Z 4,140]

8 hours ago, kfaery215 said:

I have been on a CPAP machine since 2012. To be perfectly honest, I love my machine. I cannot sleep without it and I do not even try to. My doctor keeps going on and on about how so many months post-op I will likely be able to come off the machine. But what if I don't want to? Has anybody had thoughts like this as they were post op? It's not 100% the case that just because you are overweight you need to have a CPAP machine. I believe that I have had sleep apnea probably for most of my life. Just based on how my mother described me sleeping indicates that I was at least predisposition for it. I'm a little apprehensive and a little more reluctant to think about giving it up.

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I'm on an APAP now. I've lost well enough were my apnea isn't going to be solved with additional weight loss. The key here is the term "likely". You are 100% correct that weight isn't the ONLY factor for sleep apnea. I know a few people that are technically underweight that have sleep apnea.

I wouldn't just give it up, and any doctor that advises that is a concern. You'll need a follow up study once you drop a decent amount of weight. My pressures are down from the CPAP pressure of 11.6 to the APAP pressure between 5-20, where I'm hitting between a low 5 and 8 now.

[Healthy_life 1,437]

@kfaery215

When your weight is lower, You will be scheduled for a sleep study. Your Dr's will determine if you need your CPAP prescription. I'm thankful I no longer have sleep apnea. I sleep well without it.

[NYJenn 1,464]

I have my additional study in January. Really hoping I can get rid of mine soon

[Myhorseisfattoo 387]

I HATE my cpap with a bloody passion. Can't wait to wave goodbye to it. sleep doc once told me that typically, reducing your body weight by 20% can stop certain apneas. We shall see!!!

[MIZ60 1,291]

My husband has sleep apnea and he has never been overweight....I think he has had it for a long time because he does snore a lot and has a hard time waking up in the morning. Even with multiple adjustments (the sleep doctor can actually adjust it remotely and determine how many episodes he is having) it never fully fixed it. They recommended a dental appliance (looks like Invisilign braces with a hook between the top and bottom) and it is the best thing he has ever used. He had a follow up sleep study a couple of months ago and they said he only had a few episodes over the whole night. It is so much easier and better than the CPAP and we both really love it.

[Heather E 68]

I had my 6 month post op check up last week and I had to schedule an appointment with the "sleep" doctor so I could order more supplies....well that appointment was today, he looked back to when I started with my CPap, he said I was having 1 apnea event every minute! That was in Jan. 2016. When he showed me the data from the memory card today, he said that I only had, on average, 1 event every 5 HOURS! YAY! He scheduled me for a home sleep study to see if I can give up my machine......I am a little nervous about it.....I have grown used to the sound of the cpap and the O2 concentrator. But, almost 120 pounds down, I am also a little excited.

[GradyCat 3,697]

I have obstructive sleep apnea as well but I look forward to not using the CPAP machine any longer at some point if I've lost enough weight and a repeat sleep study says it's okay to stop using it.

I can't see the harm if you kept using it. Perhaps with adjusting settings and pressures to account for the weight lost?

Skinny people can have sleep apnea too.

[NYJenn 1,464]

Got the results of my second study! No signs of sleep apnea! I’m CPAP free 😊😊