Getting off cpap..?

[jasmineinmymind 204]

So I was on a CPAP machine for about five years and I have always struggled with it. I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and I was never really sure if the machine was helping me that much. I am six months out from my surgery and I’ve lost over 50 pounds. I actually went on a trip and forgot my power cord to my machine so I couldn’t use it for a week. I was really surprised that I felt less tired and more alert. It’s been about three weeks since I’ve used it now and I’m pretty sure that I am no less tired than I was before while I was using it but I still don’t feel fully rested. So basically I feel like I don’t need it, and then on the other hand I’m still tired. How did you know when you didn’t need your machine anymore? I have an appointment with the sleep specialist but it’s not for another month ( he’s always booked). I have to say that right before I stopped using it I was feeling so fatigued and so tired that I actually requested labs because I thought I might be low in something but they all turned out to be normal. I would say that since I stopped using the machine I’m not at that level of tiredness. Still... anyone successful in getting off cpap and how did you stop?

[GradyCat 3,697]

I never took my CPAP on vacation because, like you, I was diagnosed with "milk" Obstructive sleep Apnea. I had a regular annual appointment at 3 months post-op after having lost 50 pounds and told the doctor I didn't feel I needed the CPAP anymore, so they gave an at-home sleep kit and lo and behold, I no longer had Sleep Apnea!

[jasmineinmymind 204]

Has nobody else gotten off cpap??

[jasmineinmymind 204]

Anyone?

[FluffySaysForkIt! 823]

I know there are actually quite a few people here who have dropped their CPAP...

I hope to be one of them, eventually.

I think most people went back for a final sleep study to make sure their apnea was gone before quitting completely, just to be sure. Hopefully your Doctor will get you some answers soon and you get to ditch that sucker for good!

[Nonnaof4 54]

I'm really hoping to get rid of mine after surgery. Time will tell I guess.

[NYJenn 1,464]

I did about 9 months post op

[froufrou 678]

I don't use mine any more. I also felt more tired using it. I figure that if I do still have sleep apnea, it's really mild now.

[jasmineinmymind 204]

On 7/9/2019 at 1:30 PM, froufrou said:

I don't use mine any more. I also felt more tired using it. I figure that if I do still have sleep apnea, it's really mild now.

Exactly. I think I probably still have sleep apnea but if the cpap makes me more tired, whats the point? The sleep doctor was no help. He basically just said some people dont sleep well and we dont know why

[momof3_angels 465]

It is definitely possible that you no longer need CPAP. It is also possible you DO need it and just need your pressure level adjusted. I was diagnosed and started CPAP in Feb/March. Mine was listed as mild to severe (mild was when I wasn't really sleeping/ severe was in the little bit of time I actually slept). I am starting to do really well on CPAP and sleeping much better. I also am able to stay awake later than I was able to before, so I know it is working. That said... I have surgery scheduled in 10-11 days. I am REALLY hoping that losing weight will mean I can go off CPAP. But, the only way any of us can know for sure whether or not we can remove CPAP is by repeating a sleep study (some do a version of it at home). Just know, weight loss is much more possible/successful if we are compliant with CPAP.

[Frustr8 7,886]

And another side of things maybe? I was diagnosed with OSA. in October 2017, got my machine who I Christened Uncle Snuffely in Early November that year, in January 2018 my sleep Doctor Laurie Moody MD confirmed I was compliant, but still needful, this was the final specialist- confirmation I needed before having SURGERY scheduled, shortly after that Surgeon #1 and I parted company, His Idea & not mine, I won't totally revile him at this point although perhaps He merits it, he HAS helped many other Bari-Pals currently active, but FAILED ME. "Nuff said? At any rate I was allowed to take all my "Credits" with him on to Program #2 where I did receive the Surgery I earnestly Sought. AND I was compliant with my C-Pap all along . Well I have lost 145+ pounds, and I , like many others, was hopeful that my C-Pap would surely be deleted from my Life as so many others have been able to do. Alas NO- I am among the the Minority that Bariatric Surgery DID NOT CURE. I was aware that it runs strongly in my family, my Son, the Tomkitten is now the Third Successive Generation to be diagnosed with O..S.A., and We have NO CLUE how many preceding generations it manifested itself, in the Olden Times people just died in their sleep, NBD, just a fact of Life. So mine is Intrinsic, the outside factor of Obesity or Not, it just turned out to be a NNM, a No Never Mind, my settings were lowered but the Bottom Line is: Uncle Snuffly and I will be Steady- Dating the rest of my Life and now Tomkitten has a Uncle Snuffy of his own, and will be seeking surgery if PCP sends the Letter of Recommendations. Told him to exhaust exercise and diet options first but would probably write it the End of September. So now you know of an Minority, Frustr8 and her Family. At least it is not a Death Sentence but merely a Life Prolonging One! And Yes we both Sleep Calmer and More Peacefully with than Without, quieter without us gasping and both snoring. And you Do Get Used to SOMETHING that really helps, My Friend.

[jasmineinmymind 204]

On 8/24/2019 at 4:05 PM, momof3_angels said:

It is definitely possible that you no longer need CPAP. It is also possible you DO need it and just need your pressure level adjusted

I have a bi pap which automatically adjusts the pressure as I need it. I adjusted that machine so many times in every possible way but I still woke up feeling like I had just had NO sleep. The doctor agreed that CPAP cured the apnea but not the tiredness. I really dont know what to do at this point. CPAP just doesnt seem to work for me.

[PeaceDove24 8]

On 8/30/2019 at 11:44 PM, jasmineinmymind said:

I have a bi pap which automatically adjusts the pressure as I need it. I adjusted that machine so many times in every possible way but I still woke up feeling like I had just had NO sleep. The doctor agreed that CPAP cured the apnea but not the tiredness. I really dont know what to do at this point. CPAP just doesnt seem to work for me.

Technically auto adjusting is not what bi-pap does. bi-pap just also forces you to exhale along with forcing air into you. It is possible that your machine has an auto feature that adjusts pressure as needed BUT it is also very possible that the range it's been set to by the therapist is too high.

Like my dad had a bi-pap that auto adjusted- his pressure range setting was something like 25-40.
My mom's auto cpap has a minimum of 14 (that is the pressure it starts at).

Mine is only 5.5-12 (normally about 6.2) because I had very moderate (two points above mild!!!) OSA.

IDK if this has been discussed with sleep DR, but that's my 2c.

[Paul Hufnagl 19]

i was diagnosed with seveare sleep apnea (bipap level 22/17) since i have lost 70 pounds since diagnosed in january. i have set my bipap to auto and then read the results on sleepyhead.com (you can watch a youtube video on the lankeyleft channel to figure it out.) the read out tells me if i had any periods of apnea. i think i'm at a mild level of 10 now.