How would I know if I don't need cpap anymore?

[ElleCee]

Hi Bernetta,
I don't remember dreaming and if I do I am never aware of it. Had a couple of nightmares recently when not using the cpap but the hot thing had been happening about 6 times a night. I felt that I was back to my old self with the tiredness caused by the hot flushes and not sleeping properly. I never use an electric blanket so it isn't that.
Maybe I do still need cpap, maybe I always will, it was just one of the many things I hoped to loose along with the weight. I also had my blood pressure done last week and that is still high so I can't even give up that part of my medication. I suppose I should just be thankful that I am no longer diabetic.
Oh and the bit where I had to buy all new clothes is great too

Lorraine

[Berneta]

Hot Lady

Don't worry Lorraine, you'll get it figured out. And if your Blood Pressure is high, that could have something to do with it. Sure glad you got rid of the Diabetes--that's a major accomplishment. And who doesn't like new clothes? I have dropped a couple sizes and bought some new winter clothes myself. But I'll admit I gained a few pounds over the holidays and am taking that off now. Dropped 2 pounds this morning. Slowly of course---but I will get it done eventually. Be sure and drink enough, if the hot flashes continue--you need to stay hydrated. x Berneta

[Barely Awake]

A former hosehead I know claims he is cured but suffers the same old problems it seems and has noticeably put on weight in the last year. Hypothesizing about his situation for a moment, purely hypothetical you understand, supposing his OSA was due to weight, then it is feasible that he could 'cure' himself by losing sufficient weight only for OSA to return when he puts it on again. This appears straightforward, but surely when he got into that area where it could go either way then he could convince himself he does not have OSA purely because he wants to believe that, when in fact due to the weight loss/gain he is in that area where he is having fewer apnoeas. Whether he is suffering 45 apnoeas an hour or 4 to 5 apnoeas a night, it is still disrupting sleep and if you can't get core sleep the apnoeas are affecting you and have other serious knock on implications for health. His problem seems to be not adapting to CPAP and whilst I know one person that took to it straight away fifteen years ago and has never had one problem since, others I know personally like me took several years persevering with the equipment and finding the right mask in a trial and error to make it work for them.

[Sparticus]

A former hosehead I know claims he is cured but suffers the same old problems it seems and has noticeably put on weight in the last year. Hypothesizing about his situation for a moment, purely hypothetical you understand, supposing his OSA was due to weight, then it is feasible that he could 'cure' himself by losing sufficient weight only for OSA to return when he puts it on again. This appears straightforward, but surely when he got into that area where it could go either way then he could convince himself he does not have OSA purely because he wants to believe that, when in fact due to the weight loss/gain he is in that area where he is having fewer apnoeas. Whether he is suffering 45 apnoeas an hour or 4 to 5 apnoeas a night, it is still disrupting sleep and if you can't get core sleep the apnoeas are affecting you and have other serious knock on implications for health. His problem seems to be not adapting to CPAP and whilst I know one person that took to it straight away fifteen years ago and has never had one problem since, others I know personally like me took several years persevering with the equipment and finding the right mask in a trial and error to make it work for them.

The only way you'll know if your cured is if you have a sleep test. I would imagine that over the years your apneas will increase/decrease with your weight. I doubt I will ever come off my apap as I cant see me having another test but maybe one day I will be cured but I wont hold my breath

[ElleCee]

The only way you'll know if your cured is if you have a sleep test. I would imagine that over the years your apneas will increase/decrease with your weight. I doubt I will ever come off my apap as I cant see me having another test but maybe one day I will be cured but I wont hold my breath

I would agree that holding your breathe would be the last thing you want to do

Lorraine

[Berneta]

OSA is a Mystery

No--please don't hold your breath. Even though by now you are good at it, having had so much practice. ( LOL--GOOD ONE Lorraine. ) The trouble with OSA is that we don't know a lot about it. Yes there is evidence that OSA happens to a lot of overweight people--so does Diabetes and Heart Problems. But we don't know that one causes the other. Lots of thin people have Diabetes and Heart Problems--but no OSA. I have CSA--no obstructions--my brain just decides to take a rest from breathing now and then. And as near as I can tell that started in childhood. I would wake up gasping and choking even as a child. I expect I was lucky not to have been a SIDS baby-- and die in my sleep. There are also overweight people who don't have OSA, Diabetes, or Heart Problems. Healthy as can be. Then there are those weight lifters who have body mass that is due to muscle not fat--and they may or may not have OSA. etc. There is so much to be learned about OSA that Drs have to struggle with the whole thing. Maybe someday we will know more about it--but for now its a mystery. Probably in the Dark Ages if someone choked and died in their sleep--then someone in town probably got burned at a stake for being a Witch. We've come a long way since then--but still have a lot to learn! x Berneta