Sleep Apnea & Weight Loss

[Michael OConnell]

I have been told that my Sleep Apnea has been brought on by my increase in weight and that the cure is to loose weight.

I have looked around the forum but see little mentioned about this.

Is it true?

What are the experiences of other members?

I would welcome your feedback

(I have started dieting and its going well, I've lost over 1 stone so far)

[puffin]

Well done mate, as a big lad and I know that others here are on the large side, weight does not help, so dieting does help. Depends on your body mass index, the larger this is the more pressure it buts on your breathing as night.

As it happens I am off to have a pre-op this afternoon, for a stomach by-pass operation. Hopefully the op. will happen within 3 to 6 weeks. I have to drop half of my current body weight to fall into the normal BMI for a 46 year old bloke. Since starting CPAP I have put on a couple of stone and the sleep clinic has had to increase my air flow rate from 10 to 12 so at I can cope!

As I drop in shirt sizes I am expecting to drop in air flow rates. I will keep everyone in the picture as to weight to air pressure relationship.

[Joe McManus]

Sleep Apnoea can be caused by a variety of things but being overweight/obesity is indeed the number one cause.

Excess fat/tissue makes the throat more prone to collapse. Combined with a heavy chest, this can have serious effects on your ability to breathe.

Problem with weightloss as a solution to sleep apnoea, despite being the most obvious on paper, is the fact you are knackered. Running around is probably the last thing that sleep apnoea sufferers fancy doing, no matter how big the motivation. The body is in such a state, it may well be physically unable to.

Dietary and nutritional changes (see blog) take less energy and should certainly be considered in the mix.

From what I've heard, most people prefer getting on CPAP first so sleep gets restored and energy regained. Your organs will welcome the stability in blood oxygen and metabolic balance.

Then, after a few months on CPAP, you can look at exercising with a view to weighloss to perhaps eventually come off CPAP again. It's possible but doesn't happen often as serious weightloss takes great discipline as well as a serious review of people's current lifestyle, which isn't always easy to change (family, work, finances etc.).

As puffin said, weightloss surgery is also an option though personally, I never liked the idea of permanent interference with how the body was meant to work. Hence loving CPAP. But certainly, depending on the risk factors, history etc. it may just be the ideal route and I certainly hope it brings puffin what he's looking for. Aside from OSA, carrying too much weight can have all sorts of negative side effects. Shedding some of it is recommended for all.

So in my view:

1. Get diagnosed, understand the disorder.
2. Get treatment with CPAP, get energy.
3. With a refreshed body and mind, now look at the options available.
4. Implement chosen path and live happily ever after

[puffin]

As Joe has said, weight lost surgery is a last hope option. Having struggled with being overweight for 40 years, diets simply do not work for me. Each time I lose weight via dieting, I put it back on plus a few stone.

P.S. I have been given the date of the 1st March for the operation.

[Joe McManus]

P.S. I have been given the date of the 1st March for the operation.

Great stuff, that's only a few weeks! Excited? Scared?

PS I was just saying to ChelseaUK about his upcoming 100th post only to see you're on 199! Post-a-holics!

[puffin]

Excited, to be getting my life back after so many years. It does mean no driving or work for 6 weeks. As Mrs Puffin and myself are self employed its going to put a big strain on her to do my share of the work.

200 posts, do I get a prize

[acebass]

P.S. I have been given the date of the 1st March for the operation.

Will try and get you that info on Hospital stays

[puffin]

Cheers Mate, any info. means I am pre-armed.

[Michael OConnell]

Good Luck on 1st March

Puffin, good luck on the OP and I hope it has the effect you hope for.

At the moment, although I have been diagnosed, Im waiting for the CPAP (get it today). I am still managing to loose weight just by diet and I agree that I do not and would not consider exercise just yet.

My BMI was around 42.5 and is now about 40 but I would like to loose another 5 stone. I believe I will know within a week what my pressure setting is. If there is a corrolation between the pressure and weight, will this tell me how much I need to loose?

I am sure it is not that simple but it may give me a more realistic Goal....

[Joe McManus]

If there is a corrolation between the pressure and weight, will this tell me how much I need to loose?

I am sure it is not that simple but it may give me a more realistic Goal....

Not directly. Jaw shape, tongue shape/thickness, muscle strength/length etc. all play their part.

In general probably yes, the heavier you are the more apnoea events you experience, the higher the pressure need to keep it open. But there's a lot more to it. It's not like "loose 5 stones and knock off 2 cm/h2o off your cpap machine settings). If you are getting an APAP, it would be nice to see your personal correlation between weight and pressure.

[acebass]

There are a lot of things to consider when setting pressures, width of the airways, strength of the muscles, any other obstructions (tonsils etc) weight, respiratory conditions, and the list goes on...... not quite as easy as saying if you weigh x pressure = y.........

[Michael OConnell]

Thanks for the information. Once I get the machine I' ll let you know the model etc.

thanks again