Hi everyone.  I was diagnosed with sleep apena about 2 years ago and have been using a C-PAP machine since. For the past four months or so, I haven't felt like I needed the C-PAP machine because I wasn't waking up tired and my partner told me that I had stopped snoring. I have also lost around 70 pounds in the past year and a half (down from severely obese at 5'6 289 to obese at 217), which I credited for me not having the symptoms of sleep apena anymore. Here's my problem- for the past 3 weeks, I've been waking up tired and snoring again.   I haven't gained any weight, so I'm suprised to feel the symptoms again.  Two changes that I can think which may be causing the apnea to recur: 1. I have been more stressed than normal over the past 3 weeks.  2. I changed my work-out routine slightly, switching from running on the treadmill 5-6 days a week to doing step aerobics 5-6 days a week.  Not only did I change the routine, but I was as consistent in the past 3 weeks and missed most of one week of exercising daily (either cardio or weight lifting). My more healthful eating habits have stayed the same over this period of time.

Do either these changes seem like things that would make my sleep apnea come back with such vengenance?  While I haven't lost weight, I haven't gained weight and I'm back to my regular exercise routine. My stress level is still high, but could that in and of itself cause a recurrence?  Any insight you have into this would be helpful.

guest215 wrote:

Hi everyone.  I was diagnosed with sleep apena about 2 years ago and have been using a C-PAP machine since. For the past four months or so, I haven't felt like I needed the C-PAP machine because I wasn't waking up tired and my partner told me that I had stopped snoring. I have also lost around 70 pounds in the past year and a half (down from severely obese at 5'6 289 to obese at 217), which I credited for me not having the symptoms of sleep apena anymore. Here's my problem- for the past 3 weeks, I've been waking up tired and snoring again.   I haven't gained any weight, so I'm suprised to feel the symptoms again.  Two changes that I can think which may be causing the apnea to recur: 1. I have been more stressed than normal over the past 3 weeks.  2. I changed my work-out routine slightly, switching from running on the treadmill 5-6 days a week to doing step aerobics 5-6 days a week.  Not only did I change the routine, but I was as consistent in the past 3 weeks and missed most of one week of exercising daily (either cardio or weight lifting). My more healthful eating habits have stayed the same over this period of time.

Do either these changes seem like things that would make my sleep apnea come back with such vengenance?  While I haven't lost weight, I haven't gained weight and I'm back to my regular exercise routine. My stress level is still high, but could that in and of itself cause a recurrence?  Any insight you have into this would be helpful.

Hi,

Your weight loss might have created a placebo type effect. This coupled with your cpap use, repayment of your sleep debt etc gives a 'feel good' feeling. Unfortunately sleep apnoea seldom just goes away and FWIW I believe it has rebounded on you. In cases like this it ususlly rebounds fairly hard.

I don't believe that your change in exercise routine has any effect, stress might.......but I'm not sure.

A DME supplier once told me that he believed that only 2% (max) of patients using CPAP ever got their OSA under control through weight loss. He has been in this business since the mid 1980's and I would have confidence in his figures.

Because you stop snoring, it does not indicate that your apnoea has gone away. The weight loss probably helped in that department. The underlying condition remains and continues to cause damage to your cardiac system and leaves you at a higher than average risk of stroke, particularly between 12.00AM and 4.00AM.

I think you should get back on cpap immediately, monitor your situation and if necessary refer back to your sleep doctor.
Fortunately or unfortunately CPAP is usually a life sentence.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Why isn't anyone mentioning sleeping on your back as the first problem?  That is my one and only cause of Sleep Apnea.

Several people I know have had the surgery and it did not help them, BTW...

I am going to post more information on this.  Last night I dreamt I was drowning and I could not breathe...I woke up FLAT ON MY BACK AGAIN, which is how I am sleeping when sleep apnea kicks in.  

BTW, I am a healthy 45 year old woman who plays a LOT of tennis, I am not overweight and I have had sleep apnea since my children were born.  I have not seen a specialist about this, but I never ever sleep on my back now (because I often stop breathing when I do).  Now we are finding out how bad this is for you and for a good nights rest.

I often worry that it is bad for my spine to sleep on my side all night long, and when I was pregnant I longed to sleep flat on my back (but they said it was bad for the baby, so I didn't)...anyhow, I wanted to add my two cents, since this is what the articles are saying now about apnea.

Anonymous wrote:

Why isn't anyone mentioning sleeping on your back as the first problem?  That is my one and only cause of Sleep Apnea.

Several people I know have had the surgery and it did not help them, BTW...

I am going to post more information on this.  Last night I dreamt I was drowning and I could not breathe...I woke up FLAT ON MY BACK AGAIN, which is how I am sleeping when sleep apnea kicks in.  

BTW, I am a healthy 45 year old woman who plays a LOT of tennis, I am not overweight and I have had sleep apnea since my children were born.  I have not seen a specialist about this, but I never ever sleep on my back now (because I often stop breathing when I do).  Now we are finding out how bad this is for you and for a good nights rest.

I often worry that it is bad for my spine to sleep on my side all night long, and when I was pregnant I longed to sleep flat on my back (but they said it was bad for the baby, so I didn't)...anyhow, I wanted to add my two cents, since this is what the articles are saying now about apnea.

You mention that you have not seen a specialist, have you been properly diagnosed ? Is your apnoea mild/moderate or severe ?

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

thanks for the tips. i'm back on my cpap machine and making sure to sleep on my side.