MY health gets worse every day.  I talked to doctors and they say to loose weight.  I am sick of listening to that line.,  I know I HAVE to loose 60 lbs but its not happening.  Depressions is getting worse.  I NEVER feel good.   I can barely walk without being out of breath since gaining all this weight now.  I do not know what to do anymore.  I have just about given up hope on being healthy and face the fact that this is what is dealt to me.  The only times I can say I feel somewhat comfortable is when I drink alcohol.  Its sad I know but its the truth.

I do not want to see anymore doctors or go have anymore tests.  I am beginning to think the CPAP is a waste of my time as well.  I know for some they swear it has changed their lifes but it has not for me.

MrRob wrote:

MY health gets worse every day.  I talked to doctors and they say to loose weight.  I am sick of listening to that line.,  I know I HAVE to loose 60 lbs but its not happening.  Depressions is getting worse.  I NEVER feel good.   I can barely walk without being out of breath since gaining all this weight now.  I do not know what to do anymore.  I have just about given up hope on being healthy and face the fact that this is what is dealt to me.  The only times I can say I feel somewhat comfortable is when I drink alcohol.  Its sad I know but its the truth.

I do not want to see anymore doctors or go have anymore tests.  I am beginning to think the CPAP is a waste of my time as well.  I know for some they swear it has changed their lifes but it has not for me.

Rob,

I'll be the first to admit I've not read all of your posts, and I do have trouble remembering everyone's specific situation.
But I seem to recall there being some relief from your cpap.  Didn't you say you no longer fell asleep at the wheel?
I believe you changed your mask, didn't you, to something that was more comfortable?

What is your situation (for me who hasn't read everything)?  Have you had a followup as to whether or not the machine is working for you?
Do you have an auto or straight cpap?  Are your apneas monitored by your machine?  And what kind of apneas did you have, were they obstructive?
Sorry, please pardon me for not remembering or knowing.  

I don't want you giving up.  And I don't want you worrying over the weight, not now.  The key is whether you are getting as much benefit from your cpap as possible.  Have they considered a restudy?  And which kind of doctor did you have?  Did you have a pulmonary physician?  They're the lung experts.

Again, I don't want you giving up.  You may not want to see anymore doctors or have anymore tests, but you will eventually if the problems get too much worse.  Better now than in an emergency room.  I know you're depressed over this, I can't blame you.  Whatever you do, don't blame yourself.  Please hang in there.


Linda

Rob,

CPAP can help your Sleep Apnea, but it can't help other health problems that aren't connected to it.  As I'm sure you know, alcohol isn't good to drink if you have apnea.  Of course it's your life and decision...not judging you on this.  I have found that alcohol doesn't really help a situation...I watched my mothers father and then my own father use this as a crutch.  It didn't help them and only made things worse in the end.

You say your health is getting worse?  How?  If you have a doctor that isn't listening, then it's time to find a new one.  Are you only 60 lbs overweight?  There may be more of a problem with you having problems walking and getting out of breath than just the weight.  I'm much more overweight and this isn't a problem for me or many others.  I know my mom and even father had gotten to the point where they would get out of breath while walking.  Are you relatively active? It's something that needs a doctor's attention.  I know you said you didn't want to see any more doctors, but they are the only ones who can diagnose and help.  Maybe it is as simple as losing sixty pounds (ok not easy to do) or it could be more complex.

CPAP can help your apnea.  What were the symptoms before CPAP?  Why do you think it's not helping?  We may be able to help give you some advice on this if you give us all of the details.

One thing is for sure, you need to talk to your doctor about your DEPRESSION and being out of breath.

Please post back.

Melinda

CPAP does help with me not nodding off at the wheel.

I have a straight CPAP with no monitoring.  My sleep doctor is my pulmonary specialist that I have been seeing for 4 years.  The breathing problems have been around for a while.  I have had breathing tests done and my lung volume is on 5.45 (what ever that means, I think its quarts or some volume and I should have 8 I think)  I have had a brochscopy 4 years ago because of some scar tissue in my lungs from what no one knows.  It had not gotten worse according to the CT scans.  The breathing problems mostly started when I started gaining weight.  I also have bad acid reflux that I take Prilosec every day for.  I stopped taking that for a while but I am takign them again and the heartburn as resided.

I have seen the pumonologist for followups and he said since I noticed a slight improvement to come back in 6 months.

My health is getting worse by aches and pains.  Not being able to move.  Out of breath for climbing stairs to my condo that I have lived in for 7 years.  I climb these stairs everyday so its not a new task.  I can hardly play with my 15 month old daughter without being out of breath.  Over the past few months I am starting to feel very weak in my arms and legs.  As I breathe there is allot of pressure around my abdomen that in my mind is restricting my air/lungs.  

I used to be very active but not in the past few years.  I know alcohol is not good but its something that I can enjoy at times.  I talked abotu the depression and my DR sent me to a pshychologist.  I went there for about 2 months and it was a waste of time.

you must continue using your CPAP....
get to a gym and start working out..you must make the commitment...get the south beach diet book or "fat smash"...and commit to either one.....do it today...

walk a certain distance each day.....commit to it...for yourself and your daughter....drink lots of water.......

the only way you can get through this,lose weight,and feel better is to make the commitment to DO IT!!!!!!!....

how bad do you want it??.....

Rob

     Don't give the CPAP up just yet! It will help you. I am having the same issues as you with the weight. I also need to loose at least 60 lbs if not more. Where do we start? It is difficult for me to walk from my car, up a few stairs, and into my house, and I too start to breathe heavily. Sometimes I get a mild what feels like burning in my esophogous(it's not angina,I've had that and angioplasty so I know the difference) and get flustered. I also have bad knees, especially the left one(it is killing me to walk in the house), and of course, my lower back starts to kick in shortly after I start moving around. That's a real killer, then I have to sit down.

     All these things I'm being told is my weight as well. I am finally starting to see the picture here. My weight has created a vivious cycle that is tought to break. I too like my stingers, beer and vodka tonics, but it's calories, and doesn't help. I know I have to give them up to help my situation. I am trying to change my eating habits as well to start to drop some weight so I can at least walk on flat surface. (stairs come later)

      I have recently had a stress test, so i know I am ok in the cardiology dept.(my gp is also a cardiologist) It's my weight!!! And it is "easier said than done" to get rid of it!!

      Rob, I'm not trying to preach here, but I am feeling very much like you, and wanted to let you know you're not alone. There is at least one other out there that feels the same way, believe me. And man is it hard!!

       Stick with it Rob!!  Don't give up!!!  Work on it!!! You can do it!!  PM me if you want to chat..

Regards

Paul

Hi Rob & Paula

I have severe sleep apnea.  I have mild COPD and asthma.  I found a month ago that  I have ortheoarthritis in all my joints, with disk deterioration in my lower back.  I am being checked for ankylosing spondilitis another form of arthritis.   I just found out that I have some fluid around the heart.  This could be part of ankylosing spondilitis.  Arthritis can also cause people to be very tired, weak in legs and arms.   I also have problems with my left adrenal gland, could this be causing some of my problems.  They are still investigating.

I have found out this past year that many health issues can cause your sleep apnea to become uncontrolled.  I have found allergies can cause your sleep apnea to become uncontrolled.  So it is best to get a complete medical workup by your GP, and any specialist you are now seeing.

Gerri

i have had a stress test done 4 years ago.  Endoscopy, bronchscpopy, blood tests, physcials, sleep studies, CT scans, and the answer is loose weight and these symptoms should go away.  

I am 34 years old and I dont think the average person my age has these problems.  I would love to go through a day without feeling bad.  I need to exercise and I dont have the energy or the will to do it.   There are plenty of motivation factors but they aren't enough to get me going.  I have taken alot of time off from work to get these tests done for the same answer everytime.

I went to a nutritionist and what she perscribed me was very similar to what I eat on a daily basis.  I dont eat junk food.  The alcohol is the bad thing.

Rob,

It sounds like the weight hasn't helped, especially with your lung capacity problems.  I believe your doctor was off the mark a bit on just sending you to a psychiatrist.  You may want to try switching to a new doc.  Getting the depression under control will go a long way to getting you on the right track.  If getting to the gym seems too overwhelming why not enroll in a water exercise class.  Pauly this may help you too.  This way it is easier on your joints and doesn't take such a toll.  My sister did a water exercise class and loved it.  If you joined the Y you could make it a fun family time Rob and get some playing in with your daughter and maybe not get so winded...just a thought.  Don't be so hard on yourself.  Keeping up with an active toddler is rough.  I remember when my nephew was a little one (he's 9 now) and he was always on the go go go, actually he still is.

Melinda

Sounds like his biggest problem is not his weight, depression, or apnea.

It is his alcoholism.

Chad - that can be something.  Another note is I only drink on weekends and not every weekend.

Rob,

Have they tested your oxygen levels recently?  You mentioned lung scar tissue.  Has the doctor said anything about lung muscle weakness or that sort of thing?  Some people are put on supplemental oxygen with their cpap.  Just wondering.


Linda

MrRob wrote:

Chad - that can be something.  Another note is I only drink on weekends and not every weekend.

Consider this - alcohol is a contributing factor to every single one of the other problems you mention.

Now, if you don't drink as much as the impression you are giving, that is one thing, but it does sound like you drink more than you should.

Dr has nothing about the lung muscle weakness.  He said we will watch the lung capacity.

Asthma?  Have you had prior respiratory illness that could have left scars?  Are you in very poor cardiovascular condition?