Obesity and Sleep Apnea - Obesity Message Board

Countrygirl1 · 11-04-2005, 06:21 PM

I went to a pulmonologist last week. He scheduled a sleep study for the first week in December. During the visit, he told me that I needed to lose weight. Then, he told me that losing weight would be extremely difficult with untreated sleep apnea. So, the plan is for me to have the sleep study and start treatment for sleep apnea. After I start treatment I then would need to lose weight. He seems to believe that once I lose a significant amount of weight that I would be able to stop sleep apnea treatment, a.k.a CPAP machine. Anyone else have a similiar experience?

WCPI · 01-02-2006, 03:43 PM

I don't know much about your current condition (i.e.; weight, height, health, etc.) but I have been using a CPAP for several years now. My need for using one comes from having put on extra weight and it is very often the case that once you lose the weight you no longer require a CPAP. Several friends I have went through the same thing and once they dropped some pounds they no longer required one.

It's not actually difficult to lose weight while on a CPAP. The friends I spoke of all actually became more active because they were more rested and had more energy to walk and exercise. As for me, I will be having gastric bypass surgery soon and my surgeon said he would expect me to no longer need my CPAP within the first year of the surgery! I am so looking forward to that!!!

Best of luck and happy New Year!
WCPI

whackedback · 01-03-2006, 09:02 AM

Country Girl -

I'm trying to follow the same path that you are on. I've been on a CPAP for 3 years now, and have finally decided that enough is enough. I've been losing steadily, and need to knock off about 100 more pounds. If I get down to the right weight, and I still have apnea, I am going to reward myself with a minimally invasive surgery to help me stop snoring.

wb