Can I get off cpap after losing weight?

So I've had cpap for a year and a half now and it's been good. But recently I've lost 70 pounds and feel great. I was wondering if after a severe weight loss you can get off cpap. I was prescribed with mild sleep apnea, not sure what my pressure is. I am going to get another sleep test but it will take a while to do. So, is it possible to hop off cpap after losing weight? I've tried sleeping without cpap and felt fine, so is it possible? Thanks

Is it possible? Yes it is. Is it a given? No. We have a long time forum member who recently was retested after losing weight and is indeed able to go off their CPAP. Some have reported needing less pressure. Others reported needing more. If your weight caused your sleep apnea, then losing the weight might resolve things. Problem is, so many with OSA are dealing with structural issues that will remain when the weight is gone. I can only suggest you do not stop using CPAP until you KNOW it is safe for you to do so. It is thought there is a residual benefit to using CPAP, so a night or so isn't enough to base a decision on. Most repeat sleep studies instruct one to not use their machines for a few nights before testing to be sure residual effect doesn't skew the study. Having been diagnosed as mild, just maybe you'll be one of the success stories.

You didn't report what equipment you're using. If you can monitor your data, you could experiment and see if reduced pressure is effective. If you see your AHI go up with reduced pressure you definitely aren't ready to go off the machine and don't really need to get another study. Sure hope you'll report back when you're retested. This topic comes up a lot and it's good to get some real life reports on the outcome.

Basically no. The link between weight and sleep apnea has been exaggerated by the fat shaming industry. Weight loss rarely cures apnea, and we're beginning to realize there are a lot of thin apneacs, too. Apnea also tends to come back even if you reduce or fix it by weight loss or other means.

However, weight loss has great benefits. I highly encourage it. Just don't expect it to fix your apnea, especially long term.

cpapguy21 wrote:So I've had cpap for a year and a half now and it's been good. But recently I've lost 70 pounds and feel great. I was wondering if after a severe weight loss you can get off cpap. I was prescribed with mild sleep apnea, not sure what my pressure is. I am going to get another sleep test but it will take a while to do. So, is it possible to hop off cpap after losing weight? I've tried sleeping without cpap and felt fine, so is it possible? Thanks

cpaguy21,

The research is inconclusive. Hopefully, you will be one of the success stories but even if you aren't, obviously losing weight is nothing but a benefit.

Good luck with the sleep test and let us know what happens.

49er

Although it can happen it's no guarantee. I had a friend who after losing 70 lbs and
now having a normal weight not only still had sleep apnia but she had to have her
pressure titrated for a higher pressure. I picked up an auto cpap right after I lost about
50 lbs and it told me i needed about 14" of pressure well after gaining that 50 lbs my
cpap still tells me I need about 14" of pressure. On the other hand I bought the auto
cpap from someone who had lost a lot of weight and no longer needed it.

Be smart and wait to see what your new sleep study says before discontinuing it.

My daughter was able to go off of CPAP after gastric bypass surgery and losing 80 pds.
I'm currently working on losing weight in hopes of lowering my blood pressure and cholesterol and to reduce acid reflux. Of course I'm hoping that it will also allow me to go off of CPAP but that remains to be seen. After all is said and done the weight loss will only make me healthier so if that includes losing the apnea then it's all good.

cpapguy21 wrote:So I've had cpap for a year and a half now and it's been good. But recently I've lost 70 pounds and feel great. I was wondering if after a severe weight loss you can get off cpap. I was prescribed with mild sleep apnea, not sure what my pressure is. I am going to get another sleep test but it will take a while to do. So, is it possible to hop off cpap after losing weight? I've tried sleeping without cpap and felt fine, so is it possible? Thanks

Why so anxious to get off of CPAP?
It's highly possible/probable that the sleep apnea caused the weight gain to begin with. Losing the weight (like others have said) may show that the sleep apnea is still there, or even that you may need MORE pressure.
So, have the sleep study done and see what it shows. They may require you to not use the therapy for some nights before the sleep study because there can be residual benefits for a while.

You've been using your CPAP for about a year and a half and you DON'T KNOW what your pressure is? It would show in the LCD screen after you turn on your machine. You should also have a prescription and forms from the DME which should say what they are. Just because you had "mild" sleep apnea has no bearing on what pressure would be required to splint the airway open. Some people with "severe" sleep apnea need lower pressures and some people with "mild" apnea need more.

I get the feeling from reading your post that you never really took this therapy all that seriously or educated yourself about the dangers of sleep apnea and the related effects to other diseases like diabetes.


Den

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Wulfman... wrote:Just because you had "mild" sleep apnea has no bearing on what pressure would be required to splint the airway open. Some people with "severe" sleep apnea need lower pressures and some people with "mild" apnea need more.

Raising hand here...

My ApneaLink showed me with an AHI of 8, while my lab study showed my AHI as 15. Looking at my Sleepyhead data, I can see that the instant I fall asleep my pressures zoom up into the teens, and I've been all the way to 20cm more than once over the last 3 months of therapy. Sitting here wide awake typing I am having tiny little "squeaks" on exhale.

When I see somebody posting here who had an untreated AHI in triple digits and runs at pressures in single digits, I can say for sure that what Den says is right -- pressure needs are not particularly related to severity of apnea.

Well I checked my pressure and it is set to 4, do you think that's low enough to possibly get off of cpap? Now I love cpap, it's given me my energy back. But not having to use it would also be good.

Please fill in the equipment on your profile and tell us what kind of machine you have. There's info in my signature line about how to do that.

We can then tell you how to check your AHI.