after 6 yrs don't need cpap any longer?

[lynneat]

Hi everyone!  Hope you all are doing well. 
My daughter (well I am) fighting medicare because she wasn't compliant they said...machine wasn't right for her so she couldn't use it well even with your help here….ANYway the fight is on!
I need help though. My husband has had the cpap for 6 years.  He's lost 40 lbs and for the last two nights he said it's been a fight struggling.  The filter's clean..it's not that.  He thinks he may not need it anymore.  He was so bad he'd stop breathing for over 30 seconds, shake to start breathing...and repeat.  It took him 6 months to get used to it.  No problem til now.  Has anyone here found they didn't need it any longer?  Could this be temporary? Of course you don't know..but I'm asking experiences if anyone found they no longer needed it and/or after years of good sleep suddenly is fighting the thing? 
Anyone?
As far as daughter it'll be a month before we win or lose with Medicare.  Changing companies.  Going to try Monitor Medical.  Didn't get the service we needed at Dasco.  So....we're on hold.
If anyone has any ideas of what hubby is going through I'd like  to hear. 
Thanks and good night all.
Lynne

[Gideon]

Can you post a chart from your husbands night, please?

Not needing CPAP any more, it may happen but it would be rare, very rare. The only way to know would be to take a diagnostic sleep study in a sleep lab. The most we can tell with our full data CPAP machines is that you are well treated at minimum pressure.

[Walla Walla]

It actually sounds like he needs the pressure increased. From your description it sounds like he was suffering from a apnea event. Like bonjour said a chart would be very helpful for those here to give you accurate advice.

[PaulaO2]

If I understand you correctly, two members of your family use CPAP? Your daughter (who is fighting Medicare?) and your husband? Just wanting to make sure we are all on the same page.

In terms of weight loss, it depends on where the weight was lost. Neck circumference is the main thing.

As for not needing it anymore, no, that rarely if ever changes. Even people who have the various surgeries still end up using a machine (just at lower pressures). The profile says the pressure is 14. That's up there in the range. So it's not that there's not enough air like if the pressure was lower. Check to see if the exhale relief is on. If so, what is it set to? When was the last time he had a sleep test or had the data analyzed?

[Sleeprider]

Lynneat, we simply cannot help by guessing what the problem is. Your daughter lost her CPAP because she kept removing the mask and failed compliance. Now your husband appears to be having problems with therapy and is having prolonged 30 second apneas. We don't know if he is awake or asleep or whether the apnea are obstructive or central, and we have no idea what his settings or equipment are. There are a number of possibilities, and solutions vary for each one. If you cannot provide data, he will need to see the doctor.

Even with weight loss, it is not a normal response to simply not tolerate CPAP you have been using for years. Something changed. The least likely cause is that "he doesn't need it anymore".

[lynneat]

I'm sorry for the confusion.

Daughter (Medicare issues/non-compliant 30 days... due to faulty machine but we'll see if I can get Medicare to begin again. I returned the machine to the old DME.)  New DME can't get Medicare to pay. Doctor is supplying info as to why she wasn't compliant.

Husband has obstructive apnea.  He would not breathe then his legs would shake and he'd start again.  He's been using the cpap for 6 years.  AS YOU ALL SUGGESTED! THANK YOU! I told him to change the filter.  He did.....no more issues.

I haven't had time to read the software/how to install sleepyhead with screenshots (Can't for her as I had to return the machine.  Will for him as soon as I can.) 
I'm disabled and elderly.  I am POA for daughter and take her to appts. and keep her business straight/bills paid/help her supervise her providers.  Barely can take care of my own health issues coming about.  So I'm not ignoring your advise and do appreciate it so much!!!!
Right now I'm collecting and copying government paperwork for all providers and trying to get organized.  I'm so busy I have trouble with organizing all the paperwork.  It's so bad now that I have to organize then STAY organized   It all gets to be a bit much!  But soon as things settle down a bit I hope to get into how to do the software for hubby and HOPEFULLY by then for daughter! 

Fit for the day:  New DME won't actually bill medicare.  They say they call medicare and if medicare says she's eligible they bill them.  Trouble is Medicare doesn't know WHY daughter was non-compliant.  Stupid DME cost her the chance to breathe!!!  I should have returned the machine as soon as I found out we couldn't get the support we needed.  But I thought we'd just get one from another company.  Stupid Medicare.  Don't listen to reason!  I'll have to fight this. 
so...….hope to 'see' you all soon and thanks for responses.  I appreciate it. 
Don't forget me.    I'll be back.
Lynneat

[Sleeprider]

It sounds like your husband has been using his CPAP for 6 years. It might be time to start working on a replacement machine. Medicare normally allows for replacement after 5 years, and it is best not to wait for the machine to completely fail. Not to add to your already confusing burden, but his DME can probably initiate the replacement process now. His recent experience with the machine malfunction was apparently solved by changing the filter, but other issues may be lurking around the corner.

Good luck with your challenges of getting everyone sorted with CPAP. Hopefully we can help. At least the Sleepyhead software self-installs easily.

[Mosquitobait]

Ok, my sister is the only person I know of personally who was able to do without her cpap after using it for some years. She said you don't actually notice any difference yourself. A couple of months after she had nasal surgery, her doc recommended that she be retested for sleep apnea. Test resulted in no need for a machine. She still thinks it was medication that caused her apnea in the first place, but didn't have a test after she discontinued the medication. However, she didn't have an auto-machine so no real way to see that she was needing less and less support.

I have several relatives on cpap who lost weight (one, aconsiderable amount) and they all still need a cpap. In the past, I was told by the medical folks that those who lose weight and then don't need a cpap tend to be younger (under 35), which makes sense. Muscle elasticity goes down as you get older.