Is sleep apnea temporary?

[Protege]

Several people have asked me if I'll be able to get off the CPAP machine once my "Condition" clears up. Is that even possible? I've never heard of sleep apnea being a temporary thing.

[OpalRose]

Not that I know of. There are a few that claim weight loss cured them, but years later their apnea is worse.

It just proves that a lot of folk do not understand what sleep apnea is and how serious it is.

[justMongo]

Generally it's for life. However, one may find that with weight loss one can stave off needing be on PAP.
IMHO, age will again bring back apnea as we lose muscle tone.

[Possum]

Generally, no.. Once you have it, it's yours indefinitely. Weight is a risk factor, but you can lose weight and still have it.

However, I will offer some of my own experience - I have lost 17 pounds since the beginning of the year by giving up alcohol and watching diet extremely closely (low carb - no bread, grains, potatoes, etc.). Since then, my AHI has improved and my machine has been using progressively less average pressure to treat my apnea. So, who knows what will happen when I reach my target weight. As I make progress on that goal, I will routinely check the degree of my untreated apnea with overnight oximetry tests without CPAP. If I ever find that I am consistently able to maintain healthy blood oxygen levels during the night without CPAP therapy, I may discontinue it.

[justMongo]

low carb - no bread, grains, potatoes, etc.

Possum: Same diet I'm on!

[bwexler]

It is absolutely a temporary condition.
Once you completely stop breathing apnea is no longer a problem.
Clostraphobia on the other hand me become a concern in that form fitting box.

[eseedhouse]

I've never heard of sleep apnea being a temporary thing.

Well life itself is temporary, at least on this particular planet. The less well you treat your apnea the more temporary your life will probably be.

[ezdrifler]

Im new here but ive lost 20lbs and still have it.

I heard a lady in our sleep clinic say " i lost a lot of weight and it went away, but gained it back and here i am!!"

I havent heard anyone get cured from it, but i petsonally know many that have it and dont even know it.

[zonk]

low carb - no bread, grains, potatoes, etc.

Possum: Same diet I'm on!

Good luck with dieting, but this old codger cannot live without bread
Bread goes with everything, nice with cheese and some wine too

As for apnea, does not goes away but can be treated using CPAP (not any old CPAP, data capable CPAP) and if stop CPAP, apnea will come back

[I_will_never_sleep_again]

Several people have asked me if I'll be able to get off the CPAP machine once my "Condition" clears up. Is that even possible? I've never heard of sleep apnea being a temporary thing.

I would think it depends on your age and how overweight a person is.

Before starting cpap
I also did the Low carb diet for about 2 years, gave up drinking and was exercising daily. I weighed 228 lbs at my max. I went to my so called ideal weight of 172 in 5 weeks. I lost 2.5 inches in my neck and completely quit snoring. I don't know if my apnea had went away because it was untreated at the time. I do remember when I went to sleep at night, I didn't wake one time 99% of the time and woke up feeling really rested. I asked my wife if I was stopping breathing back then but she said she couldn't remember. I only stayed at that weight for about a year.
I think back now and remember it being one of the best times in my adult life.
I am trying to get back there now, but I am 6 years older and it seems to be much harder to lose any weight. I was hoping for the magic weight loss that is supposed to come with Cpap therapy but am still waiting after almost 3 months.
My guess is if you are really overweight, drink, smoke, and are inactive, Do a 180 degree turn with your life, then you have a shot at getting off cpap.
But for the guy that's got 20lbs to lose, I think you are married to you hose for life, and maybe I will be also, but I am sure going to try. At least I am hoping for a lesser more comfortable pressure.

Sorry for the long post.
Rob