[MPD]

Hello, all! I'm a young 59 grandmother/career woman/wife/traveler/blah, blah blah and at my recent annual physical my doc referred me to a sleep study place b/c my only concern - besides not losing weight even when I am really rigid w/my food intake - is that I'm always tired and wake up a few times, that I'm aware of, each night. She suspected sleep apnea and explained that once I was sleeping 7-8 hours a night instead of 5 or 6 I'll probably begin losing weight. I had my sleep study and indeed I do have mild apnea and am now scheduled to go back for another fun night at the clinic when I'll be fitted for an apparatus that will help me breathe better and sleep through the night. My question is to anyone who has been through this process......can you explain - more simply than my doc - the correlation between sleep and weight loss AND does it work, i.e., does sleeping longer each night facilitate weight loss? Thanks, all, for any input you can offer. I'm delighted that I stumbled on this site and look forward to meeting many of you. Thanks, MPD

[JayEll]

Hey!

It's interesting, because being overweight/obese is one of the main causes of sleep apnea--and then the sleep apnea makes one more stressed. Stress, in this case from lack of sleep, can cause the body to hold on to fat. I'm not a doctor--this is just what I've heard.

People do have an easier time losing if they are getting enough sleep/rest. This is only my impression, however--I don't know whether any studies have been done.

The cost of the apparatus is kind of high, I think, and the question is whether you'll find it comfortable enough to sleep--but you might want to give it a try if you're offered a free period.

I'd say, don't expect to "sleep away the pounds" without also limiting your intake. But hopefully, some other members with more experience will post and give you more information.

Losing weight WILL help the problem.

Jay

[kaplods]

There have been studies linking sleep deprivation to weight gain, and after I began using my CPAP, I lost 15 lbs without even trying (literally a first-time ever experience, as I've been dieting since I was 5 years old, and NEVER have lost without trying).

Since sleep apnea can damage the heart and other organs, the CPAP is definitely worth getting used to. No one thinks they will be able to sleep with the darned thing when they first try it, but most people can adapt to it, if they stick with it. It took me about 3 days to be able to get to sleep within an hour of lying down. After a week, it took me about 5 - 10 minutes (quicker than I did without the machine).

Don't hesitate to try the different mask options during your sleep trial, if you can. The nose pillow mask was much more comfortable for me, than the full mask, which I felt was a bit claustrophobic and "sweaty". You probably will be given the option to rent or buy, and your insurance may require you to rent for a time-period before buying. With the insurance I had, the rent came to $8 per month out-of-pocket, so I never did buy mine. When I no longer needed it a year or so later, it was a model the company no longer made, so I didn't have to return it.

After I lost 40 lbs, my apnea disappeared and I no longer had to use the CPAP. The funny thing was that I had to learn to sleep without it. Without the soft wooshing noise it made, I noticed every little noise in the house.

[MPD]

Thanks, Kplods, for your encouragement and you too, JayEll, for your input. There was never any question that I would go forward w/the next step of the sleep trials....I was just wondering if anyone knew if it was true that I might expect a bonus in the form of some weight loss. I'm one of the very fortunate Americans who has fantastic health insurance so just not feeling tired all the time is enough for me.....and everyone I've ever known who uses one of those masks raves about the difference it has made in their lives. Now, Kplods, you tell me your experience w/a 15# weight loss which is just icing on the cake! Thanks again to you both for taking the time to answer. MPD