OT: Central sleep apnea

[Mcostello]

I have used a Cpap machine for more than 10 years, it helps some, but not all.Something I have seemed to notice is that the flatter a person lays the worse the problem is. Laying part way back in a recliner seems to help as I don't seem to need the Cpap. It's not a nights sleep, but works as a nap.

[dp]

Laying part way back in a recliner seems to help as I don't seem to need the Cpap. It's not a nights sleep, but works as a nap.

About 15 years ago my wife bought me a very comfortable recliner and that was the biggest learning point for me and my apnea. That is when I learned I had it awake or asleep. Leaning back in the recliner and reading I noticed I was constantly gasping. So I started paying attention to my breathing, and created a film of me in the chair using a motion detector. As I'd pass from being awake to asleep the gasping became regular as a drum beat. It wasn't until I'd had a heart attack that I learned how dangerous that was.

I haven't used that chair since I saw the video.

[elginrunner]

Absoutely correct. Cheyne stokes respirations are often times relieved by positional changes. CSR usually "goes away" when sleeping on the side and in REM sleep.

When checking in at hospital make sure they are aware of this.

[elginrunner]

For folk that have a cpap and dont use it.....

Hey its only breathing. How important is that?!?

Sex and air are only important when your not getting any !

[TRX]

How will the mask work with my full beard? I can't shave as it tears up my face regardless of what I use to shave

That's why I have a full beard. Peculiarly enough, leakage around the perimeter of the mask doesn't seem to be a problem.

If yours leaks for some reason, they have another rig that's a tube that passes over your upper lip, with two conical nozzles that go up your nose. I don't think I could stand such a thing, but a friend claims he likes his much better than the mask type.

[Bill736]

I've used a CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea for 15 years . I have a beard, and the nose pillow mask works well for me. Make sure you're using the best size pillow insert for your face, or it will leak and cause nose pain. I'm still very tired during the day, and I'm investigating whether I may also have Central Sleep Apnea. One of the biggest problems I've had is getting competent sleep studies done. I've had six sleep studies over the last 15 years, and probably only two were done in a competent manner. It took three studies alone to correctly diagnose the obstructive sleep apnea ! If you have a technical background, it's easy to see that sleep studies are only pseudo-science at this point, and the validity of the results vary widely lab to lab. To combat the daytime drowsiness problem, Provigil or Ritalin are often used, but they have limitations and side effects , and are certainly not a cure, but just a crutch.
For the last three months, I've been trying a home sleep diagnostic device called the Zeo . It employs a headband and wireless receiving module which measures brain waves, and provides a computer printout the next morning of my sleep stages. It's an interesting device, but has limitations. For instance, the data sampling frequency is every 30 seconds, which may miss short periods of awakening. ( The normal bar chart printouts show data in 5 minute increments, which is too infrequent , but the numerical data they provide are based on 30 second intervals) . There is a way to print out data in 30 second intervals if you transfer your data to a spread sheet program. The data will show your sleep patterns as you alternate from awakening to light sleep to REM sleep to deep sleep .
The ZEO device is not expensive ( around $100) and may provide some helpful information.

[Your Old Dog]

Evan, I'm OSA, not your type. I have C-Flex machines that I use. Mine is set at 11 liters. My OSA rate was judged "severe" at 118 episodes per hour. If it comes down to it, you don't want the mask if you can make do with the nose pillows. I used the triangular mask for 10 years and they suck. The nose pillows are FAR more comfortable and last forever. The nose mask wears out about every 6 months but the deteriorate first. The design is such that one chamber for each nostril is filled with air which is then self-sealing against the inside of your nose. You barely have to tighten the straps at all, just enough to hold them in place over your nose. The mask requires strap pressure and can be painful and the strap gets stretched from body heat, body oder and rash on the back of the neck.....real fun!


Learn to dress the hose over your head, behind the pillow and over to the machine, it's far more comfortable for your upper lip which is incredibly sensitive. If you look you may find one that also runs on 12 Volts but you have to look. Very handy in my neighborhood which loses power about 4 times a year.

When you use these mask you have to breath and exhale through your nose. That means the pressure coming into your nose will try to explode your cheeks/lips unless you learn to sleep with your tongue lightly touching the roof of your mouth to shut off the mouth area from the incoming air. It is possible to do but takes constant effort. Also, if you have a deviated septum those BreathRightStrips work really well BUT NOT THE IMITATORS. I use alcohol wipes like used for taking shots to wipe the oil off my nose and then apply the Strip. I have a beard and the nose mask (not face mask of mouth and nose) seals just above your mustache and below the nose and covers the nose so beard wasn't a problem. A full face mask would be an entirely different matter.


I been broke my entire life and things like this were always disasters. I'm not broke anymore, actually I'm setting pretty as they say. If I can be of financial help I'm only too glad to help.

[Evan]

Wow. It sure is nice to have friends. I really appreciate the assistance and offers. If I find myself in dire straights you might hear from me YOD. I have learned in recent years from my disabilities that I cannot always go it alone and some times when help is offered one should take it.

I am lucky that I am not suffering from low O2 levels. That gives me a lot more flexibility in dealing with this problem for now. As I said, it is likely because of large lung capacity which is just a fluke of nature. I haven't measured it in recent times but when I was young my forced vital capacity was about six litres. The average is around four. Also, I just this evening figured out the answer to a medical question that has been bugging me for years. My doctors also have been puzzled but never knew what to make of it.

My hemoglobin count has always been at or slightly above the maximum and didn't even go down much when I was undergoing phelbotomies for too much iron. It dawned on me this evening that it is almost certainly because of this breathing problem. The effect is the same as being at high altitude and the response of the body is to ramp up the hemoglobin as high as it can. It is a normal accommodation response to hypoxia. There must be times when my oxygen is below normal for whatever reasons.

That together with the lung capacity is preventing me from running out of O2. It doesn't stop the buildup of CO2 though and that is what finally triggers the brain to take notice.

[Hobbyman]

Hobbyman, are you talking about the same type of sleep apnea? Was your oxygen going low? Unfortunately I am sure there is nobody here that does loaners of the VPAP type machine. They are just too expensive, even in the US.

Yes my oxygen was going very low. I would wake up gasping for air. the unit I have senses my breathing. Once it is up and running it only gently pushes air into me. If I stop breathing then it responds.
Sorry to hear that you don't have extended. I had the option of a reduced pension and I took the reduced pension with blue cross extended health. They charged well over double the US price to blue cross. If I had not been covered I would have bought a unit in Washington state. I live about five miles away from a border crossing.
My unit is a Phillips Respironics. The memory chip is good for about 11 months of nights sleeping. The Respiratory therapist downloads and reviews the data log with me every six months now.
I really believe that it will extend my life preventing heart attack or whatever.
http://www.westcaremedical.com/ This is the outfit that supplied me through my specialist.

[wbleeker]

I was diagnosed with OSA and bought the CPAP machine, as far as I know the OSA was due to my weight (127 kg at the time) I had a lot of trouble sleeping due to the noise from the machine and exhaled air. Now I am below 110kg and the machine is in the cupboard.
Will