Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
musicApnea
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Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by musicApnea » Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:10 pm

Hello. I was diagnosed with Complex Sleep Apnea and given a ResMed VPap Adapt machine as treatment back in 2008. I haven't tolerated the machine well over the years, so I wasn't very compliant with use. Since I've progressively grown more fatigued and foggy over the years, I decided it was time to take things seriously, get reassessed and back on appropriate treatment, as I realize the risks of neglecting treatment. I just got my new sleep study results back today – 09/30/14. I'm confused and concerned because the results came back as negative for any form of apnea. Is it possible that I just had a good night during that particular study? Can Complex Sleep Apnea with episodes of Central Apnea just disappear one day, or am I in danger if I stop pursuing treatment all together? I do have a follow up appointment scheduled with my primary physician in 2 weeks. In the meantime, I would appreciate any insight you're able to offer into my situation. Thank you.

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by chunkyfrog » Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:11 pm

Just curious, are you in an HMO?

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apw5746
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by apw5746 » Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:16 pm

Nate,

You out there? Chime in. You just might be able to help him since you both have been diagnosed CSA.

Pat

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Julie
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by Julie » Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:25 pm

Have you lost weight since the first study? And were you possibly sleeping on your back for the first one but on your side for the second? And what are the chances you used a nasal mask the first time but a full face one for the second (presuming you were mouth breathing at the time)?

musicApnea
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by musicApnea » Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:29 pm

I have worse insurance than an HMO. I was forced into crappy insurance through the "Marketplace" and have a high out-of-pocket max.

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musicApnea
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by musicApnea » Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:39 pm

I'm a 39-yr-old female. At the time of my first study, I was 32 and 140 lbs (in great physical shape too). Now I'm older, out of shape, and have actually gained 30 lbs. I'm pretty sure I slept on both my back and side for both studies. However, I may have slept the majority of time on my side this time. In '07/'08: During the first study, I was tested without anything. Then they tested me with CPAP, but it triggered more Central Apneas. They had me come in again and tested me with the Bi-Pap, which seemed to help. I also tried several masks: nasal pillow, nose, and nose and mouth. This time for the retest last week in '14: They tested me without anything at all....no machine, no mask.

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Pugsy
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by Pugsy » Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:39 pm

Were you possibly on some medications back in 2008 that might have suppressed the respiratory system and you are no longer on that medication now?
I know a few people who had their centrals go away once they stopped a particular type of medication known to suppress respiration and/or cause the airway tissues to get more floppy (which would be obstructive apnea).

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musicApnea
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by musicApnea » Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:54 pm

@Pugsy

I wasn't on any medications at all back then. I just took multivitamins. At the same time I was diagnosed with Complex Sleep Apnea, I was also diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis...and a few months later Hypothyroidism. It was a weird year. I went from healthy and in the best shape of my life to multiple diagnosis, including the above and Central Vestibular Dysfunction and Neurocardiogenic Syncope. I'm not even sure if any or all of these things are related. No doctor seems to be able to answer that for me...at least not any I've talked to yet.

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Pugsy
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by Pugsy » Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:02 pm

You know the body is kinda weird sometimes. Strange things happen for the good and the bad sometimes.
Was the thyroid enlarged and now normal? I don't remember what they do about Hashimoto's.
If the prior obstructive apnea issue is no longer present the there is no need for cpap and since the centrals were from cpap therapy itself...that's a nice miracle to the good side for a change.

It does make a person wonder though. Was the previous sleep study not so great or did they miss something on this one?
Especially since you are having symptoms now and not feeling so great.

I certainly don't have any concrete explanation for you. Wish I did. The meds thing was my one really sort of idea.

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Julie
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by Julie » Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:06 pm

I think you've had a lot going on and need to first sort out which medical diagnoses you now have, as some of them could definitely interact with OSA, and only your doctor, who has access to all your records, could make sense of them for you now, whether your GP (depending on how educated he is on OSA), or a pulmonologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist or neurologist! Just too much for us to guess at, and it would be irresponsible for us to try. Plus are you now taking meds?
Last edited by Julie on Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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jnk...
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by jnk... » Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:34 pm

musicApnea wrote:. . . I just got my new sleep study results back today – 09/30/14. . . .
What kind of "sleep study"? Home? Lab? Other?
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musicApnea
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by musicApnea » Tue Sep 30, 2014 5:25 pm

All of the sleep studies I've done were in lab. In terms of current meds, I'm only on medication for my thyroid. Previously, my thyroid was slightly enlarged and a nodule biopsy was negative. I'm not sure how it is now, but am seeing a separate specialist for that soon. I understand that it's best for my doctors to help me assess/diagnose everything going on collectively. I guess I'm just frustrated with the lack of answers I've gotten from my doctors for the past several years (endocrinologist, general, cardiologist). Maybe I need to add a few more specialties to the list. I'm just hoping for answers soon, so I can feel semi-normal again. My symptoms are impacting my life pretty negatively. Things could always be worse though, so for that I'm very thankful. I was mostly curious to see if any others have been in a similar position with having previously been diagnosed with Complex Apnea, then down the road having a new sleep study that is completely normal. The last sleep technician I had told me that Central apneas don't just completely resolve themselves, which is confusing me. I'll definitely bring this up during my general doctor appointment in a couple of weeks. Thank you all for your responses!

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Sludge
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by Sludge » Wed Oct 01, 2014 2:19 am

Well I tell ya, back in the day, some insurers made you rule out hypothyroidism before you started down the OSA road:

http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10. ... .5.9712069
musicApnea wrote:I'm a 39-yr-old female. At the time of my first study, I was 32 and 140 lbs (in great physical shape too). Now I'm older, out of shape, and have actually gained 30 lbs. I'm pretty sure I slept on both my back and side for both studies. However, I may have slept the majority of time on my side this time.
Yeah, could have been some REM-dependent stuff too.

You really need to get the detailed reports, otherwise a dartboard would work just as well in deciding the treatment plan.
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musicApnea
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by musicApnea » Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:05 pm

Interesting article Sludge. Thank you for sharing. I'm also in the midst of having more thyroid testing done as well, so I'm hoping some answers will arise soon.

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jnk...
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Re: Conflicting results. Complex Apnea or not?

Post by jnk... » Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:09 pm

Sludge wrote:. . . get the detailed reports, . . .
Excellent suggestion.
-Jeff (AS10/P30i)

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