Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Tracy1968
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Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Tracy1968 » Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:48 pm

I haven't slept well for years. I have maybe two or three "awake" days a month. Usually I wake up exhausted, drag myself through each day and do it all over again the next day. Not just tired. This is the debilitating, zombie-like, too tired to read or watch TV kind of tired so many of you on here mentioned.

Since the fall, I've been having strange heart issues (palpitations, two bouts of a-fib, skipped beats, etc). Cardiologist thinks a sleep disorder is causing the heart issues. Pulmonary doc thinks maybe a heart issue is causing the sleep disturbances. *sigh*

Initial sleep test showed no or little evidence of apnea, but "respiratory disturbances" where my heart skips a beat and adrenaline is shot through my body (his words) over and over again. Also "some" signs of REM disorder I only learned about after I asked for a copy of my sleep study. Anyhoo, I was prescribed a CPAP with both docs saying, "Let's see if this helps you or not." Pulmonary doc has been a ghost since my office visit. And no appointments available until mid-May (and I did schedule a follow up).

Primary care doc agreed to prescribe clonopin (yeah I know it's addictive poison) to see if it helps REM disorder. I just picked it up today.

I read several posts and everyone is talking about AHI, etc. and I guess I'm looking for a frame of reference to help guide me through my own recovery). My AHI is already low. I don't know how to gauge everything else I'm supposed to be recovering from. I almost wish I "just" had severe apnea.

I'm not seeing any search feature and was actually hoping to find at least one other person like myself who's on CPAP for respiratory or heart issues and not necessarily sleep apnea (and from even Googling it seems we're very much a small minority).

Even if there's an additional forum (CPAP users with heart issues) anyone is aware of, let me know.

Thanks

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Machine: AirSense™ 10 Elite CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
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Additional Comments: Being treated for respiratory issues/sleep disturbances/arrhythmia & signs (?) of REM disorder. Mild-to-non-existent apnea. 6cm

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kaiasgram
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by kaiasgram » Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:56 pm

Is there anything about Upper Airway Resistance or RERAs (respiratory related arousals) in your sleep study report? Can you post a copy of the report here?

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Too tall
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Too tall » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:18 pm

If your AHI is below 5, move on to another diagnosis. And believe me, you don't want to have to wear this contraption for the rest of your life. It's a curse for me. If you need it, it'll save your life possibly but don't wish for apnea, it's no picnic wearing this crap every night.
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Lazer1234
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Lazer1234 » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:30 pm

No problem to wear it for me!

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Hope you have patience with that, sometimes it can get a little crazy.
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HoseCrusher
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by HoseCrusher » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:36 pm

While you are trying to figure things out...

Enjoy a spinach salad with dinner each night for a few days and see if that helps. Spinach is an excellent source of magnesium. Heart flip flops are often caused by an imbalance of magnesium in the body.

I agree that if your airway is staying open you may not need xPAP at all. The main purpose of xPAP is to stint your airway open so you can keep breathing while you sleep.

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palerider
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by palerider » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:39 pm

Tracy1968 wrote:I'm not seeing any search feature
it's up there by the logo.

also, on google, you can put site:cpaptalk.com in the search bar, along with whatever you're searching for, and google will only show matches from here.

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Tracy1968
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Tracy1968 » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:56 pm

Too tall wrote:If your AHI is below 5, move on to another diagnosis.
?? I have a cardiologist and a pulmanologist who don't know each other (two different health systems) recommending trying CPAP first. Move on to another diagnosis like what? I don't mind wearing the mask or using the machine. In fact, last night I sleep "too much" with it.
kaiasgram wrote:Is there anything about Upper Airway Resistance or RERAs (respiratory related arousals) in your sleep study report? Can you post a copy of the report here?
First sleep study summary:

RDI of 5.6 / AHI 1.1 / Stage II Sleep Over-represented / Only 13% of total sleep time spent in REM sleep. Technologist noted patient demonstrated irregular rhythm with occasional elevated heart rate. / No significant O2 desaturation / Snoring noted. / Hypopneas noted / Patient demonstrates EMG activity while in REM sleep consistent with REM behavior disorder.

When they brought me back for the titration study ...

No RERA events identified / Leg movements noted / Respiratory disturbance index of 0. / At 6cm of CPAP, patient's previously documented apnea-hypopnea syndrome resolves. CPAP recommended at 6cm.

And NO mention of REM disorder or treatment when I met the sleep doc / pulmanologist between tests.

_________________
Machine: AirSense™ 10 Elite CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Being treated for respiratory issues/sleep disturbances/arrhythmia & signs (?) of REM disorder. Mild-to-non-existent apnea. 6cm
Last edited by Tracy1968 on Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.

wildboar
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by wildboar » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:56 pm

HoseCrusher wrote:While you are trying to figure things out...
Heart flip flops are often caused by an imbalance of magnesium in the body.
This is where I would start.

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Tracy1968
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Tracy1968 » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:57 pm

palerider wrote:
Tracy1968 wrote:I'm not seeing any search feature
it's up there by the logo.

also, on google, you can put site:cpaptalk.com in the search bar, along with whatever you're searching for, and google will only show matches from here.
DERP. Great I'm sleep deprived AND blind. Not sure why that blended in with the logo for me. Thanks -- oh and thank you for the Google tip. I WILL use it!

_________________
Machine: AirSense™ 10 Elite CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Being treated for respiratory issues/sleep disturbances/arrhythmia & signs (?) of REM disorder. Mild-to-non-existent apnea. 6cm

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Tracy1968
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Tracy1968 » Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:01 pm

I'll try the magnesium. I love Spinach but don't eat it often enough.

I'll try that.

I've been on CPAP about a week and the first mask leaked like crazy.

This mask fits and I wore it for the first time last night and slept like a rock - for 11 hours. I never sleep that well. And it makes no sense that I would feel better with the equivalent of a gravy boat strapped to my face. I woke up a little groggy/sleep drunk though.

_________________
Machine: AirSense™ 10 Elite CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Being treated for respiratory issues/sleep disturbances/arrhythmia & signs (?) of REM disorder. Mild-to-non-existent apnea. 6cm

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Jack_Russel_Fan
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Jack_Russel_Fan » Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:56 pm

Tracy,

I have congestive heart failure and sleep apnea. After starting bipap, my heart palpitations went almost to zero from similar to what you describe.

Tom

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palerider
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by palerider » Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:57 pm

Tracy1968 wrote:
palerider wrote:
Tracy1968 wrote:I'm not seeing any search feature
it's up there by the logo.
also, on google, you can put site:cpaptalk.com in the search bar, along with whatever you're searching for, and google will only show matches from here.
DERP. Great I'm sleep deprived AND blind. Not sure why that blended in with the logo for me. Thanks -- oh and thank you for the Google tip. I WILL use it!
and SEE?? I didn't even need the 2x4! *hides board behind back*

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Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: S9 VPAP Auto
Get OSCAR

Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.

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kaiasgram
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by kaiasgram » Tue Mar 24, 2015 12:55 am

Tracy1968 wrote: First sleep study summary:

RDI of 5.6 / AHI 1.1 / Stage II Sleep Over-represented / Only 13% of total sleep time spent in REM sleep. Technologist noted patient demonstrated irregular rhythm with occasional elevated heart rate. / No significant O2 desaturation / Snoring noted. / Hypopneas noted / Patient demonstrates EMG activity while in REM sleep consistent with REM behavior disorder.

When they brought me back for the titration study ...

No RERA events identified / Leg movements noted / Respiratory disturbance index of 0. / At 6cm of CPAP, patient's previously documented apnea-hypopnea syndrome resolves. CPAP recommended at 6cm.

And NO mention of REM disorder or treatment when I met the sleep doc / pulmanologist between tests.
Many doctors and patients have had to fight with insurance to cover CPAP therapy for sleep-disordered breathing when apneas and hypopneas are not present or not present in sufficient quantity to qualify for treatment coverage. It looks like the basis for recommending CPAP in your case was your RDI. In terms of frequency of respiratory events you were in the "mild" category, but we know that "mild" doesn't always correlate with mild symptoms. So it makes sense that your doctors recommended CPAP to see if could provide you with better sleep and hopefully an improvement in the cardiac symptoms.

FWIW, Klonopin is pretty standard medication for REM sleep disorder. I don't know if there's a relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and REM disorder but I'm curious now.

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Sclark08
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Sclark08 » Tue Mar 24, 2015 1:33 am

I agree with you Too Tall!

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Julie
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Re: Anyone using CPAP for non-Apnea or heart issues?

Post by Julie » Tue Mar 24, 2015 3:59 am

Apnea can led to atrial fibrillation and does in many people. It should also (hopefully) get better - not necessarily disappear forever - as time goes on when using Cpap. Magnesium's a good thing to take, not just for a fib either. And maybe Too Tall's just never been able to get comfortable with Cpap, but loads of us like using it and can't remember now what it's like to sleep without it.

However - I don't know anyone who's using Cpap, prescribed or not, specifically for non-apnea issues (and of course they would have had to have had it prescribed, or else be using a 2nd hand machine based on their own speculative diagnosis - altogether a bad idea), though it IS used in emergency situations by EMT's, etc. on occasion (short term) to help hold airways open if needed.

And regarding your having slept 11 hrs with Cpap - I'd bet your settings were too low, maybe 4+20 - default low/high - which is way too commonly done by DME's at doctor's 'orders', rather than the doctor using ones recommended by sleep study. No rational explanation for it but ignorance or laziness! It does sound like your machine did not address any (or many) events you had.