ASV Periodic Breathing Question

Wow, woke up this morning not feeling too well, headache, truck run over feeling, and noticed my heart seem to be beating harder than normal. Then checked the data. AHI was an 11. but the real unusual thing was a whole cluster of Periodic Breathing right after a bathroom break all the way up to turning the machine off. It's not unusual for me to have bad nights with high AHI's, but never have PB show up at all. The only thing I did different last night was take two Benadryl a couple hours before bed as I was pretty congested. Could the Benadryl have caused this? Or possibly a machine malfunction since it was so steady?
Again any input is appreciated, thanks.

Hi Kody,
That is unusual for PBs suddenly to crop up. Is the congestion something that occurs occasionally? What I'm thinking is that perhaps you're coming down with a cold or flu. If not, the benadryl is suspect. Other then being tired today...any other symptoms?
Jamis

While I generally agree with JamisWolf, I would think the Benadryl would be out of your system after six hours of sleep. In fact, I suspect the congestion is more of the cause than the medicine. As the clearing of the Benadryl wore off the congestion had more of an impact. That would be my guess. Hope you don't see this come back as a constant theme!

I was sick with a chest congestion and a persistant/productive cough and my AHI jumped to 9+ too. I asked the same question that you did. I took Prednisone at the advise of my Dr. and both issued were resolved. I still have more CAs than anything else and I still have Periodic Breathing issues too. But not at the 9+ AHI level.

I hope that you feel better tonight, I also took Benedryl to clear up the allergies that seemed to be causing everything. But it was the Prednisone that made the difference. But I wouldn't recommend Prednisone to anyone. Too many side effects, including insomina that requires you to take a sleeping aid.

Last night was my first night without Prednisone. AHI jumped from .72 to 1.83. Still too early to tell anything from that sample of 1 day.

I don't think that the machine or data is flawed. And I don't think that Benedryl had much to do with it either. I think that you woke up because of a drop in your o2 Saturation level that was caused by the breathing pattern. That happens to me too. If you looked very carefully at the waveform. It's my guess that you had many more events that didn't mean the threshhold to be counted. Hense the run over by a truck feeling.

Again, I DO NOT RECOMMEND PREDNISONE. You should talk to your Dr. and see if an adjustment is require to your xpap unit. How long did the PB last from start to finish?

JohnBfisher wrote: I would think the Benadryl would be out of your system after six hours of sleep. In fact, I suspect the congestion is more of the cause than the medicine.

Good point John. I overlooked that the PB occurred during the latter half of the night. Some people are hypersensitive to medication...but Benadryl is pretty benign.

I had an old friend who's favorite saying was: "One test is worth a thousand expert opinions." So if this occurs every time you take Benadryl and no other times...well then that's your answer.
Jamis

jamiswolf wrote:

JohnBfisher wrote: I would think the Benadryl would be out of your system after six hours of sleep. In fact, I suspect the congestion is more of the cause than the medicine.

Good point John. I overlooked that the PB occurred during the latter half of the night. Some people are hypersensitive to medication...but Benadryl is pretty benign.

I had an old friend who's favorite saying was: "One test is worth a thousand expert opinions." So if this occurs every time you take Benadryl and no other times...well then that's your answer.
Jamis

Ya I thought to continue the experiment I could take 4 Benadryl tonight and see if the PB last twice as long!

Thanks guys for your opinions, I also am thinking the Benadryl would have kicked in much sooner rather than later, as I took it 2 hours before even going to sleep. Just a very odd occurrence to happen out of the blue like that.
Tonight I think I'll wear the Oximeter and see if this happens again, but am hoping this is just a one time deal.

LATE REPLY, YUP benadryl will throw all kinds of breathing into unchartered waters.

Its a natural sleep aid and two of those affects your breating.

I blow high AHI AND PB with 2 benadryl