So, I was thinking about my diagnosis....

[scottjf8]

My ENT pointed out to me when discussing my deviated septum that my sleep study shows all hypopnea's. So today I relooked at the 2 studies I had, and both are all hypopneas, NO apneas whatsoever.

Does this mean I don't have OSA, but just have trouble breathing? Could it mean that the surgery could help?

Last night I slept w/out my CPAP and felt today about the same as I have using my CPAP the last 6 months. No different at all.

What does this all mean?

[kteague]

Hi. There's a few other things you can look at on your sleep study reports that might clear things up some. Even hypopneas can cause drops in oxygen and/or disrupt sleep stages. This is all factored into arriving at a diagnosis and determining the need for CPAP treatment. Is your diagnosis mild, moderate, or severe? Based on your titration and/or data since, has CPAP use improved your breathing while asleep?

As far as how you felt after one night without the machine, I wouldn't place much value on one night's experience. Whatever symptoms sent you for a sleep study in the first place would probably return in time.

It's hard to know in advance how much of a difference surgery will make for your breathing during sleep. If it were me I'd hope to be reassessed after healing from the surgery just in case something had changed in my treatment needs. Some have reported on here it made them able to use less pressure or go from a full face mask to a less cumbersome style. Not sure if anyone's OSA was resolved, but then again, those persons probably wouldn't be hanging around here, so even if the replies you get all say they still need CPAP, it doesn't mean no one has had that successful a result. Maybe some who have had this surgery will see this and weigh in. Might help if you edit your title to include specifics.

[archangle]

My ENT pointed out to me when discussing my deviated septum that my sleep study shows all hypopnea's. So today I relooked at the 2 studies I had, and both are all hypopneas, NO apneas whatsoever.

If you had an in-lab sleep test, it won't show any hypopneas unless you had a blood oxygen desaturation or an EEG arousal. It's the desaturations and EEG arousals that kill you. It doesn't matter that much whether it's from an "apnea" or a "hypopnea."

By the way, there's not really a black and white difference between a "hypopnea" and "apnea." An apnea is just a hypopnea with a higher percentage of airflow reduction. You may not stop breathing completely in an "apnea." If your hypopneas get worse over time, they'll start calling them "apneas." Also, realize that time matters, too. A 120 second "hypopnea" may well be worse than an 11 second "apnea."

Does this mean I don't have OSA, but just have trouble breathing? Could it mean that the surgery could help?

I doubt it is all that relevant in terms of whether surgery would help. Are you talking about deviated septum surgery? If so, it might help, or it might not. I just don't think apnea vs. hypopnea is all that relevant.

Is your ENT trying to sell you on surgery? What type of surgery in particular?

[Mary Z]

Hypopneas don't automatically mean an O2 desat or EEG arousal. They involve a reduction in airflow. "Hypopnea: A respiratory episode where there is partial obstruction of the airway lasting greater than 10 seconds. Also called partial apnea or hypo-apnea."
"Apnea is the cessation of airflow for 10 seconds or greater. " (from the definitions page). Neither definition mentions O2 desats or EEG arousals.

[scottjf8]

My ENT pointed out to me when discussing my deviated septum that my sleep study shows all hypopnea's. So today I relooked at the 2 studies I had, and both are all hypopneas, NO apneas whatsoever.

If you had an in-lab sleep test, it won't show any hypopneas unless you had a blood oxygen desaturation or an EEG arousal. It's the desaturations and EEG arousals that kill you. It doesn't matter that much whether it's from an "apnea" or a "hypopnea."

By the way, there's not really a black and white difference between a "hypopnea" and "apnea." An apnea is just a hypopnea with a higher percentage of airflow reduction. You may not stop breathing completely in an "apnea." If your hypopneas get worse over time, they'll start calling them "apneas." Also, realize that time matters, too. A 120 second "hypopnea" may well be worse than an 11 second "apnea."

Does this mean I don't have OSA, but just have trouble breathing? Could it mean that the surgery could help?

I doubt it is all that relevant in terms of whether surgery would help. Are you talking about deviated septum surgery? If so, it might help, or it might not. I just don't think apnea vs. hypopnea is all that relevant.

Is your ENT trying to sell you on surgery? What type of surgery in particular?

I'm having my deviated septum "fixed" in 2 weeks.

[scottjf8]

Here's the relevant portions of my study