Sleep Apnea and TIAs

[SleepingBeauty3]

I have both Very severe chronic obstructive sleep apnea and COPD, do these disorders cause the brain to not receive enough Oxygen? I have experienced TIAs lately and am wondering where is causing it.

[Wulfman]

I have both Very severe chronic obstructive sleep apnea and COPD, do these disorders cause the brain to not receive enough Oxygen? I have experienced TIAs lately and am wondering where is causing it.

Absolutely!!!
The definition/meaning/translation of "Apnea" is "absence of breath"........when you don't breathe properly while you sleep, your body is getting less oxygen. Someday, the medical community will find out just how many of our health problems are linked to sleep apnea and poor sleep in general.


Den

[tattooyu]

You have a data capable machine. How have your numbers been AND how have you been feeling?

With severe apnea (like I have) and COPD (I don't have), you may want to invest in a pulse oximeter to wear on your finger to see if you are still desaturating while you are sleep, or even during the day to spot check.

• The Cadillac of oximeters on this board (PRICEY): SPO-7500
• A good alternative seems to be: CMS-50e

There are other online suppliers. I'm considering getting the CMS-50e, but I have a new baby coming and need all the $ I can save right now.

[Wulfman]

You're showing a nasal mask in your profile. Are you leaking your therapy air out your mouth during the night? That can result in ineffective (or no) therapy benefits.

You need to be monitoring your leakage and AHI if your machine is the Elite II. If you don't know how to get the information from the machine, the instructions can be found in this link.

http://www.apneaboard.com/CPAP%20Adjustment.htm


Den

[RLAUREN]

Sleeping Beauty 3

I have mild Sleep Apnea and moderate COPD. I desaturate when I sleep. Thus I have an O2 feed into the CPAP hose. I have a pulse oximetry. Make sure you get one that records. I were it about once a week as a check. There was one time that I removed my CPAP and went back to sleep. Scary.... The Pulse Ox meter showed and even 96 to 98 with mask and CPAP. With it removed it went below 88 and as far as 78. I think if you even think you are desaturatiing at night, you need to see your doctor. Pulse Oxmeter is another invaluable tool in gaining more data. Good luck. let us know how everything is going.