No apnea, just hypopneas on study

[allenhm]

I have had 2 split sleep studies in the past year (Nov. and May 2011)--both showed only hypopnea during the PSG portions of the studies, and no apnea until the CPAP portions of the studies. They both diagnosed me as severe sleep apnea. I had turbinate reduction done in Aug. and have lost 26 lbs. and kept that off for 2 months--I would do almost anything to get off apap. My BMI is now at the top range of normal. Do I really need apap just for hypopnea? I was seeing an ENT for all of this and he said he was surprised by my numbers because he thinks I look and feel so much better than my numbers. I am currently on apap with a range of 5--10 with an AHI of 1.3. Thinking of seeing a sleep med doc...

[jen4700]

Of course this is a decision you and your doc need to make. But I think you need to consider sleep fragmentation, not just obstructive events.

My sister was just diagnosed with a 2 AHI but her RDI was 25.8. Her desat went to 86%. Basically the doc told her she didn't "need" cpap but cpap was a way to treat her defrag sleep. Her thought is that if it makes her sleep better and feel better it'll be worth it.

[chunkyfrog]

Hypopnea vs obstructive apnea merely means that airflow doesn't stop COMPLETELY;
But it does have to be reduced significantly in order to be scored;
and the reduction can do as much damage to your brain and internal organs as full stoppage.
Oxygen is oxygen. Was either of your studies AFTER the surgery and weight loss?
A new doctor may need new data. Primary docs can be woefully ignorant of OSA treatment.
A specialist may be able to help; but if you are hoping for a CURE, it may not be in the cards.

[allenhm]

Thanks! My Nov. (last) study was 4 months after my surgery and after 20 of the 26 lbs I have lost. It showed an AHI of 58.4 and an RDI of 64.7 on the PSG with only hypopneas and no apneas....on the CPAP section it varied with levels at 5 of cpap an AHI of 0, and RDI of 0; yet @ 9 the AHI was 46.9 and the RDI was 56.3. I am still confused by this, but seem to be doing fine on an APAP range of 5--10, just wish my weight loss efforts and surgery would make everything go away, naive of me, huh?

[smurfyabs]

I can attest that hypopnea alone can make you feel awful. The morning after my first study, the doctor told me I was fine other than waking and taking a long time to fall asleep. He said I had only 1.5 apneas per hour and that my sleep troubles were just because of the fibromyalgia. After reviewing my report more in full later that week, he called me back and said I did indeed have a problem and to do a 2nd study.

It's only been a week and I've had some mask issues, but during that time, the nights that I've kept the mask on 100%, were amazing. I thought I was a light sleeper before, I even knew when the quiet a/c came on and off. But now I sleep the whole night. My pain has lessened and I'm not nearly as tired. But if I try to sleep without my mask, I now notice that I'm waking up feeling like I'm short of breath and I wake several times during the night.

So yes, apneas are not the only problem that can create issues for you.

[allenm]

Thanks for all the input...I'm still new to this forum, but so appreciative. Saw a Sleep Doc w specialty in pulmonology, and sleep med--he is also on c pap. Bottom line, like you said, hypopnea is just as bad as apnea, and so now I am working on acceptance and even better compliance. The areas for newbies are helping, even though I've been on PAP for a year. Thanks for the info and support, and thanks for the links for the software for my APAP, feel like I have much more knowledge and perspective! My DME is great, and I switched from Swift FX for her to Bella, and got off the ramp. One step at a time.