Any Last-Minute Words of Advice?

[FeistyWifey]

I had bradycardia as well as OSA. My pulse rate fell to around 34/35 beats/min when I slept. The fix for this (unless there is some medication problem) is a pacemaker which I now have and now my pulse rate stays above 55 beats/min and I no longer have any oxygen desatrations and my blood oxygen level stays around 96%. Below 90% is not a good thing. I was put on 2 ltrs of oxygen input into the cpap at first. Once my pulse rate stayed up I did not need the oxygen.

The BiPap SV would be a good place to start and see how big a problem the centrals (brain induced not obstruictive) really are. Often when no side sleeping is in the test it can really run the pressure up. Sleeping on your back if you have OSA is not a good thing. You can often get by on a lot lower pressure which increases your comfort level a lot.

Jerry, thank you so much! My husband does have SVT (supra-ventricular-tachycardia) which the surgeon and electrophysiologist were unable to successfully ablate because they were trying to avoid killing the body's natural pacemaker and the necessity of implanting a new pacemaker. I don't know if this was part of their thinking but my husband is an auto tech and pacemakers can cause difficulties with working over running engines. However, whatever it takes to get him well is what we want!
He loves to sleep on his right side but has rotator cuff pain that thwarts that so he spends more and more time on his back (and he was trying to get a good study by following the Center's advice). Yipes, the things we do not know and should! He can't take pain meds because they drive his liver enzymes up and threaten his liver. Maybe physical therapy to help the shoulder pain so he can sleep on his side(s) would work. Thank you for the info about how lying on your side means you can often reduce the pressure. He is weary from fighting that 14 and the 11 is still uncomfortable for him.
I want you to know you nailed the bradycardia and shoulder thing for us. His pulse wasn't nearly as low as yours but it did get down to 49 in the Non-REM, REM, TST and TIB categories. Thank you for all the great info and the caring!

[FeistyWifey]

I just want to thank John (jweeks), KatieW, and timbalionguy, for all your help! John, you put starch in my pants about going the whole nine yards if necessary to get his proper machine and titration. I can only imagine how much you went through before you got your perfect set-up. Thank you so much for letting us know to be ready for more and I finally see I need a lot more patience (I'm the impatient half of us!). KatieW, I will get the book (Phantom) and read it. You came into the Forum already informed, and I'll take any tips anytime from you! Thank you! And timbalionguy, thank you for your support and caring. Those go a long long way toward alleviating the stress and appointment-panic! This forum is priceless.

[leejgbt]

I have two very experienced RTs in my office and after reading your results they both said your husband was titrated incorrectly. They suggested you get him re-titrated and possibly get someone else to do it as the person doing this one got it very wrong.

[DoriC]

Feisty, just want to welcome you as another member of the "Wives Club".. I'm the primary caregiver for my husband's therapy. Just know that you've got some of the best experts here working with you and more will come. We only were able to succeed(and still learning) with their help and you will too. Keep posting and the more details the better. Dori

[cinco777]

leejgbt wrote

I have two very experienced RTs in my office and after reading your results they both said your husband was titrated incorrectly. They suggested you get him re-titrated and possibly get someone else to do it as the person doing this one got it very wrong.

It would be very helpful for FeistyWifey and the rest of us unfamiliar with "titrating for patients with centrals" to know the specifics. What, specifically, did your experienced RTs say was done incorrectly, and "got it very wrong" in FeistyWifey's husband's Split Study? A detailed list/description of what was done incorrectly, wrong, not done at all, and/or not reported would be much appreciated. When you provide the details, just add the usual disclaimer that "you are offering your opinion(s), not medical advice, etc."

[6PtStar]

Jerry, thank you so much! My husband does have SVT (supra-ventricular-tachycardia) which the surgeon and electrophysiologist were unable to successfully ablate because they were trying to avoid killing the body's natural pacemaker and the necessity of implanting a new pacemaker. I don't know if this was part of their thinking but my husband is an auto tech and pacemakers can cause difficulties with working over running engines. However, whatever it takes to get him well is what we want!

Tell me about it!!!! They did not tell me about the problems with electro magnetic pulse produced by electric motors, car engines, chainsaws, etc. I found a little book in my things from the hospital a few days after I got home from the hospital and after reading it I went berserk. I am not an auto mechanic but I do work in a shop with electric motors, metal lathes, arc welders, etc. One good thing I found out is that the new ones are not near as sensitive to EM pulses as the older ones were. So far I have used all my tools except for my big arc welder and have not set the thing off yet. I even used my small wire welder and worked on my truck a bit with no ill effects. The bottom of my heart still does it's own thing and beats normally. The top is controlled almost entirely by the pacemaker. My doctor that put mine in told me they had several men with the new pacemakers/defibrillators still working on engines and still being welders with just a bit of caution. A distance of 6" to 12' does wonders.

Jerry

[cinco777]

FeistyWifey, please check your Personal Messages (PM). I sent you one Saturday afternoon.