Does a C.A. represent no breathing?

[Leland]

Do the C.A. marks on my wife's System One APAP sleep record ( on the Flow Rate) shown here indicate that she is actually not breathing, at least for a half minute or so? If that is true, what should we do about it?
Leland

[cpaptex]

The short answer is yes. The difference between CA and OA is that the machine is not detecting an obstruction. Since the numbers are way above 5 and they are mostly CAs, it seems that you should have your wife speak to her Sleep Dr or a Pulmonologist to evaluate what's happening. It's my guess that another Sleep Study is in order.

[Mary Z]

As the last poster said, yes. I would see the Doc and take a readout or summary report. We all probably have some centrals during certain stages of sleep, or times of the night. The obstructive apneas represent no breathing, too, but for a different reason, while the hypopneas represent significatly restricted airflow. She had many more centrals than obstructives or hypopneas. Don't worry, they can be treated by changing pressures or sometimes a different machine is needed. Sometimes the pressure is too high or too low. Centrals are not as easily titrated around as obstructive events. Is she taking any new meds that may be sedating? Good luck and please keep us posted. Oh yes, how is she feeling? And is this a trend?

[Leland]

I would see the Doc and take a readout or summary report. She had many more centrals than obstructives or hypopneas. Don't worry, they can be treated by changing pressures or sometimes a different machine is needed. Sometimes the pressure is too high or too low. Is she taking any new meds that may be sedating? Oh yes, how is she feeling? And is this a trend?

We did go back to the sleep Doc once, but I don't think he read the information on my wife's SD card. We will try that again, but if no proper response, we'll find a better Doc. This once said my wife did not have centrals because none showed up on the single-night Sleep Study. We have tried different pressures, but long-term, there is no great difference. Nightly variations in AHI are from two to 25. I think she is feeling better these days and getting better sleep. Are there Meds than can cause the high C.A. readings? Here are the ones my wife takes: aspirin, Lisinopril, Digoxin, Simvastatin and Levoxyl.

[cpaptex]

The CA's only show that there was an event without an obstruction. To determine if it was in fact a Central Apnea you have to have another Sleep Study. A XPAP machine often gets the OA's under control only to cause significant issues with the CA's. I learned about that here and from my Pulmonologist. I too am going back for another Sleep Study next month to check it out.

Last night my AHI was a 3+ and I felt awful this morning. My head was spinning. And I suspect that they will creep up some more.

Linsinopril can cause a dry cough, the others I don't know. Most pill have a half life of 4-6 hours so taking them in the morning usually takes care of issues that they may cause.

Even from a basic viewpoint, her AHI level was too high that day. Be prepared to ask your questions, write them down and take printouts with you. Remember damage can develop to heart, lung and other vital organs while she is desaurating. And with all those events in sequence, I feel sure that you need to have her get proper medical attention.

Good Luck,

[Slartybartfast]

[snip]Remember damage can develop to heart, lung and other vital organs while she is desaurating. And with all those events in sequence, I feel sure that you need to have her get proper medical attention.

Good Luck,

That assumes that the events noted cause a desaturation. A night spent with a pulse oximeter would be very useful. It might be that she's getting plenty of oxygen and the brain is saying "enough" hence, the "CAs," if they REALLY are CAs. Only a sleep study can determine that. Definitely run this by the Doc.

[letmezzz]

Hello, I am still new to all of this as I only started CPAP in January. I also use Sleepyhead and love it! I noticed that the pressure is only 5? I had the same issue last week and my machine had some glitch and it reset to manufacturer settings. I had no idea only that I didn't sleep so great for a few nights because I felt like I was trying to breath harder. I put my card in the the computer and whoa! My pressure was no longer at 11. I never noticed the pressure on the screen on my machine cause I would just turn it on and go to sleep. I called the DME and they changed out my machine for a new one, they said it must have had a power surge. A pressure of 5 does not sound correct to me.

[Leland]

I also use Sleepyhead and love it! I noticed that the pressure is only 5? I had the same issue last week and my machine had some glitch and it reset to manufacturer settings. I had no idea only that I didn't sleep so great for a few nights because I felt like I was trying to breath harder. I put my card in the the computer and whoa! My pressure was no longer at 11. I never noticed the pressure on the screen on my machine cause I would just turn it on and go to sleep. I called the DME and they changed out my machine for a new one, they said it must have had a power surge. A pressure of 5 does not sound correct to me.

Actually, the DME reset my wife's pressure to 5 because she did not tolerate the upper limit of 10. Apria downloaded new software to her machine remotely, through the attached modem, and it reset one of the machine values. This had happened twice. The respiratory therapist says she can now change the pressure at our request, without having to take the SD card or machine in.
Leland