central sleep apnea question

malphy · Post by **malphy** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:01 pm

Hello all-

I was just dx'd w/ sleep apnea. My dr. was surprised I had that dx after sleep study since I do not fit the profile. I am petite with a long thin neck. I rarely snore and am a side sleeper. I was told I have central rather than obstructive apnea.

My question is this-is there anyone else out there w/central sleep apnea? And if so, did the cpap help you. I am not convinced that it will help me because there is nothing obstructing my breathing, rather my central nervous system stops my breathing.

If anybody has experience with this please give me your input.

I just got my cpap today and haven't had a chance to use it yet. BTW, the respiratory therapist that came today could not believe that I was the patient. HE said"you do NOT fit the profile. His reaction was pretty funny to me.

tia,
M

JB CA · Post by **JB CA** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:04 pm

"They" need to get rid of that damn profile!!!! I know too many people, myself included, that went for years undiagnosed because they were slim.

I always watched my diet and was regularly involved in activities that kept me in athletic shape. It would have been better for my health if I had been a snack-eating couch potato and grew a big belly. Then the doctors would have diagnosed me with osa and the therapy could have started before all this damage was done to my health.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:14 pm

Rested gal compiled a list of links about Central Sleep Apnea. Here's a link you can click on to all those other links:

Links to Central Apnea

polysomprincess · Post by **polysomprincess** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:02 am

so what were the results from your cpap titration study? did it help with the centrals or cause more?

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:37 am

I'm really surprised that your sleep doctor would give you a straight CPAP for someone experiencing central apneas. Typically one who has centrals is prescribed a BiPAP ST like a Resmed VPAPIII.

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:33 am

I have severe central sleep apnea, and as DVL indicated a BiPap (bilevel) machine is the usual type. Plus the machine usually has a timer, so that it will "produce" a breath if you stop spontaneously breathing. The machine I have is a Synchrony S/T. The pressure for me to inhale at is 14 cm, and the pressure for me to exhale against is 4. The timer is set at 8 seconds, so if I don't inhale by then it will send me a shot of air to "kick-start" my breathing.

And yes, it has really helped me in the 6 months that I've been using it. I can make it through a work day without falling asleep at my desk. I can make it through a weekend day without having to take a nap......but I still like to now and again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:22 am

My first sleep study was with Kaiser only listed OSA’s.
My second study OHSU a month ago had mostly central’s ahi 80.
The centrals went away with cpap treatment and DR's scratching their heads but saying if treatment works there’s no need to do more.

I got an apap to try on Monday its Thursday and haven't had much sleep going to dme to have apap checked out. From reading posts today it may be bad algorithms not picking up my centrals.

I normally go to sleep in only a couple min. with cpap. The apap is taking hours for me to fall asleep if I do at all.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:24 am

My first sleep study was with Kaiser only listed OSA’s.
My second study OHSU a month ago had mostly central’s ahi 80.
The centrals went away with cpap treatment and DR's scratching their heads but saying if treatment works there’s no need to do more.

I got an apap to try on Monday its Thursday and haven't had much sleep going to dme to have apap checked out. From reading posts today it may be bad algorithms not picking up my centrals.

I normally go to sleep in only a couple min. with cpap. The apap is taking hours for me to fall asleep if I do at all.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
sign in now

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:26 am

What was your constant pressure?
What it the APAP range?
Why switch to an APAP if you're doing well on straight?
Which machines are we discussing?

It'll be easier to give you sensible feedback if you give us this info.

O.

central sleep apnea question

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