Stuttered daytime breathing, voice & throat problems

Hi. In recent weeks I've developed some symptoms that I'm wondering if anyone else has had and it turned out they were related to their sleep apnea therapy.

First, frequently when I inhale it feels like the breath stutters (for lack of a more accurate description). I'll inhale slightly and there's a pause then the breath will go a little deeper.

Secondly, it feels like something is in my mid to lower throat. Always there, but kinda getting used to it. When the sensation is lower, it merely feels odd. When it feels a smidgen higher, it is highly aggravating, hurts, and causes indigestion. Incidentally (or maybe not) I lost my voice for a couple months in about Jan & Feb. When it came back, it's not been strong or smooth, but rather raspy and absolutely no singing quality.

Are these symptoms common to cpap therapy?

Kathy

Kathy,

Regardless of the cause -- therapy or not -- you owe it to yourself to get a complete check-up from a qualified ENT (ear, nose & throat doctor). Depending upon the type of insurance you have, you may need a referral from your GP or PCP, but it sounds like a chronic problem that should be resolved and can easily be diagnosed by a good doctor with a laryngoscope. If the doctor just wants to look down your throat with a light and a tongue depressor, insist that he use the scope. There's no way to see any further than your tonsils without the scope and it sounds like your problems are in your throat or even further "south".

The indigestion you describe as a result of the throat problem may actually be the cause instead, especially if it's worst when you're supine or when you first get up. I was diagnosed with an ulcer and reflux, both of which have been successfully treated with Nexium and waiting a full 2 hours after eating to go to bed. In my case, the gastroenterologist caught it before it caused any permanent damage in my throat. As a professional opera singer, that would have been a disaster, but is not as uncommon as you might think.

PLEASE don't suffer with this. Get it checked out and let us know what happens. If you have any specific questions that you'd rather ask privately, please feel free to send me a PM. Good luck!

Kurtchan

Kathy- I agree with kurtchan. My ENT numbed the back of my throat and looked inside using a laryngoscope. It only lasted about 60 seconds and did not hurt. He said that he could see that the whole back of my throat was inflammed, irritated and swollen. Even the vocal folds(hence, losing my voice)! He diagnosed LERD-Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease. THis is acid reflux going all the way from your stomach high up into your esophagus. THese were my symptoms: I experienced a lump in the throat feeling, hoarseness(lost my voice on & off) always clearing my throat, post-nasal drip, chronic cough,and sometimes heartburn-especially when laying flat in bed. I had to sleep with a wedge pillow to use gravity to keep the acid down in my stomach! I was put on Nexium and told to change my diet. I wasn't very diet compliant, so he increased Nexium to twice daily. When that still wasn't helping, I got serious about my diet. I have totally cut out iced tea, diet coke(caffeine free), chocolate,all mint candies, spicy food, citrus juices and marinara sauce. THe diet changes have worked and I even went back down to once a day Nexium. I also try not to eat anything after 8pm ( no bedtime snack). This gives me 2.5-3.0 hours before I go to sleep.
THe doctor also suggests raising the head of your bed using bricks or blocks of wood so that you are elevated 4-6 inches. My husband did not like sleeping that way, so I bought the wedge pillow and that also helped.
THe doctors do not like the wedge pillow idea, because they say that the pressure at the bend in your abdomen can kink the stomach and make symptoms worse.Also, smoking dramatically causes reflux.
Back to your question, I don't think your symptoms are related to cpap, but might be acid reflux. My symptoms have improved drastically...I'm even sleeping flat again!! THe ENT referred me to a gastroenterologist for an exam. She concurred with my diagnosis and plan of care.I am scheduled for an endoscopy next month...to make sure that the acid bath didn't cause permament damage to my esophagus. THey also look for Barrets esophagus, which I think is a precursor to cancer of the esophagus.
Good Luck to you and keep in touch.
Barb

Barb,

Glad that you agreed with, and expounded upon, my earlier reply to Kathy. Your description of your symptoms sound very similar to what Kathy's going through and what I did as well. Also, your experience with the laryngiscope is typical -- not terrible pleasant, but certainly not painful. And, the results of the scoping are much broader and more useful for clinical purposes.

If it is indeed reflux that is causing Kathy's problems, she should know that she's not only in good company, but can look forward to excellent results with Nexium and a bit of behavior/diet modification. Always better to catch it before the acid hits the vocal folds and causes permanent damage. I followed up my ENT visit with a full upper GI and was glad to hear that things were progressing nicely with the current regime.

Kurtchan

Kurtchan-
Glad to hear that your UGI came out fine! I also went through that, it came out normal, but the gastro still wants to follow-up with the endoscopy. I'm really not looking forward to it!
This forum has really helped me in my new life as a hosehead. I just completed my first month. Finally, the last 3 nights, I have slept better and kept the mask on all night! Of course, I'm still waking up to do minor mask adjustments when I change positions, but I'm falling right back asleep.This is cause for celebration. Before, I was averaging 3-4 hours per night.
Today, the RT finally arrived with my new machine: Respironics Bipap auto. This is the machine that I was originally supposed to get, but got the Resmed auto instead. I also received a new mask: Comfortlite2. Hopefully, this mask will tolerate side sleeping better than the swift mask. Only time will tell.
Thanks and take care,
Barb