central apnea

Hi, Being new to this site and acceptance of my problem, I could write for and hour with my questions and comments but in the interest of organization, logic and good manners i will post them all but in little itty bitty slices so bear with me!
I recognized central apnea in me before I had ever heard of the term and attempted to explain it to both my cardiologist and pulmonary guy. I explained it as being short of breath as if I had suddenly forgotten how to breathe and had to jolt myself into remembering. It was an unnerving experience. My cardiologist told me he was pretty sure that it was due to a weakening of the left side of ny heart. i have a history of heart problems.
My pulmonary guy did not comment but he was ultimately the one who put me in sleep lab. I had obstructive and central both!
I am now treating the obstructive with CPAP and have come to accept it. Hey, I,m a realist!
I read however that central cannot be treated by CPAP and there are diverse opinions as to how dangerous it is?
My titration report showed an AHI of 83.6 and there were more centrals than obstructive, in fact almost 4to 1.
Does anyone have any solid facts on this condition?
IE: Risks, therapy options, causes. I still get them and still have the same feeling of forgetting to breathe.
Good to know there are others out there with the same problems although I have sympathy for you all.
WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR THINK YOU CAN'T......YOUR,E RIGHT. Henry Ford

There are a couple of other threads touching on central apnea which might be why there are no responses to yours yet. I saw you are new to the group and do not want you to feel ignored! From the other threads I know that there are machines intended to impact central apnea so yes, it can be treated. Your AHI of 83.6 was without CPAP, I hope? How are you doing today?

Look here:viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46489&p=417634&hili ... al#p417634

Although the poster is still looking for answers there are comments and links about CSA that might help you. If nothing else, you can look at the equipment intended to treat CSA and compare to what you're doing today. Then if you have additional questions I encourage you to post again. Glad to have you with us!

Foxhunter, what equipment do you have? (Fill out your profile, text descriptions better than pictures.)

Most people on here who are dealing with compSAS have an 'adaptive servo ventilator' type of BiPAP machine, most often indicated by an 'SV' in the model number. These machines can treat all sorts od sleep disorders, but are particularly suited to compSAS patients.

There is someone here on the board named SWS who has apparently forgotten more about complex sleep apnea than a whole lot of us put together even know. I hope he shows up here, because he always has something truly interesting to share.

timbalion, I being new here and unfamiliar with the geography am having a hard time finding where to input my profile.
I am in the first week or so of complying with medicare requirements and therefore on a "temporary" machine which is a ResmedS8 II Elite with a humidifier to match. Mask is Fischer Paykel Forma full face.
I am handling the equipment OK but sure am confused as to what the hell is going on with me!
Thanks for your courtesy in replying You too scarlet.

foxhunter wrote:timbalion, I being new here and unfamiliar with the geography am having a hard time finding where to input my profile.
I am in the first week or so of complying with medicare requirements and therefore on a "temporary" machine which is a ResmedS8 II Elite with a humidifier to match. Mask is Fischer Paykel Forma full face.
I am handling the equipment OK but sure am confused as to what the hell is going on with me!
Thanks for your courtesy in replying You too scarlet.

Welcome, foxhunter!

To add your equipment, click on "User Control Panel" at the top left part of your screen, then click on "Profile", then "Edit Equipment". You will see that you can change many other things through the "User Control Panel" as well.

~ DreamOn

foxhunter,

I just sent you a Private Message (PM) with some information that may be very helpful to you. At the top of your screen you should see that you have a new message (right next to User Control Panel). Click on the New Messages notice and then you can read your messages.

~ DreamOn

Thanks all for the guidance. I had a similar message from slinky which I had not got to yet. Would have wandered around forever looking for the profile site without you.
Have entered profile.
By the way, I am a very young 68 so don't let the profile YOB worry you.

foxhunter wrote:By the way, I am a very young 68 so don't let the profile YOB worry you.

You know, age is a funny thing. There was a time when I thought 60 was "ancient". But now, it seems like life is just beginning then! Funny how that works.

~ DreamOn

Am currently using a FP Forma mask and I sleep well with little or no discomfort. however I wake in the morning looking like a prize fighter with my eyes almost fully closed. Pharmacist thought it looked like an allergy but my DME says he has never seen it.
He is having me try a quattro over the weekend.
Anyone else had this experience. not painful but I have to walk around during the day wearing dark glasses so not to scare the kids on the street.

Hi foxhunter,

Central apneas are just great for cocktail party conversation. In just about no time you can scare everyone away from the food and eat all you want. Seriously, I've got them too, and it seemed pretty scary at first.

There is more information available here than most of us can absorb, but let me suggest a couple of starting places.
Look at the New Users section above - see the guy in the green jacket.
Check out the CPAP Wiki - that's the light bulb
Following the next link will take you to an amazing collection of links by Rested Gal. There is a special section for central apneas. Start reading. Keep your BS detector handy not everyone is equally informed. Over time, you will learn to judge who to listen to most carefully. viewtopic.php?t=17435

Don't give up on the therapy. Keep coming back for advice and help.

Happy naps,
Mr Capers