09-24-2022, 04:59 PM
COSA, hypoxemia, AFIB, high BP, polycythemia, and CBTI?
Hello all, newbie here. Been reading your boards and gathering a lot of good info- thank you.
I'm in my mid-50s. I have a unique case that I've been playing whack-a-mole medicine with for ~ 10 years; so bear with me and provide help if you can...
I had trouble sleeping up until 2019, then the insomnia went into overdrive. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was put on anti-depressants, Ambien, etc. I was put on a cpap for OSA. Combining all that is rough.
2020- I had the prostate removed, and for those that know the side effects are incontinence, stress insomnia, impotence, and pissing yourself-- none are any fun.
2021- I had a hip replaced while I was recovering from the pros surgery. I was switched to Lunesta, and spent a lot of time on the couch trying to sleep, heal, and recover. The couch was more comfortable so I wouldn't roll over on my hip (unlike the the bed). I was switched to an ASV for my CSA. So again, try getting used to an air compressor blasting your face while not moving from surgery and not sleeping.
2022- The Lunesta is ineffective. It works 2-3 hrs, but the hangover is pretty bad. I was put on an oxygen concentrator with the ASV. To date, I have never felt good from the cpap, ASV, nor the ASV + O2. I am using the ASV + O2 for > 6-7 hrs/nt; so my sleep dr says I should be good and sleeping well- nope, nada, zilch.
My bp is consistently ~135/90 ish, and heart rate > 80 bpm. My motor is on high idle and I'm running rich- someday it will blow up.
My recent labs showed my HCT has climbed to 58, which means I've developed polycythemia. IOW, my blood is oxygen starved and too thick, like honey. I've started donating blood monthly to bring my HCT down.
I did an unofficial test where I checked my SpO2 level before/after wearing the ASV + O2: before ~90%; after 90-92%. I wore the mask for ~10 min while I checked my oximeter. If on O2, I should have been > 96% SpO2...
I've seen my primary dr, cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, and a sleep dr. Nobody has answers as to why 1) my O2 is so low, 2) which bad body part is guilty and 3) how to effectively treat it. I'm still in the "let's run another test" protocol.
I cannot sleep naturally at all- not even a Sat afternoon nap. I'm addicted to the Lunesta, which only works for 2-3 hrs. I need to get off this sh*t.
I'm in a vicious circle where all these culprits are feeding each other. I have to break the chain and eliminate some variables.
I'm on a waiting list to see a new sleep dr who specializes in CBTI. I understand the methods and goals, but my concern is that I shouldn't start it until I get my O2, bp, and heart rate under control. My AHIs are < 5, so my current sleep dr doesn't give a sh*t. An OSCAR print really won't help me right now.
My life has been hell, and I've asked my wife several times to take me in the yard and put me down, but she refuses until our will is updated... Ok, I'm done bitching.
So what would you do? Go cold turkey from the Lunesta and start the CBTI, or wait until some physiological issues are handled?
TIA
I'm in my mid-50s. I have a unique case that I've been playing whack-a-mole medicine with for ~ 10 years; so bear with me and provide help if you can...
I had trouble sleeping up until 2019, then the insomnia went into overdrive. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was put on anti-depressants, Ambien, etc. I was put on a cpap for OSA. Combining all that is rough.
2020- I had the prostate removed, and for those that know the side effects are incontinence, stress insomnia, impotence, and pissing yourself-- none are any fun.
2021- I had a hip replaced while I was recovering from the pros surgery. I was switched to Lunesta, and spent a lot of time on the couch trying to sleep, heal, and recover. The couch was more comfortable so I wouldn't roll over on my hip (unlike the the bed). I was switched to an ASV for my CSA. So again, try getting used to an air compressor blasting your face while not moving from surgery and not sleeping.
2022- The Lunesta is ineffective. It works 2-3 hrs, but the hangover is pretty bad. I was put on an oxygen concentrator with the ASV. To date, I have never felt good from the cpap, ASV, nor the ASV + O2. I am using the ASV + O2 for > 6-7 hrs/nt; so my sleep dr says I should be good and sleeping well- nope, nada, zilch.
My bp is consistently ~135/90 ish, and heart rate > 80 bpm. My motor is on high idle and I'm running rich- someday it will blow up.
My recent labs showed my HCT has climbed to 58, which means I've developed polycythemia. IOW, my blood is oxygen starved and too thick, like honey. I've started donating blood monthly to bring my HCT down.
I did an unofficial test where I checked my SpO2 level before/after wearing the ASV + O2: before ~90%; after 90-92%. I wore the mask for ~10 min while I checked my oximeter. If on O2, I should have been > 96% SpO2...
I've seen my primary dr, cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, and a sleep dr. Nobody has answers as to why 1) my O2 is so low, 2) which bad body part is guilty and 3) how to effectively treat it. I'm still in the "let's run another test" protocol.
I cannot sleep naturally at all- not even a Sat afternoon nap. I'm addicted to the Lunesta, which only works for 2-3 hrs. I need to get off this sh*t.
I'm in a vicious circle where all these culprits are feeding each other. I have to break the chain and eliminate some variables.
I'm on a waiting list to see a new sleep dr who specializes in CBTI. I understand the methods and goals, but my concern is that I shouldn't start it until I get my O2, bp, and heart rate under control. My AHIs are < 5, so my current sleep dr doesn't give a sh*t. An OSCAR print really won't help me right now.
My life has been hell, and I've asked my wife several times to take me in the yard and put me down, but she refuses until our will is updated... Ok, I'm done bitching.
So what would you do? Go cold turkey from the Lunesta and start the CBTI, or wait until some physiological issues are handled?
TIA
