[CPAP] Waking up immediately upon falling asleep with CPAP

[Lazarus]

See my OSCAR data from last night.  It looks like I'm just not breathing under CPAP, even while awake, and I'm not sure why this is.  Does anyone have any thoughts on what could be causing this?  It looks like maybe I have some type of sleep disordered breathing but not necessarily obstructive or central sleep apnea, although OSA is what I've been diagnosed with in the past.

[Lazarus]

So on the recommendation of a sleep apnea surgeon that I spoke with, I tried CPAP last night with a constant pressure of 5 (when I did my DISE procedure, that was the pressure they found opened up my breathing passage).  He's hypothesizing that the aPAP may be "over-titrating" causing me to repeatedly wake up, as indicated in my previous in-lab sleep study (I kept waking up repeatedly while on CPAP, regardless of pressure settings).  I was successfully able to fall asleep with this new setting (which I hadn't been able to do since the in-lab sleep study, when I took a sleeping pill), but still had the same problem: I woke up pretty much immediately upon falling asleep.

See my OSCAR data attached - anyone have any thoughts on this?

I think I also mentioned I recently did a fluoroscopic sniff test, which indicates the right side of my diaphragm is not opening properly when breathing, and apparently there's nothing that can be done to fix.  I'm going to review it with my sleep doctor next week, but obviously this could be contributing to (or causing the problem).

[Morgannon]

Hey mate, wondering if you made any inroads with the breathing difficulties?  I noticed that you said your right diaphragm wasn't opening properly - usually that is termed unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.  Did you find a cause or solution? 

Also there is very much something that can be done if the paralysis can not be reversed - it's called diaphragm plication.  They basically tie the nonfunctioning side of the diaphragm to the functioning one and reshape it so that you have better breathing.

[Lazarus]

Thanks for asking - no I haven't made any progress as yet.  I'll be meeting with my sleep doctor this week, and then probably scheduling an appointment with a neurologist.  I would be very interested to hear more about your experience / knowledge dealing with diaphragm issues.  Right now, the hypothesis is that the problem with my diaphragm may be caused phrenic nerve palsy.  My natural doctor, who has been far more helpful than standard "doctors", found the following solution potentially interesting:

Phrenic Nerve Stimulation
https://averybiomedical.com/2013/11/22/p...ion-works/

[quiescence at last]

I suggest you read up (with reputable help) the effects of low doses of red and near infrared on stimulation of the phrenic nerves in cervical (neck) vertebrae. also, the use of same to mask pain on upper abdominal region on your left side. exposure by commercially available red light devices for as little as 2-3 minutes per day seems to be effective. pm me if you need some ideas or suggestions for gear. This is not a sleep apnea issue, but it is a breathing issue. I hope you can finally find relief and correction for the condition.

QAL

[Lazarus]

Thanks quiescence.  I'll send you a PM for more information after I figure out how to send a PM.

I'm scheduled to get an EMG to check the phrenic nerve, and then I'll be meeting with Dr. Kaufman in NJ who apparently specializes in phrenic nerve issues:  https://www.advancedreconstruction.com/b...specialist

I've already had a telehealth appointment with him, and sleep apnea may have been a mis-diagnosis, or I might have sleep apnea in addition to sleep disordered breathing as a result of the diaphragm not properly opening.

I've always said that sleep apnea is not a real diagnosis - it just tells you what your symptoms are (kinda like type 2 diabetes).