Possible treatment for central sleep apnea

[zonk]

Something is working because the number of CSA's, as identified by the ResScan reporting program, is significantly lower. It works!

my AHI went down too since starting starting the therapy over two years ago
it was something like 20 but as get used to the therapy and sorted out few of the problems such as try different mask, mask/mouth leaks, and pressure adjustment ... AHI went lower and now mostly below 1 (zero point something)
this morning was 0.4 but as I was watching some tennis, zonked off for a while and wife said I was snoring
so I,m confused why feeling sleepy and my AHI indicate getting a good therapy ... I think there is more to sleep than lower AHI

[Shastzi]

Well put, Paula02.

[Moriarty]

...please see case study 1, 2, and 3 of Resscan Report Interpretation Guide
http://www.apneaboard.com/ResScan_Interp...-Guide.pdf

Thanks for that link Zonk - as usual you produce the goods...

I don't mean to hijack the thread but to illustrate the value of looking widely...

My AHI has recently taken an increase (from ~1.5 to ~8) with most of it coming from Hypopneas. Almost zero from CA's and OA's. There is a small number of Periodic Breathing episodes.

Those links led me to realise that the Hypopnea waveforms are quite possibly Periodic Breathing episodes that are not big enough to be flagged as such. PB can be an indicator of Obstructive Heart Failure. Although my BP is not high and ankles do not swell my weight has taken an increase of about 4 kilos over about the same time as the increase in AHI.... (November to January)

My Specialist saw nothing in these results to caused alarm when I saw him last week so I am not panicked, but I don't need a doctor to tell me that I need to lose weight. I don't do crash diets or anything but I have engineered a diet and exercise program to reach a goal weight in 18 months. I will be interested to see what the Hypopneas look like in a few weeks time when the first few kilos have gone.

[Sleepster]

I have the S9 and a copy of the RESMED reporting program.
My sleep doctor only told me that I have sleep apnea. He did not explain that I had two kinds (obstructive and central). I thought there was only one kind and had no reason to ask.

Do you have a copy of the sleep study results stating that you have mixed sleep apnea, that is, a mixture of OSA and CSA?

Only a sleep study can properly diagnose CSA. A CPAP machine cannot do it. What a CPAP machine reports as a central apnea might perhaps be better termed a clear-airway apnea.

CPAP machines can induce central apnea, which is why you might want to look and see if your CA index goes up when your pressure goes up.

You should also look and see how long these events last. If they last a long time it's something you need to discuss with your doctor.

Another thing you can try is CPAP mode at a fixed pressure. See if lowering the pressure reduces the CA index, but don't go so low that your OA and hyponea indices are elevated.

[cruzer43]

Sleepster,

I'm using an APAP, not a CPAP.
There doesn't appear to be any relationship between the peak pressures or low pressures and my apneas.

I track the "maximum" duration of the apneas for each night (Central separate from Obstructive).
Up until the study, I was averaging about 16 seconds.
Since September, I've been averaging about 12 seconds. However, that includes many more zeroes because of the absence of apneas.
I suspect that the real average is still around 16 seconds.

I watch the graph of my pressure for every day. It is consistent.

[Sleepster]

Your APAP can be placed in CPAP mode.

Were you diagnosed with CSA or mixed apnea in your sleep study?

[cruzer43]

Sleepster,

I was diagnosed with both Central and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in my initial study.

[Sleepster]

Then you may need a ASV machine, but I'm glad you are able to control things with your diet. Hey, whatever works.

[CactusRoper]

Good AHI numbers don’t always lead to not feeling sleepy. It is possible to have either RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) or PLM (Periodic Limb Movement). Having too many of these would greatly lessen the amount of time your spend in REM sleep and result in being sleepy all the time. The best way to treat either of these two conditions is with drugs that were developed for people with Parkinson’s.

[SleepyTime]

Oh I see after me computer froze for a while it spit out 2 posts the same?
Is that like us as we get older we tend to repeat our selves?

No problem for you, because you don't realize it. Your listeners, on the other hand, know all your stories by heart. Unless they are old AND forgetful...if they're lucky:-)