Pulmonary Hypertension

[Haynbo]

About 5 months ago as a result of a stress echo it was discovered that my pulmonary pressures were elevated(44) and that is technically considered Pulmonary Hypertension. I went thru all kind of tests which were all negative for any evidence of any other problems associated with this. Just prior to this diagnosis I was also diagnosed with sleep apnea which the cardiologist felt was the cause of the elevated pressures. Since that time I have been 100% compliant with my treatment (Dreamwear Nasal Mask) and my numbers lately have been consistently between 1.0 and maybe 2.25.

I have done alot of reading on this subject and it appears that the elevated pressures are caused by episodes of oxygen desaturation that have occurred with the untreated apnea ( by the way, I also have mild asthma)- I have checked my oxygen levels on more than a few occasions and have found it to be consistently above 93. I have found information on this subject that seems to suggest that successful treatment may help reduce the pressure or at least stabilize it at the levels that it was before treatment.

I am just wondering if anyone out there has had any experience or knowledge about this subject- it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[justMongo]

I would agree with the cardiologist. In my own experience, I was showing Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfuntion. That's where the left ventricle fails to create a suction when it relaxes. This would in-turn increase left side filling pressure; and possibly increase right side pressure in the pulmonary circuit. Since being on CPAP, I no longer see such findings. My studies have been Left Ventricular Diastolic Function: Normal.

[Haynbo]

Thanks for your reply- were the initial findings before you began treatment and, if so, how long after did you receive the good news of normal? Thanks again!

[justMongo]

Yes, before treatment. I'd have to look though my scanned in reports to see when my tests went back to normal status -- definitely after CPAP started; but, I do not recall how long after.

[trish6hundred]

Hi Haynbo,
It’s great to hear that you are doing so well with your CPAP therapy and that you’re tests for pulmonary hypertension are normal.
Keep up the good work and sleep well.
WELL DONE.!

[Suzi]

Hi Haynbo.   I know this is an old post and it looks like you haven't been on here for awhile.    Maybe you'll get this anyway. 

Your pulmonary hypertension story sounds  very much like mine.  With me it was the PH dx that eventually led to the sleep apnea dx. 

My GP sent me for an echo for heart palps and they found mild PH.  Then I did an night oxygen test and it showed hypoxia so they started me on oxygen.     Well , you know googling PH is enough to give a  person a heart attack!   But the pulmonoloigist  said that's the one disease you don't want to google  on your own  without talking to your doctor.   :0

 Like you, they had to get to the bottom of it since PH can have so many causes.   So I went to a cardiologist,  rheumatologist, and finally the pulmonologist.     The pulmonologist guessed I probably had SA, which proved true.     The cardiologist explained  in laymen's language that with hypoxia your body goes looking for oxygen and tries find it anywhere it can.  In this case it was the pulmonary arteries.   Thus the   PH.   

I just got my equipment this week so I don't know how things will go yet,  but we're hoping the PH  and other problems will be gone by the time  I do the next echo.   


Hope you're still doing well.  

Cheers.

[cate1898]

Hoping for the best for you both Haynbo and Suzi! And Suzi welcome to the forum!

[Haynbo]

Thanks so much for the reply- I have been on and monitoring but just have not been posting. Your reply however has brought up a question relative to Pulmonary Hypertension and it’s treatment-  I know that an AHI of under 5 is technically considered  “treated”, however, is an average AHI of, let’s say, .75 considered 5 times better than 4.50. The reason for the question is that for the past 3- 4 weeks, I have been using several different full face masks - none of which has worked as well as the nasal masks. The reason that I have been trying to get away from the nasal masks is that I am a mouth breather and must tape my mouth each night in order to get the much better result. For anyone that must do the same, it can become a real pain! Because of the PH, I have become neurotic about getting my AHI as low as possible. The much worse performance of the FFM has me quite upset. I guess my bottom line question would be, is my logic correct?-am I not being “treated” even though I am still under the 5 number that is used as a guideline?- is a lower number better than a higher number as long as it is below 5?

By the way, I have also had a significant increase in PB numbers while on the FFM- any correlation?


Thanks very much!

[Sleeprider]

Haynbo, I think AHI is simply a metric that shows the relative efficacy of your treatment in preventing apnea and hypopnea. Your blood oxygenation is going to be the real target to improve PH, and many members use a recording oximeter to evaluate SpO2 and its relationship to AHI. All the AHI shows is that with less than 5-events per hour, you are considered treated for sleep apnea. There are many other factors that could affect your sleep quality and blood oxygen levels.