RE: Recently Diagnosed Severe Central Apnea
(10-10-2012, 06:46 PM)freeskier59 Wrote: The doctor said that CPAP relieves headache symptoms in about 30% of his patients that have chronic headache. He wasn't sure about the light sensitivity, but is prescribing me CPAP at 9cm water pressure for two weeks to see how I do. Hopefully this is the answer!
Ask DME provider for a full data reporting machine, so doctor and you can obtain as much info as possible during the trial. Good luck.
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RE: Recently Diagnosed Severe Central Apnea
Don't mention marijuana use if you have stopped or aren't a regular user. You do not want this in your medical records, insurance being one reason.
I too never had desats- ever, even with severe apnea.
Good luck.
RE: Recently Diagnosed Severe Central Apnea
According to Babydoc a central apnea can only be verified by an accompanying 10% or more drop in O2 saturation.
If your sats are still 92% or higher you are still in the green...
Has anyone seen anything else like this?
RE: Recently Diagnosed Severe Central Apnea
Central events are diagnosed and labeled with the same criteria as obstructive events - lack of breathing for 10 seconds or more. There is the "followed by a drop in blood saturation levels" bit (which applies to both central and obstructive events) but nowhere did I find a percentage it must drop in addition to the time frame. The only percentage I found was for hypopneas must result in a 3% drop in blood saturation. But I'm thinking it's this way to define what "shallow breathing" is since it would otherwise be an arbitrary term.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
RE: Recently Diagnosed Severe Central Apnea
(12-19-2012, 04:49 PM)PaulaO2 Wrote: The only percentage I found was for hypopneas must result in a 3% drop in blood saturation. But I'm thinking it's this way to define what "shallow breathing" is since it would otherwise be an arbitrary term.
I'm not sure these definitions are standardized. A CPAP machine defines a hypopnea as a drop of some specified percentage in the breathing level. It has to, as it has no way to measure blood oxygen level.
Sleepster
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RE: Recently Diagnosed Severe Central Apnea
Hi FreeSkier59, Hopefully your therapy will clear things up for you. If any of the symptoms don't with your CPAP at least it will give you the process of elimination to deal with those differently. I believe you'll start feeling better once you get started. As mentioned above try for an Auto machine that is data capable so you can monitor your results and record them. Entry level machines won't do that. Glad you found us, lots of great information here and caring people!
Tim
Finger Lakes Region, NY
RE: Recently Diagnosed Severe Central Apnea
(12-19-2012, 05:03 PM)Sleepster Wrote: I'm not sure these definitions are standardized. A CPAP machine defines a hypopnea as a drop of some specified percentage in the breathing level. It has to, as it has no way to measure blood oxygen level.
That's what I was thinking, too. The only place I found that was discussing a polysom....a sleep test.
I think otherwise it is defined as a "50% reduction" in air flow.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
