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central sleep apnea vs CPAP

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Posted by Dandilyun on March 11, 2009 at 09:21:29:

Hello! I haven't been on this forum for a few years now. About 4 years ago, I was on a CPAP machine. My sleep apnea was mixed, with mostly, OSA and hypopneic episodes, and a small amount of central sleep apnea. I had gastric bypass 3 years ago, and this seemed to fix the sleep apnea issues, almost immediately.

Over the past year, I have found myself having episodes of central sleep apnea. It started like this: I would almost be asleep, but not completely. I would stop breathing. I would stop TRYING to breathe. Then, I would wake up, or become more alert, and tell myself to take a breath. I don't snore. It feels different than OSA. This has gotten worse over the last year, happening 5 or 6 times before I completely fall asleep. The headaches are back in the a.m. I have not gained any significant weight...about 5 pounds since the surgery.

I am in the middle of my sleep studies, and do have mixed sleep apnea. It is about 70% CSA. They tried to do a 50/50, but I did not sleep long enough on either end, so they redid the diagnostic part, and now I have to go for the titration part. I am worried, frustrated and confused.

We know that CSA is the brain basically not telling the diaphram to move, and the body to breathe. During the first study, the 50/50, by the time I woke up, they had me on a setting of 13. THIRTEEN. When I had sleep apnea before the surgery, I was on a 9. The study was basically inconclusive, because I was still having episodes at 13.

There is my problem with all of this: The inconclusive study showed, that after they raised me to 9, all further episodes were CSA only. Again, I was still having issues at 13, when they had to wake me up, but it was all CSA at that point. What good will it do me to be on a CPAP or Bi-pap, If I have no urge to take a breath? I could have a Bi-PAP, and be on 20, but if I am not even attempting to breathe in, how will a CPAP help with CSA? Also, it is a fact that although CPAP is a lifesaver, it does reduce a persons natural drive to respire.

Sorry this is long winded, but it's been awhile. Anyone out there on a CPAP with mostly CSA, and it's helping? Any suggestions for what type of BiPAP machine to push for? I'm pretty sure that's were I will end up.

Thanks!

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