sleep apnea

[scottonbike]

Hello again

This is one of those questions that is going to be hard to phrase or get an answer to but here I go. My regular cardiologist told me that I had a slight case of sleep apnea, I was ok for a cpap machine if I wanted it, but it was my decision. I have used it for a year and in my opinion it may have helped me with arrythmias.

I have since gone to a HCM Dr and he thought the cpap machine was not a good idea. I pressed him on this, and his answer was not really forthcoming. I am stuck wondering if this was his opinion, which is fine, or a real medical reason for it, and if so, what is it? I whimped out and got a handicaped sticker from my local cardiologist for me post surgery. (I may be up in NE Iowa, it is very cold ok?) While we were talking I mentioned this to him about the cpap machine and he was very curious as to why the cpap was not a good idea. Anybody have any solid medical reason for this?

Scott

[scottonbike]

Hi

So after having palpatations for a month I got tired of it and put the cpap on last week. I do not know if that is the reason it went away but I have not had them since I started using the cpap machine again. I think I will keep using it until my myectomy

Scott

[elmatt]

I am not sure how the cpap machine would affect your HCM but I would think that the more rested your body is the better your heart will function...hence less arrhythmia's. This is not something I have researched just seemed like a logical conclusion.

[Laoshur]

Great questions! No answers! :oops: :roll:

Rhoda

[Pam Alexson]

What are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?
Because of the serious disturbances in their normal sleep patterns, people with sleep apnea often feel very sleepy during the day and their concentration and daytime performance suffer. The consequences of sleep apnea range from annoying to life-threatening. They include symptoms suggesting depression, irritability, sexual dysfunction, learning and memory difficulties, and falling asleep while at work, on the phone, or driving. Untreated sleep apnea patients are 3 times (or more) likely to have automobile accidents; CPAP treatment reverses the increased risk. It has been estimated that up to 50 percent of sleep apnea patients have high blood pressure. It has recently been shown that sleep apnea contributes to high blood pressure. Risk for heart attack and stroke may also increase in those with sleep apnea.

Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because it may be associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

The specific therapy for sleep apnea is tailored to the individual patient based on medical history, physical examination, and the results of polysomnography. Medications are generally not effective in the treatment of sleep apnea. Oxygen is sometimes used in patients with central apnea caused by heart failure. It is not used to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Physical or Mechanical Therapy
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common effective treatment for sleep apnea. In this procedure, the patient wears a mask over the nose during sleep, and pressure from an air blower forces air through the nasal passages. The air pressure is adjusted so that it is just enough to prevent the throat from collapsing during sleep. The pressure is constant and continuous. Nasal CPAP prevents airway closure while in use, but apnea episodes return when CPAP is stopped or it is used improperly.

Variations of the CPAP device attempt to minimize side effects that sometimes occur, such as nasal irritation and drying, facial skin irritation, abdominal bloating, mask leaks, sore eyes, and headaches. Some versions of CPAP vary the pressure to coincide with the person’s breathing pattern, and other CPAPs start with low pressure, slowly increasing it to allow the person to fall asleep before the full prescribed pressure is applied.

Dental appliances that reposition the lower jaw and the tongue have been helpful to some patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea or who snore but do not have apnea. A dentist or orthodontist is often the one to fit the patient with such a device.

[scottonbike]

Hi

This may come under the heading of too much information:

I am here in CCF and yesterday, I had told my roomate to wake me up if I started snoring. At 2 am the respitory therapist asked me if I was having trouble sleeping, and I said no. The therapist had walked out the door when my roomie told me how impressed he and everybody else on the floor was about my snoring. I called back the therapist and requested a cpap machine. Long story short is that me and my roomie (71) got a good night sleep. He said his son was a loud snorer also and was very impressed at how quiet I was. He said he was going to have his son check into it.

Scott ( rockin the 9th floor )

[Reenie]

I'm glad you got some good sound sleep! You'll need it to heal.

Reenie

[scottonbike]

Hello

Okay, being the single guy that I am and that I am about 12 days post myectomy, I do not snore at all. I do not know if this will keep up but it is really odd. My parents (the single guy thing) have to physically check at night to make sure that I am okay, in that I am so quiet. Maybe too much info, but kind of good news.

Scott