Sleep Apnea Support Group
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they may not be aware of sleep disturbances.
Hi everyone,
I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. My symptoms were stopping breathing and waking up gasping for air, feeling fluttering sensation in my throat, adrenaline rush when trying to fall asleep (presumably this is my brain's way of waking me up to breathe), and heart palpitations.
On average, I was told I stop breathing approximately 5 times per hr, which is right on the border of normal since less than 5 times per hour is considered "normal". (weird!)
So I just got my trial CPAP machine today. I hate it...absolutely hate it! I tried for 2 hours to fall asleep while wearing it and I could not sleep at all. I finally gave up and took it off because I couldn't sleep. I noticed I was still stopping breathing while wearing it. I don't know if a CPAP is supposed to work this way, I assumed it was supposed to keep my airway open so that I would NOT stop breathing, but I found instead, I would stop breathing and then the pressure would build up in my throat to the point of being annoying and I would wake up and breathe again. To me, this is ridiculously unhelpful, because I am still being woke up either way whether I am wearing this ridiculous contraption or not, so as far as getting a decent sleep, not happening.
Has anyone else found this?
I also told the respiratory therapist at the sleep clinic that when I stop breathing (and I DO notice it upon initially trying to fall asleep), it feels not like my throat is closing up, but that my epiglottis closes (the little flap that stops food from going into your lungs when you are breathing) and cuts off my airway. This is the best description I can give. It doesn't feel like an issue that is higher up, like my soft palate, or back of my tongue, or mid-throat area, it is lower, in that little indentation area between where the collarbones meet. I told her I was concerned that the CPAP would not be effective if this is the case, because I have read online that CPAP doesn't help this type of sleep apnea issue and instead an epiglotectomy (sp) is required. She basically told me that was untrue (although I read it on more than one website). I do not snore at all, and while I am overweight I am not severely overweight so neither of these issues could really contribute either.
I will continue to try the CPAP to give it a fair chance, but if it continues to make sleeping more difficult for me rather than less, I don't know what I'll do.
Does anyone know what other options are available in this case? I am even wondering if I possibly have central sleep apnea. Does anyone know what treatments are available if it is central and not obstructive sleep apnea? Does CPAP still help central? I am sure I have read that it doesn't but am unsure.
Thanks for any/all responses. This is such a frustrating problem!
I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. My symptoms were stopping breathing and waking up gasping for air, feeling fluttering sensation in my throat, adrenaline rush when trying to fall asleep (presumably this is my brain's way of waking me up to breathe), and heart palpitations.
On average, I was told I stop breathing approximately 5 times per hr, which is right on the border of normal since less than 5 times per hour is considered "normal". (weird!)
So I just got my trial CPAP machine today. I hate it...absolutely hate it! I tried for 2 hours to fall asleep while wearing it and I could not sleep at all. I finally gave up and took it off because I couldn't sleep. I noticed I was still stopping breathing while wearing it. I don't know if a CPAP is supposed to work this way, I assumed it was supposed to keep my airway open so that I would NOT stop breathing, but I found instead, I would stop breathing and then the pressure would build up in my throat to the point of being annoying and I would wake up and breathe again. To me, this is ridiculously unhelpful, because I am still being woke up either way whether I am wearing this ridiculous contraption or not, so as far as getting a decent sleep, not happening.
Has anyone else found this?
I also told the respiratory therapist at the sleep clinic that when I stop breathing (and I DO notice it upon initially trying to fall asleep), it feels not like my throat is closing up, but that my epiglottis closes (the little flap that stops food from going into your lungs when you are breathing) and cuts off my airway. This is the best description I can give. It doesn't feel like an issue that is higher up, like my soft palate, or back of my tongue, or mid-throat area, it is lower, in that little indentation area between where the collarbones meet. I told her I was concerned that the CPAP would not be effective if this is the case, because I have read online that CPAP doesn't help this type of sleep apnea issue and instead an epiglotectomy (sp) is required. She basically told me that was untrue (although I read it on more than one website). I do not snore at all, and while I am overweight I am not severely overweight so neither of these issues could really contribute either.
I will continue to try the CPAP to give it a fair chance, but if it continues to make sleeping more difficult for me rather than less, I don't know what I'll do.
Does anyone know what other options are available in this case? I am even wondering if I possibly have central sleep apnea. Does anyone know what treatments are available if it is central and not obstructive sleep apnea? Does CPAP still help central? I am sure I have read that it doesn't but am unsure.
Thanks for any/all responses. This is such a frustrating problem!
1. Your AHI is 5, which is considered on the edge of normal. So I am surprised that you are being treated with a CPAP for that low of AHI. However, I have no specific knowledge of where the treatment level starts.
2. I have been using a CPAP since April 2 of this year. My AHI was 47, which is considered as "severe" sleep apnea. I had almost no problem adjusting to using it. My only problem was a poor fitting nasal mask that quickly caused the start of pressure sores on my nose. I changed my mask to a "nose pillow" type and have not had any problems since. It is true that some have problems adjusting to using a CPAP. The only answer that I have read about is to change to different mask until you find one that you find comfortable. (BTW - - My AHI with CPAP is now always 0 - .5.)
3. I am not all familiar with the main issue you wrote about; epiglottis.
4. Why do you think you have central sleep apnea? Did it show up during your sleep study? It is common to have a mix of both OSA and CSA, but usually the CSA is lower than the OSA unless it is the main issue. With an AHI of only 5, I think it would be difficult to even tell. When a person has a mix of OSA and CSA (I do), a CPAP can be used to treat both assuming that the CSA is being caused by OSA. My apena is treating both since my AHI has dropped to near zero.
5. Curious; what pressure is your CPAP set to? If it is unusually high that may cause some problems adapting. Also, make sure that the ramp function is turned on, assuming your device has that option (most all do).
That is all I can think of at the moment, I hope you find the answer soon!
My AHI is 5. So yes it is right on the edge of being "normal" but 4 or less is considered normal, and I have had symptoms that they believe are related to sleep apnea so that is why I'm being treated with CPAP.
I have used my CPAP twice in 5 days since I got it. I am finding that it is literally filling my stomach with air. I feel like a balloon being blown up! Both times I used it I lasted less than an hour before I started getting a stomach ache from all the air going into my stomach. I checked the pressure setting and it was at 14. I lowered it to 11 just to see if that would help, but I could feel the air going into my stomach again so I just stopped using it!
During the short time I used it both days, I felt myself stop breathing. Most people are not aware when they stop breathing. But I am very aware of it when I am first trying to fall asleep. The CPAP machine did not prevent it. What seems to happen is I gradually slow my breathing and breathe in less and less, and then at some point on a very shallow breath I exhale and do not inhale again for a long period of time. I then get an adrenaline rush that wakes me up to breath if I am not using the CPAP machine. If I AM using the CPAP machine, when I stop breathing I feel pressure building up in my throat until eventually it annoys me enough that I wake up and breathe again. Either way, I am being woke up. The pressure is not holding my airway open, and I believe that is because I do not have an issue with obstructive sleep apnea. I have not done an "official" sleep study in a clinic. I have only done the one where they send a machine home with you and it measures how many times you stop breathing.
I don't snore *at all*, I don't feel like my throat closes up at all. I am aware of stopping breathing because I am not fully asleep yet and I can feel it low down in my throat basically where the trachea and esophagus meet and the lack of breath seems to just be an exhale and then no further effort to inhale. It literally is like my brain forgets. I am not fully conscious, obviously, even though I am aware, or I would just make myself take a breath, but I do feel everything that is happening and have an semi-conscious awareness of it.
It's so hard to explain. I tried to explain this to the respiratory therapist before I even got the CPAP and she basically just said "well even if it was central sleep apnea, a CPAP will help that too". I am so tired of these health specialists that just give one pat answer for everything. It's very discouraging.