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CPAP failure
I am a failure using a CPAP but if I give it up, I risk sleep apnea.
For 12 months, the pulmonologist, the home health supplier's respiratory consultant, and I have been doing a difficult dance. I can only sleep 2-3 hours before waking gasping for air with chest pain. The cardiac tests recently have been ok. I think part of the chest pain is rib cage pain. I am now using an Auto-pap. My insurance company is paying rental fees and doctor visit fees because this equipment is not helping. I can't risk sleep apnea, but I want a decent night's sleep!
For 12 months, the pulmonologist, the home health supplier's respiratory consultant, and I have been doing a difficult dance. I can only sleep 2-3 hours before waking gasping for air with chest pain. The cardiac tests recently have been ok. I think part of the chest pain is rib cage pain. I am now using an Auto-pap. My insurance company is paying rental fees and doctor visit fees because this equipment is not helping. I can't risk sleep apnea, but I want a decent night's sleep!
Asthma reactions might be the fragmented sleep problem.
I woke after about three hours sleep, used the Albuterol rescue inhaler, and was able
to put on the full face mask and go back to sleep. I didn't use the second half tablet of hydrocodone/acetaminophen. We have been able to turn off the alarm clock this week so I slept until 8 am today. Mentally I still feel foggy until about 10 am after the dog and I take a half-mile walk.
Neither the pulmonologist, the home health respiratory tech, nor myself had the sense to think about the asthma exacerbation over the past 12 months!
I woke after about three hours sleep, used the Albuterol rescue inhaler, and was able
to put on the full face mask and go back to sleep. I didn't use the second half tablet of hydrocodone/acetaminophen. We have been able to turn off the alarm clock this week so I slept until 8 am today. Mentally I still feel foggy until about 10 am after the dog and I take a half-mile walk.
Neither the pulmonologist, the home health respiratory tech, nor myself had the sense to think about the asthma exacerbation over the past 12 months!
In reply to KatEyes, thanks for suggestions about the settings of this mysterious equipment.
I am now on a trial of an auto-pap. The settings are 7 inhale, 5 exhale with a high pressure limit of 13 mmHg which is more helpful.
The current specialist is leaving and a new pulmonologist arrives late September.
Recently my primary physician added NiaSpan to lower cholesterol which has an interesting side effect; I can dream and remember my dreams. At first I slept four hours before waking, but the old pattern of 3 hours or less and waking breathless is returning.
I am also adding 1/2 tab of hydrocodone/Tylenol at bedtime. Taking the other half if I awake breathless gives me a second session of sound sleep but I am slightly sedated when I awake in the morning.
I think I will try my rescue inhaler of Albuterol when I wake gasping for air.
The neurology section response indicates that there might be some depression affecting my sleep. Why not? This mechanical intervention is not the most comfortable experience this past 12 months!
I am now on a trial of an auto-pap. The settings are 7 inhale, 5 exhale with a high pressure limit of 13 mmHg which is more helpful.
The current specialist is leaving and a new pulmonologist arrives late September.
Recently my primary physician added NiaSpan to lower cholesterol which has an interesting side effect; I can dream and remember my dreams. At first I slept four hours before waking, but the old pattern of 3 hours or less and waking breathless is returning.
I am also adding 1/2 tab of hydrocodone/Tylenol at bedtime. Taking the other half if I awake breathless gives me a second session of sound sleep but I am slightly sedated when I awake in the morning.
I think I will try my rescue inhaler of Albuterol when I wake gasping for air.
The neurology section response indicates that there might be some depression affecting my sleep. Why not? This mechanical intervention is not the most comfortable experience this past 12 months!
I have responded to you with a message, but for the benefit of others who may be reading this, just a couple thoughts. What is the pressure range on your autopap? It is common for them to come set up at 4-20, which is a recipe for trouble. The lower end of the pressure setting should be within 2 or 3 numbers of what your titrated pressure was.
If the lower end of the range is too low, when you have an apnea event, it can take a long time for the machine to work its way up to a high enough pressure to prevent or open an obstruction, which could result in wakeups with similar symptoms as with untreated apnea.
If the lower end of the range is too low, when you have an apnea event, it can take a long time for the machine to work its way up to a high enough pressure to prevent or open an obstruction, which could result in wakeups with similar symptoms as with untreated apnea.
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