Sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, please help!!!

[ill13632]

Hi!  I have both obstructive and central sleep apnea and am on a machine to breathe, but I don't know if my settings are right at 18/14 auto?  I think I'm waking up a lot on this high pressure.  I have found no relief for years now, please help!!!

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

In addition to BiPAP supplemental oxygen therapy may help improve the oxygenation. You will need to follow up with your neurosurgeon, to monitor the tumors growth. Good sleep hygiene measures will help to reduce the severity of your symptoms, though they may not completely resolve sleep apneas.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[ill13632]

mri says that the tumor is eroding my clivus, doesn't that mean the bone is infected and that is very bad?

[ill13632]

the neurosurgeon just said to wait 6 months for another mri but another NS told me to get another scan

[ill13632]

Thanks very much!  I have a clival lesion so do I need to have that operated on?  The sleep apnea is difficult to treat with the machine and isn't getting better.  Am I going to have this for life or will it go away with weight loss?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are feeling better.

An oxygen saturation of 70% is very low and you may need supplemental oxygen therapy along with the BiPAP machine. This will help correct the oxygen levels and your other symptoms as well. With therapy recheck your oxygen saturation levels with a sleep study. Central sleep apneas are caused due disorders or lesions in the brain. The peripheral system does not get the right impulses for respiration and hence the stoppage of respiration. As a result the person is aroused from sleep. It may help to trace the reason for central apneas also.

Take Care and Hope this helps!  

[ill13632]

yeah I had 3 sleep studies but I end up taking the mask off at night.  I think I might be getting inflammation and other blood problems, cortisol problems from the apnea?  

[ill13632]

I was having trouble using the bipap and now my O2 levels are falling as low as 70%.  I think it helps to use the 45 minute ramp feature but it's still difficult to fall asleep and 10mg of ambien does nothing.  maybe I am just drinking too much coffee... thanks very much!

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello,
As I understand you have already been diagnosed with Obstructive sleep apnea, with both obstructive and central apneas and are on therapy with Bi PAP, with pressures of 18/14. With this pressure you are having repeated wakefulness. For central apneas therapy is by treating the underlying cause and again SV BiPAP, could also be effective as it is pressure support ventilation. With improvement in oxygenation the other symptoms of restlessness may resolve.
Discuss these possibilities with your doctor when you happen to meet him next time. In the meantime, follow good sleep hygiene measures like going to bed at the same time, waking up at the same time, avoidance of alcohol, smoking and caffeinated beverages. Maintain warm, comfortable bedroom environment and engage in relaxing activities like a warm bath before bed time.
Hope This Helped and Do Keep Us Posted!!