I have a very serious case of sleep apnea. I have gone thru 5 overnight tests?
After those 5 sleep studies Dr. Bond told me that I was untrearable. He had used MANY different masks, also using oxygen. I was told the average person with apnea stops breathing somewhere between 5 to 15 per hour. On my first test that number was 69, and has varied between 55 to 75 thru those 5 tests. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A HIGHLY REGARDED SPECIALIST ON APNEA somewhere relatively close to Williamsburg, VA. My doctor, Thompson Bond, is well qualified, but I’m desperate to be able to get some sleep at night. If the present pattern holds, I probably won’t last the year out. THAT’S DESPERATE.
Dick Milhizer // rmilhizer@cox.net
Tagged with: average person • cox • dick • first test • masks • oxygen • sleep • sleep at night • sleep studies • thompson • williamsburg va
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Symptoms
It sounds like you may have central apnea versus the more common obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea usually occurs in people who are seriously ill. For example, it can occur in people with a variety of severe and life-threatening lower brain stem lesions. The brainstem controls breathing. As a result, any disease or injury affecting this area may result in problems with normal breathing during sleep or when awake.
Conditions that can cause central sleep apnea include:
Bulbar poliomyelitis
Encephalitis affecting the brainstem
Neurodegenerative illnesses
Stroke affecting the brainstem
Other causes include complications of cervical spine surgery, secondary radiation in the region of the cervical spine, severe arthritis and degenerative changes in the cervical spine or the base of the skull, or primary hypoventilation syndrome.
There is a form of central sleep apnea that commonly occurs in people with congestive heart failure. Finally, idiopathic central sleep apnea is when the apnea is not associated with another disease.
If you are not seeing a pulmonary specialist, then do so immediately. If you are seeing a pulmonary specialist, perhaps a referral to a neurologist would be another option. Don’t give up. There is an underlying cause, but it is going to take a concerted effort to locate it.
He isn’t in your area, but perhaps you could contact Dr. Daniel J Gottlieb (Boston University) He is an expert in sleep apnea and is a pulmonologist. Perhaps he could consult on your case. Just a thought. Good luck.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/sleep-apnea/jaxtreatment.html
-As i know, a patient with sleep apnea will have many complications on
cardio-vascular, kidney, metabolic, psychology if he has no treatment.
-What your doctor has done for you is right, but the indication for using masks under ventilation positive pressure continuous is 30 stop breathing/ hour.
-if you can read French, search web site of AFVP.apne’e de sommeil (SAOS)
-Discussing with your doctor maybe the good resolution
I would get further care at a teaching hospital, such as UV. They will have a sleep disorders clinic and will be up on all the latest tricks to treat your apnea.