Hey again, so I thought I'd provide some information and links for you all on how central sleep apnea can be tested for and diagnosed. Being diagnosed with central sleep apnea often does not come unaccompanied without another underlying or "co-morbid" condition (as discussed in previous posts). A physical examination by a primary care provider is typically the first step in any assessment. Then based on the patient's history and the results of the physical examination, an array of tests or further examinations would be done to diagnose any co-morbid conditions.
Once other conditions are ruled out or confirmed, a sleep study (polysomnograph) can be used to identify central sleep apnea. Results of the sleep study that would support the diagnosis of central sleep apnea would indicate poor airflow through the nostrils and mouth accompanied by a decrease in blood oxygen saturation (the amount of oxygen in the blood available for use). Other tests that may be done to help identify accompanying conditions that may contribute to central sleep apnea include MRI and Lung Function studies.
Above is a great read for information that will allow you to be better prepared for your upcoming sleep study. Reviewers of this book were greatly appreciative of the information received prior to their sleep study, and felt they could discuss questions, concerns, results, etc. more efficiently with their physician.
Mike M. RN BSN
Owner of centralsleepapnea.com
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Hi Mike wondering what you (or others!) think about this.
ReplyDeleteIt's so frustrating to me how they test for central apnea. I think there are a TON more cases out there than they are aware of because of (to me) what is non-sensical testing. My sleep Doctor FINALLY had to kind of agree with me after I tried reasoning with him for months about this.
My intital sleep study showed during REM sleep 60 events per hour, continual cycle of tachy/brady epidsodes.
18 apneas--CENTRAL
1 apnea-Obstructive (we all have an occasional obstructive apnea--if we roll over, or have gas!)
1 apnea- Combined Central/Obstructive
Looks like a Central Case so far right?!...
But THEN the Hypopneas! Since by DEFINITION, they are OBSTRUCTIVE!...
All get classed Obstructive! How silly. Obviously the same thing is CAUSING the hypopneas as the the apneas--In my case a brain problem. BUT because of this, my official diagnosis is obstructive with a central component. I have no snoring or other symptoms of obstruction.
TRULY the apneas should be the focus when it comes to a central case diagnosis. Yes some effort is still being made to breathe with hypopneas in many cases. But take me as an example. This is my pattern: My breathing slows down, slows down, slows down, Stops. Stays stopped until my body "wakes me up" enough to remember to breathe. During the slow down, some surely were hypopneas. Maybe my body also wakes up enough to be "reminded" to breathe after a 9 second stop in breathing, I don't know. But I don't snore and have little if any obstructive sleep apnea.
But with my official diagnosis, I have to pay for my own machine (Auto SV) I guess I just have to say thank God I realized I needed it! My biggest problem now is swallowing air which makes me kind of "scared" of my machine, and with (my old) machine also kind of malfunctioning, I don't use it enough. Getting ready to bite the bullet and pay for another used machine but it's just so expensive.
Thanks for your blog some very interesting articles!
P.S. My MD above walked with me through my original hemochromatosis (mild case when caught-only 650 ferritin) and Central Sleep apnea diagnosis'. But he's not my regular "Sleep Doctor" (mentioned in another comment)
DeleteP.S. My MD above walked with me through my original hemochromatosis (mild case when caught-only 650 ferritin) and Central Sleep apnea diagnosis'. But he's not my regular "Sleep Doctor" (mentioned in another comment)
DeleteHi Mike wondering what you (or others!) think about this.
ReplyDeleteIt's so frustrating to me how they test for central apnea. I think there are a TON more cases out there than they are aware of because of (to me) what is non-sensical testing. My sleep Doctor FINALLY had to kind of agree with me after I tried reasoning with him for months about this.
My intital sleep study showed during REM sleep 60 events per hour, continual cycle of tachy/brady epidsodes.
18 apneas--CENTRAL
1 apnea-Obstructive (we all have an occasional obstructive apnea--if we roll over, or have gas!)
1 apnea- Combined Central/Obstructive
Looks like a Central Case so far right?!...
But THEN the Hypopneas! Since by DEFINITION, they are OBSTRUCTIVE!...
All get classed Obstructive! How silly. Obviously the same thing is CAUSING the hypopneas as the the apneas--In my case a brain problem. BUT because of this, my official diagnosis is obstructive with a central component. I have no snoring or other symptoms of obstruction.
TRULY the apneas should be the focus when it comes to a central case diagnosis. Yes some effort is still being made to breathe with hypopneas in many cases. But take me as an example. This is my pattern: My breathing slows down, slows down, slows down, Stops. Stays stopped until my body "wakes me up" enough to remember to breathe. During the slow down, some surely were hypopneas. Maybe my body also wakes up enough to be "reminded" to breathe after a 9 second stop in breathing, I don't know. But I don't snore and have little if any obstructive sleep apnea.
But with my official diagnosis, I have to pay for my own machine (Auto SV) I guess I just have to say thank God I realized I needed it! My biggest problem now is swallowing air which makes me kind of "scared" of my machine, and with (my old) machine also kind of malfunctioning, I don't use it enough. Getting ready to bite the bullet and pay for another used machine but it's just so expensive.
Thanks for your blog some very interesting articles!
Very Nice & Impressive blog. thanks for sharing such beautiful blog.
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Nice post
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