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Sleep apnea and GCA

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 19 1:42pm | Replies (13)
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@jeniliz

I have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea as a part of trying to find the cause of my AFib. My sleep study showed 500 instances of desaturation in an eight-hour period of sleep. My pulmonologist has referred me to a sleep apnea specialist with no intervening treatment or prescripton for a CP device. It may be two months until I see the specialist. I am afraid to go to sleep for fear that I could pass away in my sleep. Should I get my PCP to order me a CPap machine or just wait patiently for the apnea specialist?

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Replies to "I have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea as a part of trying to find the..."
DadCue | @dadcue | Oct 19 1:42pm

I had sleep apnea when I was taking Prednisone. My sleep apnea was probably caused by a redistribution of fat in the facial area and neck due to prednisone use.. I had a C-PAP device after my first sleep study. There was a second sleep study done soon after the first to see if there was any improvement.

I'm used to wearing a C-PAP device now but I don't think I need it anymore since I'm off prednisone. My C-PAP machine didn't prevent all my sleep apnea spells but they were reduced. Most of my problem was when I slept on my back. When I slept on my side, I didn't have that much of a problem. I had "obstructive" sleep apnea rather than "central" sleep apnea.

I would contact my primary care doctor with some questions.

"Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. It occurs when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. CSA is different from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is caused by a blocked airway."

At the very least, you should be told what type of sleep apnea you have. It is unlikely you will pass away in your sleep but the problem needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/central-sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20352109

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