Diagnosed with Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)? How's therapy going?

Posted by cyrusmanz @cyrusmanz, Jan 6, 2022

Millions of people worldwide suffer from sleep apnea,the vast majority of whom are believed to be under the subgroup OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea).
There is a minority of sufferers however who fall under the subgroup of CSA (Central Sleep Apnea), a subgroup that is relatively new in scientific terms.
In fact if I am not mistaken, Mayo Clinic was one of the first organizations who published a paper on CSA.
At any rate, I am a CSA patient and keenly interested in this subject.
My intention behind posting this is to find if there are others like me here who have been medically diagnosed for CSA and if so, how their therapy is going? What machine (if any) has been prescribed and how they are feeling about their therapy.
In my case I have been prescribed a ASV BiPAP machine which I find very effective.
I do not always stop breathing when asleep but occasionally I do. In fact some nights I can go through most of the night without any interruptions and then boom, I stop breathing and wake up.
Before I was on ASV therapy, I was not able to get a good night asleep for years and now I can't even imagine to go to bed without masking up.
What I like about my machine is that it does not keep blowing air pressure down my throat. but rather it only acts if I stop breathing more than an average of 10 breaths per minute. This way I only get therapy when I need it and that is great as I won't be able to fall asleep with positive air pressure blowing in my face.
Anyway, it would be great to hear from fellow CSA patients,

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.

@alwaystired

I just got my in on sleep study report. I have not seen my pulmonologist yet so I am trying to figure out what’s going on. I am wondering if this is related to the medication I take before bed. I also have small fiber neuropathy and possibly autonomic neuropathy . I am wondering if it’s related to that as well. Now I know why I feel like complete doo doo in the morning and throughout the day. A combo of sleep apnea and small fiber neuropathy fatigue has me struggling. Anyone else have central sleep apnea and also small fiber? Thanks in advance.

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Hi @alwaystired, welcome. I moved your post to this exsiting discussion:
- Diagnosed with Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)? How's therapy going?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/central-sleep-apnea-csa-suitable-therapy/

I did this so you can read previous posts and connect with other members talking about central sleep apnea like @cyrusmanz @roxiesmom13 @martyk @renu18 @leefuller1 @lauralouisenelson and @johnbishop.

You may also be interested in these related discussions:
- Can a CPAP machine treat central apneas? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/can-a-cpap-machine-treat-central-apneas/
- Central sleep apnea. Cause? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/central-sleep-apnea-cause/

When will you be meeting with your pulmonologist?

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@alwaystired

I just got my in on sleep study report. I have not seen my pulmonologist yet so I am trying to figure out what’s going on. I am wondering if this is related to the medication I take before bed. I also have small fiber neuropathy and possibly autonomic neuropathy . I am wondering if it’s related to that as well. Now I know why I feel like complete doo doo in the morning and throughout the day. A combo of sleep apnea and small fiber neuropathy fatigue has me struggling. Anyone else have central sleep apnea and also small fiber? Thanks in advance.

Jump to this post

Hi @alwaystired, I would like to add my welcome along with @colleenyoung, @andytheman and others. I have had small fiber peripheral neuropathy for over 20+ years and also have obstructive sleep apnea which was diagnosed a few years ago. Prior to being diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea by using a CPAP, I did struggle some days with fatigue even though I thought I was getting enough sleep. The CPAP helped me with the fatigue but it wasn't overnight and took close to a year before I started feeling less fatigued. Another thing that I'm sure has also helped was getting more exercise in during the day multiple times a week, but not over doing it.

Hope you find out more about your treatment at your upcoming appointment with your pulmonologist and can let us know how it goes.

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