To everyone

[Satori1952]

I just found out that I have severe complex sleep apnea with central sleep apnea being the main problem. I go back tonight for another study and to get the CPAP.  I am also in the middle a lot of test because my new neurologist is 99% sure I have MS.  My question is for those of you already DX with MS - is this sort of sleep apnea common? If so did a CPAP help?  Thanks, Satori

[Satori1952]

Well I had my second night at the sleep lab last night; they used a BiPAP on me. What an awful night. I don't know - even if it can help me a bit - whether I can deal with that on my face. Of course, if I were home in my own bed it might be better. The tech told me everything will be looked over and I will be contacted. Thanks for all the input. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.  Also, I have no memory of ever having a head injury just the normal bumps when a child. My brain MRI only showed several 'brightspots', which my neurologist said should never had been dismissed by the radiologist who wrote the report for my earlier ones; the spots are still there on my new MRI.

I have two more test, a cervical spine MRI and going to a Urologist, after that the conference with my neurologist to see what it all means.  I'll let everyone know what happens. Thanks!!!!!

PS. When I was a child back in 1959 or 60 I had what was called nasopharyngeal (NP) radium treatments for chronic otitis (I remember that those sessions terrified me, because I was in a room all alone and the doctor wore, what to me back then, made him look like a robot while he placed this long stick thing way up my nose). This was done before it was understand how dangerous radiation was in regard to far reaching impact on DNA, if you are old enough remember the X-ray machines at the shoe store? Anyway, I often wonder if that could have something to do with many of my problems now.

[wingnut19]

As you know, I have Central Sleep Apnea, alone!  (Not mixed with OSA)---It has been told to me several times that CPAP or BiPAP won't do a thing to help in my case...

Like Quix said, it does nothing to help "initiate" the breath we have to take.....Sad, but true!

However, because Satori has mixed apnea with OSA, the CPAP may help her with that aspect of the apnea....It's so complicated, huh?  LOL

Take care, All
Tammy:)

PS--Satori, I sent you a private message as well.....

[pennst8r]

I have a BiPAP rather than a CPAP, but mine has an alarm that goes off should I not take a breath within a certain time. Little do they know, short of a nuclear blast, it will NOT wake my DH;)

I am definitely an amateur - only had it for 2 weeks. It pushes air at my nose so hard that a breath is pretty much "triggered" by all that air confined in the mask area. (sidenote: I experimented and tried really hard not to take a breath; it "leaked" down into my mouth and my mouth eventually popped open and let the air out!)  Would that work for Satori who lacks the drive to breathe (the triggering of a breath? I can see why it might and also why it might not.

Just curious. but I sure hope the CPAP helps

Penn

[Quixotic1]

Well, when someone develops Central Sleep Apnea as an adult, you have to ask, what damaged the brain/brainstem to cause it?

The CPAP will have little effect on the Central part of the apnea.  But it will help any part of the apnea that is obstructive.  I may be wrong about this, but as I understand it, in central apnea, you loose the "drive to breath."    CPAP (Continuous Postive Airway Pressure) helps keep the airway open so that the next breath, which YOU have to initiate, is easier and the airway stays open.  Maybe it is this last part, keeping the airway open, that helps a little with the Central loss of of initiation of a breath.

I'm really sorry to hear of this problem, but I am pleased that you are getting some answers!

Quix