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Opiate Induced Central Sleep Apnea

Hi,

I have been using morphine for quite some time now (8 months), and have recently experienced CSA. The first time was about a month ago, where I awoke gasping for air. Recently its been getting worse. I was wondering, if the Central Sleep Apnea would go away if I would stop using opioids altogether. Because, before I have never had any signs of CSA and only up until a month ago it happened. Its kind of an emergency........

Thanks,
Bryce
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Avatar universal
Yes I know the difference between the two, and no I dont snore at all. I havent snored since I lost weight and started bulking up by weight training. I even set up a video/audio recorder when I sleep to ensure that I dont snore. I recorded a months worth of footage and no snoring at all. Unless I lay on my back and my nose is clogged. When I sleep, I find that I almost always breathe through my mouth, and never snore. True, mouthbreathing causes an increased intake of oxygen, naturally lowering ones CO2, resulting in possible central apneatic events, but my nose is clogged and stuffed up almost 24/7 due to where I live and my house being dusty.

So im sure its CSA and not Obstructive. Is there an advice to combat this problem as you have mentioned earlier? As of now, im taking suppliments such as L-arganine, L-Citruline, a multivitamin and magnesium to combat this problem. Plus im exercising more. I find it to be getting better with what im doing. Is there anything else that I can possibly do in your opinion?
Im getting a sleep study scheduled now due to my insurance crapping out and my doc being on a vacation last minute, so im afraid I wont be getting an ASV/CPAP/BIpap machine for at least a month.
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Avatar universal
Fair enough.  Did you know that you stop breathing with obstructive AND central apneas?  Both will cause you to wake up with the symptoms you described.   Here's the $64k question...  Do you snore?  Have your roomies ever said that you snore loudly?  
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Avatar universal
the people I live with are the sleep study. They say I stop beathing when I sleep, not to be confused with obstructive of course. And I wake up multiple times a night breathless, dizzy and confused.
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Avatar universal
Did you ever have a sleep study done after you were off the opiates for a month or more?  Why are you sure it's CSA?  I'm asking because there are other causes...  
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Avatar universal
yeah. its still there. I quit drugs altogether months ago and still have CSA.
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Avatar universal
Hi Bryce,

If you're still dealing with this issue, please repost.  I've been there, done that.

Mary
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