sleep apnea and relation to palpitations

[scripto]

Hi,  30 yr old male,  250 pounds 5' 10".    My symptoms have been:

palpitations
depersonalization/derealization syndrome, chronic
morning migraines
feeling that something is pulling at my heart and making me feel weak and lightheaded
short lived anxiety attacks
unusually sleepiness
Waking up in my sleep unable to breath with sinus tachycardia over 160 that abates once awoken.

consistently high-normal red blood cells.  
I even had high normal RBC's 3 years ago when I still weighed 200 Lbs,  and without these symptoms.

I had a million tests that revealed nothing (nuclear stress, heart CTA, echo).    
Last hope was the sleep study I had last night,  but it only showed mild apnea,  he said 5-20 events per hour.   I was actually hoping for severe apnea.   Now I don't even know if I should bother with Cpap to try to fix my severe symptoms, as I wonder if they can even possibly be the cause of all I experience from such mild apnea?   One the the doctor did tell me was that I didn't have REM sleep before, but I did after Cpap was put on.    But the whole night was a fight to stay asleep,  I bet I slept no more than 3 hours total.

What is your opinion,  do you think the Cpap could be my miracle cure with all these symptoms, but only mild apnea?    Can it cure my mild polycythemia and improve the symptoms I listed, even though the apnea is only mild?  I was given the prescription for 11cm cpap.

Thanks.

[Cleveland Clinic]

You are posting this on the cardiology forum, and I am not an expert on CPAP. However if you have any episodes of OSA, you are at higher risk for sudden cardiac death, and you need the CPAP to diminish the episodes of hypoxia that are driving you rbc production. But what you really need is to loose probably 70-80 pounds, as this is the cause of the OSA. You need to engage in a supervised diet and exercise program ( very light exercise at first), but reduction of your caloric intake to 1500 kcal per day should allow you to loose a considerable amount of weight. I think that most of your symptoms can be cured this way, including the palpitations and the OSA.

[JohnHoward]

I have had the same symtoms that you have described before I was diagnosed with apnea.Initially I could not get used to the CPAP because it went over my nose only.When I would fall asleep my mouth would open and a rush of air would blow out ,awakening me.I gave up for a couple of years.Unknowingly;I was developing heart problems also.A friend told me about a slept mask that covered the entire nose and mouth.I decided to give it a try.NO MORE awakenings.I started dreaming again.I hear that the surgical remedy is both painful and not completely reliable.Now I cannot sleep without CPAP.Although I am 5'9" and 185;I am not obese.My palate is just very loose. I had 24 events per hr.at the highest.I think my setting is 8cm.Two of my best friends use CPAP.One has even had the surgery and STILL uses his CPAP.I am thankful that I found mine......