central sleep apnea

[meliciag]

I was recently told I might have central sleep apnea but not what it involves. I was sent home from the hospital with a temporary cpap and am being scheduled for a sleep study. I am having trouble using the cpap machine. I am afraid to sleep as the doctor did say that with this apnea the brain forgets to tell you to breath. They said my oxygen levels dropped to 64 during the night. I have developed swollen legs, ankles and feet. Should I call the doctor about this or just wait till after the study. The swelling will go down if I am laying down most of the day. This can't be good for blood clots. Is there something I can do to help with the swelling
Thanks

[Steven Y Park, MD]

It's important to get an accurate measure of how often your brain "forgets" to breathe vs. how many times you obstruct while sleeping. Central sleep apneas are commonly seen in people with heart failure, which is also associated with leg swelling. Talk to you doctor sooner than later about addressing these issues your issues.

[hava]

There is something you can do to help your body.Do these breathing techniques everyday, and you will feel the benefits.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for upto 15 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Anulom Vilom -  Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep breaths into the lungs.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 15 times