Good, Good news!

I am so excited! The members of the PM club have discussed that fact that many people with cardiac rhythm problems and pacemakers also seem to suffer from sleep apnea. Ever since getting my PM in Nov., 2015 I have wondered if preventing my heart from beating so slowly at night might also have had an impact on my diagnosis of sleep apnea. My logic was that if my heart rate was previously falling in the range of 30 to 40 beats at night (and sometimes lower) that condition might possibly have contributed to the fact that I stopped breathing an average of 15 times every hour and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I truly felt like the bionic woman with my Merlin Monitor sitting on my night stand along with my CPAP machine puffing away at night. To make a long story short, when I questioned this possible relationship, my doctor ordered a new sleep study and they found that my rate of stopping breathing has fallen to only 4.6 times an hour. He said that they were not normally concerned unless the rate was 5 or more. So I can stop using my CPAP machine and lugging it in my carry on luggage when I fly! Wow, no more hoses and masks at night. I was told to watch for any increases in heart rhythm problems or other adverse symptoms, but in the meanwhile I am free of that device. My PM is keeping my HR from falling below 60! So, it might be worthwhile for any PM members who have had a PM implanted AFTER their sleep study and diagnosis of sleep apnea, to request a recent sleep study to see if their condition has improved to the point that they no longer need to use a CPAP machine. Hooray!

6 Comments

I'm still cautious

by Theknotguy - 2015-08-25 07:08:48

I'm happy for you but if it were me, I'd err on the side of caution. You're still having sessions where you stop breathing and, even though it's below the threshold, I'd still go with the CPAP. Sleep apnea gets worse with age, and you're likely to drop back into previous patterns.

The next question in my mind is if your testing is at your best results or at your worst? Just a one shot deal with the Merlin Monitor may not be giving you a complete picture.

Between the PM and the CPAP, things have gotten better for me because I no longer have to worry about my heart stopping as well as my breathing. While we can't prove it, I have the feeling both were happening before I had the event that forced me into getting a PM. Right now I'm getting the best sleep I've had in years and am very happy with it. However, to not use the CPAP and go commando is a risk I'm not willing to take.

As I said before, I'm very happy for you and am happy that your sleep doctor has concurred. However, I'd still be on watch for your sleep apnea going back into the same pattern as when you needed the CPAP.

I hope things continue to go well for you.

Thanks

by Artist - 2015-08-25 08:08:41

I appreciate your thoughts. My Merlin monitor will continue to check my PM every night and I will watch for any change in my BP, HR and frequency and severity of any a fib incidents etc. I did not use my CPAP for over a month before I had the recent sleep study, and I have had a recent appointment with my EP and the full PM interrogation looked good. I will request another sleep study in Mar., 2016 to see if my lapses in breathing are still below the threshold of concern. One problem is that they have stopped making the I sleep by Breez machine I use and I can no longer get filters for it. I will not be eligible to get another machine until Mar. 2015 when my current equipment will be 5 years old.

Five years wait?

by Theknotguy - 2015-08-26 02:08:30

I question the five year wait to get a new CPAP. I've been told three years is the max for a CPAP. My medical insurance was willing to pay for a lot of stuff before I felt it needed to be replaced. Obviously if you can't get parts for your machine, it's time to change. I feel if you'd make a call to your medical insurance, you might be able to get a newer machine.

I have OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). So if I don't use the CPAP, I can strain so hard I can pop an aneurysm, have a heart attack, or have a stroke. I don't know what kind of sleep apnea you have, so I'm concerned you're putting yourself in jeopardy.

I hope everything continues to go well for you.

That's Interesting

by Artist - 2015-08-26 06:08:47

I am surprised to hear that 3 years is the waiting time to get a new CPAP machine. My doctors seemed to agree that 5 years is the requirement. Maybe this is another example of the doctors not being up to date on administrative details. I have Medicare and Tricare insurance. Thanks for your concern and advise. So far, I feel rested in the morning and not as though I am struggling to breathe. I will watch for adverse symptoms, especially a dry mouth and throat that indicates I am mouth breathing and struggling for air.

Good Thought

by Artist - 2015-08-28 01:08:39

Sleep Apnea can be worsened by being overweight so it is a good idea in general to do cardiovascular exercises, watch your diet and maintain a healthy weight. I do all three of those things and that might also have contributed to the improvement in my breathing. Thanks to all for your thoughtful comments and suggestions.

Me too

by Greendirt - 2015-08-31 09:08:38

I had an AHI of over 40 (times stopping breathing per hour), almost all hypopneas, before my PM and used CPAP for a couple of years. I got the PM after several episodes of overnight syncope.

As soon as I got my PM my overnight breathing came back to normal. A sleep study proved that and I felt normal again and got rid of the CPAP.

All good for me, but not everyone getting a PM is going to be able to get rid of CPAP - it depends on what the cause of the high AHI was.

If your heart is beating too slowly, that causes breathing difficulties. Fix the heart rate and the breathing should be corrected too, in the absence of other problems.


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