sleep apena

before my PM I was told I have mild sleep apena. So of course the machine and oxygen was pushed on me. Even though my oxygen level was 78 at night. Ive struggled to get use to machine for a couple years. It make me bloated, and I have bad claustrophobia. So now I have the PM and wonder if I even need the sleep machine. Sometimes I wonder just how much money these doctors make off of us.
Anyway I just wonder if the pm keeps my heart beating then it wont stop at night , right ?

3 Comments

two different jobs

by Tracey_E - 2015-10-30 04:10:14

The pacemaker will keep your heart beating, but you have to be breathing to bring in the oxygen so the heart can circulate it. They work together.

Talk to them about your mask. They make different types, maybe another kind would be less claustrophobic.

They don't know why, but there seems to be a high incidence of sleep apnea among heart patients so having both is not uncommon.

New study

by Theknotguy - 2015-10-31 02:10:16

Like Artist said, you'll want to get a new sleep study.

Having a PM may or may not help your sleep apnea. What you don't want to do is to quit using your CPAP and have a stroke or something worse. The study will tell you which way to go.

As for masks, there are nose pillows that aren't even a "mask". A lot of people like them. However, I'm still using my mask.

The CPAP Store will let you try masks before you have to purchase them. They are local to the Columbus, Ohio area. I don't know if they are nationwide or not. There may be something in your area. I do know the CPAP store does sell nationally. This is not an endorsement of them, just trying to give you options.

As TraceyE said, a lot of people with heart problems have sleep apnea too. The two problems go hand in hand. Heart problems can affect your apnea, your apnea can affect your heart.

Hope you can get some help.

New sleep study

by Artist - 2015-10-31 12:10:28

I asked my doctor if my PM could have impacted my sleep apnea. My rationale was that if my HR was not falling so low at night, perhaps the frequency I stopped breathing was reduced. I requested a new sleep study and sure enough my rate fell from 15 times per minute to only 4 times. I was told I could stop using my CPAP machine, but to watch for adverse effects like an increase in incidents of afib, increased fatigue etc. So far, so good. If I have had a very strenuous day I occasionally use my CPAP machine. You could request a new sleep study to reevaluate your apnea.

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I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.