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More Apneas With CPAP Than When Sleeping On Side - What Should I Do?

by Richard

I'm 36 years-old with a normal BMI that was recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea after having a Sleep Study done. It seems I may have had this condition for most of my life as I can remember not being able to get refreshing sleep even as a kid in school.


Anyway the results of my Sleep Study said that on my back I had an AHI index of 24 per hour. On my side it was only 1.1 per hour due to 1 OSA. The second part of the night I was put on CPAP at 7 cm of water pressure and my AHI was 11 per hour, with most being CSAs.

What bothers me is that even when I was sleeping without the CPAP, I only had 1 CSA for the entire time--but on CPAP I had 11 of them. I've been prescribed CPAP but I'm honestly freaked out by the rise in CSAs I had on it. It looks like my numbers were best when sleeping on my side than they were using the CPAP. I'd like to use the machine while I look into seeing if surgery could possibly help me, but I'm worried about the CSA increase I experienced on it.

If the CPAP is causing the increase in CSAs, are they likely to decrease if I stop using it? As crazy as it may sound, I'm concerned that my body will become conditioned to having these CSAs and that I'll keep having them at the high frequency I have on the CPAP even if I'm able to go off the machine in the future.

Your thoughts on the subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Comments for More Apneas With CPAP Than When Sleeping On Side - What Should I Do?

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Nov 26, 2010
 central apnea on cpap
by: Robert Dawkins

Your central apnea associated with initial CPAP usage will probably decrease in time. There is some debate over what causes the central apnea but I subscribe to the theory that it is the stretch receptors in your chest. The other theory is that you have less CO2 in your blood because you are breathing better.

Also, since your apnea is positional, in my opinion you should see an ENT doc as you might, and I emphasize might, be a person who can benefit from surgery.

I address all of this and more in my ebook, "How to Tolerate CPAP Therapy for your Sleep Apnea" available at www.sleepingwithcpap.com

Good luck.
Nov 26, 2010
 central apnea on cpap
by: Robert Dawkins

Your central apnea associated with initial CPAP usage will probably decrease in time. There is some debate over what causes the central apnea but I subscribe to the theory that it is the stretch receptors in your chest. The other theory is that you have less CO2 in your blood because you are breathing better.

Also, since your apnea is positional, in my opinion you should see an ENT doc as you might, and I emphasize might, be a person who can benefit from surgery.

I address all of this and more in my ebook, "How to Tolerate CPAP Therapy for your Sleep Apnea" available at www.sleepingwithcpap.com

Good luck.
Apr 03, 2016
 Hate this feeling... NEW
by: Anonymous

I have mild-moderate sleep apnea. I do not know the numbers off hand but went through the study then back and had the mask on at a second study. I slept awful! My problem is I have TMJ and have to open my mouth a lot during the night because it locks up. That causes the gush of air and obviously woke me up. I felt absolutely awful & wore the machine 2xs at home and returned it. My dentist has been trying to get a device to wear that helps the TMJ & apnea but my insurance hasn't approved it. I feel stuck, it stinks because I could sleep 24/7. I never was a napper and sometimes I cannot wait till I have a chance to nap. I work and was in school at one point and dozed off in class a couple times! It's awful, I am losing weight and have about 20# left and I know it will help, but it's not a cure. I don't know what to do!:(

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