Can some of the educated here tell me various things about hypopneas?  I exhibited many of these in my sleep study.  

What are ALL the KNOWN possible causes?

What are all the known solutions?

And everything in between!  Thanks.

(Since this is a very general post, maybe someone could direct me to a DETAILED source about this.  I couldn't find a DETAILED source.

See, everyone wants to break sleep apnea up into 2 categories of centeral and obstructive..... but what about losing o2 saturation (and accompanying arousal) due to shallow breathing or the lack stimulus to breathe enough?  

Are there people on record for having neither OSA or Centrals but still have the same problems with oxygen and arousal?  What are the treatments?  OBVIOUSLY CPAP WOULD NOT WORK ON THESE FOLK because they would not be able to exhale against the pressure, correct????

Is this a common problem amongst people who ALSO have OSA..... meaning do some people's bodies react to the constant obstructions by breathing shallowly in between the obstructions?

I don't have answers for either of you other than I had about as many hypopnea's as I did OSA's and my O2 levels never dropped below 92% yet they are still recommending a CPAP for me.  I figured if my O2 isn't bad that CPAP won't help but they say it will.  Whether the shallow breathing is life threatening, I don't know     I do know that I want whatever it takes to make me feel better, so I'll do my titration study and see what happens.  Wish I could be more help,


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Sher

Are you sure it's shallow breathing, and not that your airway has become obstructed enough to severely limit (but not completely block) your breathing?


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--Frank (FJC)

FJC wrote:

Are you sure it's shallow breathing, and not that your airway has become obstructed enough to severely limit (but not completely block) your breathing?

I'm unsure.  I wish I had insurance for another better sleep study.

I am just trying to figure this out IN CASE the hypopneas are the main, original problem.  But, all the while, I DO know that I have obstructive tendencies, although they are mild.

I'm new to this too, so please forgive me if my information is not completely correct.

I was diagnosed recently with OSA - I had no apneas but LOTS of hypopneas and spontaneous arousals.  My understanding of hypopneas is that you don't stop breathing entirely, as in apnea, but your breathing is severely restricted by blockage in your airway, and it has the same long term effects as full apneas.  The treatment is the same - CPAP pressure to keep the airway fully open.

I've had my titration study, but am in the waiting process now for a DME to work with me on equipment.  So, I can't talk specifically to how it helps me because I'm not on the therapy yet.  However, as a note of encouragement, it's a relief to finally have a diagnosis and a reason for always being tired - I'm not just a "lazy" person - there really is something wrong.  Sounds strange, but it is a relief in a way.  I'm a little nervous about the machine and mask thing, as I didn't sleep well at all in my titration study - basically spent all but a few minutes in stage 2, a little REM, but no stage 3 or 4.  I'm hoping that in my own bed without wires, I can adjust and sleep better.

You might post your sleep study results in the sleep study forum - there are several people there, like Sleepy Dave, that really know their stuff on reading the reports, and can probably better answer your specific questions.  You have to register to post there, but it's free and they don't sell your info to anyone or anything - you can also PM individual users with more specific questions.

Hang in there - I'm convinced from the postings I read that it CAN and WILL get better!

Karen

Hello all!

 I just thought I'd add this observation. I have recently realized that in addition to my obstructed sleep apnea that my breathing has stopped while sleeping, falling to sleep and at least once while I was AWAKE, (lying down reading), because I simply exhale and do not automatically inhale again; I have to make a conscious effort if awake, (or wake up), to inhale.

 I believe that this is a different phenomenon than the "Central Apnea" that I have been reading about; please read on..

 Not to be morbid, but, it has recently occurred to me that when I was a VERY young child I was being abused by my father and I would try to protect myself by hiding under the blankets and holding my breath. I thought he could not find me if I were still and so I held my breath. This behavior has taken on a life it's own. I have been holding my breath when stressed for so many years now that it has had the effect of loosening my diaphragm, (so to speak), so that I do not always automatically breathe again after exhaling. It feels as though I am "hyper-exhaling", (if I can coin a term (?); my diaphragm feels as though it is stuck in the exhaling position.  

 I have only realized this in the past few weeks. In addition to my terrible snoring/ apnea, I'm sure that I have "taught" myself to stop breathing. Has anyone here ever heard of or read this behavior being described before? Any reference material that you know of?

 Thanks in advance for your help,

 M