[Guest]

My husband had a sleep study over 6 months ago which led to him having a CPAP macine. He was diagnosed with obstructive apnea and they set his machine @5. His symptoms prior to this were excessive snoring/snorting/periods of stopping breathing altogether/severe headaches and high BP/heart palpitations throughout the day, but especially upon awakening. He is about 6ft and weighs approx 235. So he does have a little extra lbs. He noticed improvement with the machine almost immediately which continued for a couple months. Then he started getting bad again. His BP shoots up and he has the heart palpitations despite being on Verapamil and Toprol. He ALWAYS has a headache and survives on Percocet alternating with Darvoet. His doc gave him Klonipin to help him get through the claustrophobia he was having with the machine. Flash forward to now. He had a new sleep study because he wanted them to up the flow on the machine. They now say he also has central apnea as well (from the 1st study...why didn't they tell us this then??) and when they increased the flowrate x the original study, his central episodes increased. Sooo, they wouldn't up it without another study. He had the study and the tech. told him he wasn't keeping his mouth shut, so they added a chin strap. They did up the flow to 6, and NOW say he also has RLS. He does thrash about in bed x night and tears up the covers. He has no daytime symptoms so I'm guessing it's probably PLMD instead. Also, with the apnea it seems that the Klonipin is a terrible choice. He doesn't have a new Rx for that yet as he doesn't see the Neurologist for another week. I am VERY frustrated with the whole thing. He's only 44 years old and he's on more meds than a 75yr old. He can't get through one day without narcotics, and it seems like they just keep adding more & more things. My ?....is it REAS"ONABLE for it to take this long and for this many things to be wrong? Isn't there some way to find out WHAT is causing all this instead of just adding more meds/machines and treat the problem instead of the symptoms? Isn't the Klonipin a dangerous choice for him considering the central/obstructive apneas and is there some good literature out there written in layman's terms that I could use in reasearch and for ?'s for the doctor? Are you x all familiar with the Kettering Sleep Clinic in Kettering, OH? Thank you for your time. dreastoh

[Guest]

I can see that you are frustrated. There are quite a number of things that could be responsible for all this and a second opinion and review of his sleep studies would be beneficial. The Kettering Sleep Clinic in Kettering OH is excellent! They should definately be able to help you.
[quote] My husband had a sleep study over 6 months ago which led to him having a CPAP macine. He was diagnosed with obstructive apnea and they set his machine @5... [/quote]