+- Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Public Area (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Public-Area)
+--- Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum)
+--- Thread: Unexpected and Most Welcome benefits from xpap therapy! (/Thread-Unexpected-and-Most-Welcome-benefits-from-xpap-therapy)
Unexpected and Most Welcome benefits from xpap therapy! - Mark Douglas - 06-25-2015
I have had sinus infections and cough for at least 40 yrs nor could I hold my breath for more than a couple seconds. As a preteen I loved to swim and the length of the pool underwater was no problem. I lived on a boat in the warm clear waters of the Caribbean but couldn't dive because of the aforesaid.
So yesterday I tried to hold my breath and TA DA !
I could hold my breath with no discomfort and no panic or cough!
It would seem my "idiopathic" cough was in fact caused by GERD caused by vacuum of untreated sleep apnea. I now occasionally have heartburn if I eat too much greasy or spicy (no gal bladder) but sinus drainage has declined markedly. Cough is generally dust or pollen related. And now I can again hold my breath for more than a few seconds without discomfort.
The medical establishment has been misdiagnosing my problems for at least 40 years.
Had I not found this place and you people I would still be miserable and wishing I could go gently into the night.....
RE: Unexpected and Most Welcome benefits from xpap therapy! - lindabean55 - 06-25-2015
That's great news. I also suffer sinus problems and about 16 years ago was "diagnosed" with insufficient lung capacity, after having problems waking up fully after major explority surgery. No treatment ever explained. I haven't SCUBA dived since the mid 70's and mainly swim in our creek or float in the hot tub. I have always enjoyed singing, but loose my breath in the middle of easy phrases. Can't wait to see if I notice any breath improvement!
Thanks for sharing that life style improvement.
RE: Unexpected and Most Welcome benefits from xpap therapy! - tedburnsIII - 06-26-2015
Mark-
Good news!
Have you thanked the sleep study center and your doctors?
Every time I see my cardiologist I thank him for screening me with Epworth and getting me scheduled for the PSG.
RE: Unexpected and Most Welcome benefits from xpap therapy! - MobileBasset - 06-26-2015
(06-25-2015, 08:03 AM)Mark Douglas Wrote: It would seem my "idiopathic" cough was in fact caused by GERD caused by vacuum of untreated sleep apnea.
Mark,
Is this statement your speculation of what goes on or is it the diagnosis of your doctor? Is this a documented effect?
I ask because I have been fighting long term GERD which has resulted in esophagitis. A chronic cough is the only symptom I "feel". My OSA went under-treated for years as a result of invalid sleep study and old technology CPAP. Now that I have the data to examine and a properly set pressure I am experiencing less coughing. I would dearly love to think I am positively affecting the esophagitis which can lead to esophageal cancer.
Update:
I researched this a bit and found a good article. The jury is out but there are some good scientific points here.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2879818/
RE: Unexpected and Most Welcome benefits from xpap therapy! - Mark Douglas - 06-26-2015
(06-26-2015, 07:42 AM)MobileBasset Wrote:(06-25-2015, 08:03 AM)Mark Douglas Wrote: It would seem my "idiopathic" cough was in fact caused by GERD caused by vacuum of untreated sleep apnea.
Mark,
Is this statement your speculation of what goes on or is it the diagnosis of your doctor? Is this a documented effect?
I ask because I have been fighting long term GERD which has resulted in esophagitis. A chronic cough is the only symptom I "feel". My OSA went under-treated for years as a result of invalid sleep study and old technology CPAP. Now that I have the data to examine and a properly set pressure I am experiencing less coughing. I would dearly love to think I am positively affecting the esophagitis which can lead to esophageal cancer.
Update:
I researched this a bit and found a good article. The jury is out but there are some good scientific points here.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2879818/
Both. I reasoned this from research and my first person experience. When I asked my PCP he quickly agreed with my speculation I was aspirating stomach contents and had me take OTC omeprazole at twice the OTC dosage for 30 days. The omeprazole allowed me to heal. Now pap therapy has prevented the root cause from reoccurring. PLEASE NOTE this is not what is specified on the OTC bottle but I have faith in doc B. I am NOT recommending anyone pursue this course of action. This round of med was immediately prior my beginning pap therapy. Synergistic events. It took me a long long rough road to find Dr B. He was the first MD to actually consider my input and not just say you are depressed, here is your Rx for anti-depressant med, and unsaid go away and don't bother me.
This guy is great! and he discusses this phenomenon. http://doctorstevenpark.com/how-sleep-apnea-causes-pepsin-reflux
RE: Unexpected and Most Welcome benefits from xpap therapy! - Mosquitobait - 06-26-2015
Mark, they actually haven't known that long that GERD causes a host of other symptoms, particularly respiratory. I kept getting a chronic cough after bad colds that would take months to go away and finally never went away. It was determined that I had post nasal drip caused by GERD. The OTC omeprazole didn't do enough. The gastroenterologist I saw last year regarding cancer screening increased my dosage to 40 mg. a day and that has solved that problem. The hope is that weight loss will eliminate the problem. I never had GERD until I had to take steroids.
RE: Unexpected and Most Welcome benefits from xpap therapy! - MobileBasset - 06-26-2015
Mark, I like the doctorstevenpark link.