04-18-2013, 08:54 PM
Can you have OSA and Narcolepsy at the same time?
A question for DocWils or someone that has more knowledge than me, my sister has OSA like me and is still exhusted during the day, but doesn't have to have naps like she used too. She had a home sleep study first time and now our Sleep Specialist believes she may have Narcolepsy as well and is going for another hospital sleep study next month. Her AHI is always around 1, so the CPAP is working. Some people say you can't have both OSA and Narcolepsy, my Sleep Specialist says you can. Which one is right?
RE: Can you have OSA and Narcolepsy at the same time?
(04-18-2013, 08:54 PM)Tez62 Wrote: Some people say you can't have both OSA and Narcolepsy, my Sleep Specialist says you can. Which one is right?
Obstructive sleep apnea in narcolepsy
CONCLUSIONS: OSA occurs frequently in narcolepsy and may delay the diagnosis of narcolepsy by several years and interfere with its proper management. In patients with OSA, cataplexy should be actively looked for to exclude the presence of narcolepsy. Treatment with CPAP does not usually improve EDS in narcoleptics with OSA.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19699146
RE: Can you have OSA and Narcolepsy at the same time?
Well, Zonk has beaten me to the punch. But to confirm, the answer is yes, you can have both - the one does not preclude the other, even if one uses CPAP, and OSA can mask narcoleptic symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. One big reason to go to an experienced sleep clinician is to be able to have someone who is looking out for all possible factors and knows to look for such things.
RE: Can you have OSA and Narcolepsy at the same time?
Thanks Zonk and DocWils, I thought it would be possible, my sister goes back for the hospital sleep study next month and if diagnosed with narcolepsy she will be put on Nuvigil. I was hoping that CPAP would help her other illness's but I suppose everyone is different and each illness is different. For me CPAP has changed my life, my depression has lifted and gone, I have PLMD which is improving and eve things like my eye sight has improved (I have been tested). I have also found other things like hairs on my legs are starting to grow back, my body seems to be regenerating or regrowing, the other thing is it could all be in my head. Anyway thanks for both your help.
