A few years ago, I was diagnosed with very severe sleep apnea (AHI around 55). This was based on an in-home sleep test and an in-lab titration study. The titration study showed I had mixed apnea and that a pressure of 18-19 was what I needed. I was first given a regular, non-auto device which I used for a couple of week, but felt like I was drowning, so they gave me an APAP one that they set to a max and min based on the lab sleep study.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. I had another sleep study done, this time an in-lab diagnostic study. This study showed that I only have mild sleep apnea and NO CENTRAL apnea. The AHI was under 10. I had a follow up titration study that showed a pressure of 8 was sufficient. No significant centrals during the second titration study.
My questions:
1) How can someone go from severe to mild sleep apnea within a few years?? I have NOT lost any weight nor have there been any significant life changes. I have been to 2 sleep experts and no one can explain how this happened.
2) Is there any possible long-term physiological side effects from being over-titrated and being treated for central sleep apnea when I do not have it? The machine I used for years had two pressures to treat central arena, but I do not have central apnea.
I am deeply upset and angry that doctors would not consider treatment emergent sleep apnea as a possible cause. The doctor I recently saw, made some changes to my APAP machine as he felt I was being over-titrated as some setting was higher than needed, even though the typical pressure did not go over 8 since it was APAP. The first titration study showed an unusually high number of centrals that another doctor said would have set off red flags in his mind, but not the prescribing doctor. This makes me very angry.
Thanks,
Helen