Sleep apnea and afib

[peaches0716]

I have severe sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, and Vicky tachy(?). Could sleep apnoea cause these problems? I have notice when I can't sleep, I go into afib. Currently on coreg, lasix,tykosyn, pip metoprol.

[azriverrat]

Sleep apnea needs to be treated. It is a known cause of afib.

[tibetan36]

Sleep Apnoea is certainly a contributing condition to having AF.

I believe it contributed to bringing me down.

[CDreamer]

Sleep Apnea is easily treatable with CPAP machine at night and your GP or EP can/should refer you to a sleep clinic.

Best thing I ever did, clinic is fantastic and the one thing that improved my quality of life more than anything else.

Do you mean Brady/Tachycardia - short for Bradycardia (slow heart beat) followed by (Tachycardia - fast heart beat).

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

I wish I had your experience with cpap..... I have terrible nights sleep between leaking and mask pressing against my teeth more often than not I have to remove it.... the clinic tell me I shouldn't have any issues with leaking as mine is set to lowest setting of 6, I'm on my third different type of mask but it's not changed

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

I am set at the highest level but it did take some time to get everything right so I can sleep through the night - about 6 weeks.

At first I could only tolerate it for 2-3 hours but now all night. Instead of getting up 3-5 times a night I sleep through for at least 5-6 hours, every night.

Persistence is key. How long have you had it for?

[souljacs4 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CD can I ask what mask you have.

[CDreamer in reply to souljacs4]

The ResMed older version of the nasal mask. - sorry can't remember what it is called. Takes a while to get used to and getting a good seal is normally about the strap tension and balance between top and bottom a took me a night or two to work that one out. At first the leak would wake me up but once I got the balance correct, no problem.

The sleep clinic were brilliant at support and offered a master class in showing how to use everything and tension and then a 1:1 follow up for problems.

I Couldn't get on with either the pillow mask, full face or the new nasal mask though so took a while. And getting the right chin strap was also crucial! But they supplied everything and let us try all the different masks.

[peaches0716 in reply to CDreamer]

Yes that's what I meant. I'm waiting on a machine now. My oxygen is only 73%.

[CDreamer in reply to peaches0716]

That is very low. Will they add oxygen to the CPAP/BIPAP?

My levels are mid 90s so I can't imagine what that must feel like, very tired I would think.

When you say 'machine' - do you mean CPAP at night or oxygen or both?

[souljacs4]

I am the same tried four masks so far which leak. If I try and tighten them I have marks all over my face and still don't sleep. I hear of so many people say how cpap has changed their lives I wish.

[CDreamer in reply to souljacs4]

If you have marks on your face then it is too tight. I was told it should 'float' on your skin with nothing hard touching it.

Have you been in touch with ResMed? I found their Rep very helpful when I met one at a medical seminar - non-AF related.

[souljacs4 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you will try ResMed.

[souljacs4]

Does anyone use a chin strap with nose mask?