Sleep Study

[Flo2pen]

Hello Guys has anyone had a sleep study done because of being diagnosed with Afib and congestive heart failure. I do have in a pacemaker as well, had 2 ablations done (6/18/2018) and feel like crap sometimes. My EP suggested I get a sleep study done where I will have to spend d nite at a sleep centre to monitor my heart rate. Has anyone here had it done and what exactly are they checking for......._

[BobD Volunteer]

Sleep apnoea is often a cause of AF so treating this can help/

[ThomasM34]

Have done 2 sleep studies and it was an interesting experience. They hook you up with wires all over your body incl. head to monitor heart, oxygen, restless legs if any, grinding teeth and of course sleep apnoea.

First they will monitor if you do have apnoea and to what level. If yes they will get you on a CPAP and adjust the pressure until you breath normal without interruption and grinding teeth.

Next morning they wake you up and after breakfast and going through the results with your pulmonologist you can go home. If you are diagnost with sleep apnoea you most likely will get a CPAP machine.

Cheers

T

[walker66]

Hi, I recently had a sleep study but mine was at home. I had to collect a sleep monitor which was worn via straps around your chest and then there was an oxygen monitor tube which went just inside your nostril. The equipment had to be returned the next morning along with a questionnaire about how you slept, medication etc. I felt as though I hadn't slept at all that night, so I was surprised by the results I got a week later! By this simple exercise, the told me that I had severe sleep apnea and was sent home with a CPAP machine.

I hope that you get sorted as quickly and painlessly as I did.

Best wishes, Sharon

[Bagrat in reply to walker66]

This is exactly what happened with my OH. He then had a check with another machine at home which showed a reduction in his apnoea but still there, but as I was the only one who had symptoms from it,(!) he is to continue for 12 months on present settings.

[Flo2pen in reply to walker66]

Hi Walker66 I did the home sleep study as well, and had to return the machine the next morning. It was inconclusive so I guess thats why they are sending me to the lab.

[walker66 in reply to Flo2pen]

Hi, I really hope that you get a conclusive outcome soon as I feel so much better with using the CPAP machine. I actually wake up now and feel as if I have been asleep and not ready to go back asleep again. Please let us know how you get on. Regards, Sharon.

[Flo2pen in reply to walker66]

Thanks for the heads up Sharon. Soo there is no meds that i might have to take for sleep apnea right? (thats if I am diagnosed with it) - I go 7/21 to spend d nite at the lab. the side effects of taking rythmol 225mg 3 times daily has me feeling all kinds a way... and am on warfarin as well. So I am concerned about adding any new meds to the existing line up Take care Ilna...

[barabas]

Just had sleep apnea study, and despite not having some of the common characteristics like snoring, etc. - test showed moderate to severe sleep apnea. Went as long as 51 seconds without breathing in the test, and 30 seconds on average....and apparently more severe cases go as much as 1.5 minutes...easy to see how this could impact heart, circulation, quality of sleep, etc. Blood Oxygen % was as low as 82% when normally well above 90%.

My Cardiologist is citing some studies that suggest apnea can not only cause arrhythmias, but also the long term success rate of ablations is significantly diminished for those with sleep apnea. Just had two ablations recently, so one reason they sent me for sleep study.

Just getting CPAP machine so can't tell yet how much this will help. Apparently a lot of people just feel better...ignoring any potential cardio benefit...due to better sleep quality. The technician also told me that some patients find that sinus issues diminish with a CPAP, apparently from maintaining airflow through them at night.

[Flo2pen in reply to barabas]

Hello Barabas... this is interesting. I have a pacemaker in, taking rythmol and is on warfarin. and just had 2 ablations done June 18th. Is having sleep apnea then another form of like another illness associated with AFib where they will put you on more meds??

[BJShaf]

When first dx. with AF I was put immediately on Eliquis as a blood thinner and was already on a beta blocker for B/P then into see the cardiologist the next day. They did a stress echo of which I failed and then right away a cardiac cath was done which showed a normal heart with no blockages. It was recommended a sleep study be done. There is now strong evidence to show a correlation between sleep apnea and heart problems and being told soon the formal research will be coming out. I had none of the standard signs of sleep apnea and long and behold the test that was done in the sleep lab showed moderate to severe. Then I had to go back in to the sleep lab using the CPAP machine and do another sleep study. The results of that is what the sleep doctor determines the machine settings should be. I think it depends on what is going on with you as to whether it is done at home or in a sleep lab. They also measure the amount of oxygen your body is using, heart monitor and of course the monitor of the CPAP. I felt like I did not sleep at all with both of those. I am almost now 98% convinced that alot of my AF was caused by sleep apnea and that is also what they are seeing in the studies being done per the docs. Its strange that you have this air blowing into you, but hey it cleared up the sinus tract and I do seem to have more energy. I never had problems sleeping before , but some indicate they sleep much better.

[Hidden in reply to BJShaf]

Brilliant. This is the kind of investigative testing that seems hopeful sensible and reasonable. Finding a cause. Is there s further cause to find behind sleep apnea as well? Like a vagal nerve thing. I mean if the muscles of the breathing apparatus are dysfunctional and the muscles of the heart as well is there some nerve thing or muscle thing that causes both?

[Smokie2D]

At least they are checking your sleeping pattern, my wife says that I stop breathing and only start again when she elbows me! I cant say I feel that I am asleep, do wake with sore ribs sometimes!