I’ve been diagnosed with complex sleep apnea. I had a 4 vessel CABG 4 years ago, at 68 years old followed by AFIB. I had a pacemaker implanted as well as a Remede implant to deal with my CSA. I have not been able to tolerate CPAP or BPAP, although I have tried both. I have had overnight sleep studies done, have a sleep doctor named Tara Rachakonda and I have a Wellview 02 Insight Pro to monitor my sleep apnea at night. I had a special endoscopy done by a sleep specialist in Las Vegas that indicated that my airway is partially collapsing at night. My AHI is all over the place, from 6 or 7 per hour to over 30 per hour. I do not feel well and am very tired and this has taken the life I once had away from me. I HATE this, I have tried an over-the-counter dental device, elevating the head of my bed, sleeping in a recliner, trying to block myself with pillows to force side sleeping, etc, etc. All that generally happens is one night or a few hours of a higher AHI with fewer apneas and then a return to a lower AHI and more apneas. I do not wake up or gasp for breath, or snore a lot but my tests indicate a lot of shallow, quick breathing. I do have GERD and dysphasia and have had my esophagus stretched as much as it safely can be. I did not have sleep apnea, that I know of, until I had my CABG 4 years ago.
I understand that untreated sleep apnea can lead to other conditions that can lead to death and I feel that is the road I am on.
Hi there, thank you for sharing so openly about what you’re going through. It sounds incredibly tough, and I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to deal with complex sleep apnea on top of everything else.
From what you’ve shared, it really seems like you’ve tried so many things to find some relief, and that’s a lot to carry. Central sleep apnea, especially with other health issues like heart surgery and AFib, can be complicated, and treatments don’t always work the same for everyone.
Sometimes, it takes a bit of time and patience to find the right approach, whether that’s different types of PAP therapy, supplemental oxygen, or newer options like nerve stimulation. I’m really glad you’re working closely with your doctor and sleep specialist because having that support and ongoing care is so important.
Remember, you’re not alone in this — many people face similar struggles, and it’s okay to reach out for support or ask questions whenever you need to. Hang in there, keep advocating for yourself, and hopefully, better nights and more energy are ahead for you
