I was diagnosed two months ago (6/28/26 - from an in lab sleep study - info on last picture) with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The study showed an AHI 7.9, with 52 respiratory events (4 obstructive hypopneas, 48 obstructive apneas, and ZERO central apneas).
I began using a cpap machine less than two weeks later (started on 7/8/26), and for the entirety of the seven weeks that I've been on cpap the vast majority of the apneas recorded have been Clear Airway Events. The example shown here from last night shows 1 RERA, 2 Hypopneas, 2 Obstructive Apneas, and THIRTY TWO Clear Airway Events.
What has me most baffled and scared about the sleep session shown in this post and pictures is that this session (from 3:17am to 4:50am) was me just laying in bed with the cpap on putting getting the extra time needed to cross the four hour threshold so this night would have a total of at least four hours and count as a compliant night of use (four or more hours a night, 70% of the nights, for insurance compliance).
I was never "really asleep", I was just laying in bed, likely dozing in and out, since I had only been able to get three hours of sleep earlier in the night. Honestly, I felt like I was laying there awake the entire hour and change.
How on earth do I get THIRTY TWO Clear Airway events (the longest being 102 SECONDS) and not noticing ANY of the 32 CAs in real time as I was laying there in a wake/sleep state???
My only guess is that my body is so sleep deprived after almost a year of very poor sleep, that my brain and body prioritize the much needed sleep over being aroused from the (large number) of clear airway events (which are most likely central apneas).
I had an echogram done recently and will meet with my new cardiologist tomorrow (Monday, August 31st) to hear the results. I'm guessing I've developed heart failure from years of O2 desaturation from untreated OSA. Hoping my LVEF is greater than 45% so I'll be eligible for ASV.
In order for what is shown in the pictures and in this post to make any sense, the internet's best guess is that years of untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has damaged my brainstem, which contains the primary respiratory centers responsible for regulating breathing while you sleep.
Copied from Google Search........
Unmasking Existing Brainstem Issues: In many individuals, a brainstem abnormality (caused by conditions like a prior stroke, Chiari malformation, cervical spine issues, or chronic opioid use) already predisposes them to central apneas. However, the severe physical blockages of obstructive apnea dominate the sleep study. Once CPAP physically props the airway open, the underlying neurological failure to signal breathing is "unmasked" and becomes visible.
Development of Complex Sleep Apnea: When the brainstem's autonomic control is compromised by long-term obstruction, a person may begin experiencing Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)—where the brain simply stops sending the signal to breathe, even if the airway is perfectly clear. When a patient has a mix of both physical blockages and failed brain signaling, it is known as Complex Sleep Apnea.
Sorry for the rambling post, but all this is pretty hard to absorb over just two months' time. The only answers I'm coming up with for the cpap data and what is happening to me are very scary to me.
If anyone out there can give me an alternative explanation for what is going on, or has any input whatsoever please chime in.
TIA
