Thanks for your kind words about this site. And thanks for bringing up the point about CPAP tubing cleanliness.

While this blog is focused on afib, not CPAP (I love http://www.cpaptalk.com for that), that is important info. The instructions that came with my machine said to rinse the hose and hang it to dry every day, along with cleaning the mask daily and the filter weekly. Also to change the humidifier water daily (and clean with vinegar water weekly), or just use distilled water, which I do. CPAP cleanliness is very important.

Congrats on your success with the mouthguard and surgery. The opinions and experiences I’ve heard lead me to suspect that they work best for those with mild sleep apnea, and for some who have moderate sleep apnea, but not all, and generally not for those who have severe sleep apnea. This is strictly conjecture based on anecdotes froms others.

We’re each different–an experiment of one–so what works to convert one person likely doesn’t work for another. For me, oxygen actually has been known to convert me. It’s possible that the CPAP might for you. It’s worth a try.

Just as an FYI, for further research, we have brought together a lot of links on apnea here:

Sleep Apnea Multiplies Risk of Arrhythmias Like Atrial Fibrillation

In addition, we just published a story yesterday on sleep apnea’s impact on catheter ablation (it’s not good):

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Predicts Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Failure, New Study Says

Good luck.

Mellanie

I have a mild form of sleep apnea and have been on CPAP (setting #8) for a bit over 5 years. I swear by the machine (ResMed S8 Escape II) and have had a relatively easy time with the mask. Recently, I went to the nasal pillows and find it preferable to the mask. The key is to use the right size pillows. The pillows are overall less apparatus on the head and just basically more user friendly for me. I have even quit using a chin strap. One big plus of CPAP is the idea of breathing filtered, moist air all night. I live in a dry climate and it just makes life easier here.

I have had a couple of recent episodes of A-fib and A-flutter. Thinking there might be a connection, I inquired of Google and sure enough. I hope to learn more about that connection in the future, but wanted to mention something I didn’t see on your blog. Namely cleanliness of the CPAP tubing, humidifier, etc. and the air filter. I have noticed that I tend to yawn during the day when I have either an old filter or haven’t cleaned my CPAP for much over a week.

I plan to ask my sleep doc about this, but suspect there may be a tie to the A-fib. As you know, yawning during the day is indicative of either undiagnosed sleep apnea or CPAP equipment that isn’t working optimally. I have learned to reassess my program when I find myself yawning. Invariably, I am out of balance on something that is easily corrected.

I would like to add that I use a dental mouth guard that not only keeps me from grinding my teeth, but also encourages me to breathe thru my nose. I once had sinus infections and sinusitus but after endoscopic sinus surgery about 20 years ago I no longer have this complication. This is same-day, outpatient surgery that was a godsend.

I have been heading for the ER when I have A-fib, but believe there may be a better way to cadriovert myself. I’ve heard that straining, bending over and straining, jumping jacks, going to sleep with CPAP, etc. all work: but, would like to hear what works best and is safest.
Jpat

I hope the CPAP is working for you.

I believe, from what I’ve heard, that afib with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a very different “beast”. Because of that, we have created a special interest forum in our discussion forums for those who want to discuss the unique challenges of afib and HCM and help each other.

You’ll find it here:
http://forum.stopafib.org/

You’ll be asked to register at the forums in order to post and discuss. I hope it’s of use for you.

Mellanie

Has it been 7 years since the last sleep study/titration? Has anything changed that could mean that your CPAP pressure setting is no longer optimal and that your sleep apnea is not as controlled as it had been?

Mellanie

That’s interesting that the CPAP seems to bring you out of afib. Though I’ve never heard anyone else mention it, it’s quite likely that CPAP could do that.

I agree about not giving up. It seems that some DMEs don’t know how to help folks pick out the right things and just provide “standard” gear without taking into consideration each individual’s differences and needs. I think that’s responsible for a lot of CPAP “failures”. I wish there were a better way for those with sleep apnea to get exactly what will work best for them. If anyone has “cracked the code” on that, I’d love to know.

I decided to do a huge amount of research before ordering equipment, using online CPAP resources and discussion forums. I spent hours reading reviews of various machines and masks. One particularly helpful resource, at CPAP.com, has you take several facial measurements and recommends which masks will work well for your facial structure.

While I swore I wouldn’t wear a “Darth Vader” mask, and preferred nasal pillows, I soon discovered that for those of us with sinus issues, and thus occasional mouth-breathing, full-face masks are really the best way to go. I tried a nasal mask, too, but ended up returning it (I’m glad I took out mask insurance on it). I also have a hybrid mask, which covers the mouth and has nasal pillows; I bought it for travel since it’s much smaller than a full-face mask, but I just don’t use it as it feels like having a blowtorch up my nose all night.

We’re each different and have to find what works best for us. I encourage anyone who is struggling to research options as the right combination is out there, you just have to find it.

Thanks for your comments.

Mellanie

Good luck getting the sleep apnea under control. Some doctors have started not doing procedures until the apnea is under control as uncontrolled sleep apnea can cause a reversion back into afib, even after procedures.

I hope they can figure out how to manage the sleep apnea and get rid of the breathing pauses.

Mellanie

I respect my doctors who are ready to help me right away and relate to me what the latest info is. In particular, my cardio offers 2 or 3 choices to proceed and what the risks, pros, cons of each are. I decide, but he gives nudges as to which way(s) he thinks are optimizing. I think i am now going to have to deal with the sleep apnea issue further. I was surprised to learn that i have it. I fall asleep in a few minutes and rarely if ever wake up until it is time in the morning. I used to feel more refreshed when i awoke, but now i dont so much and about mid-afternoon feel tired. Maybe this APAP you mention might be what i need. During the test with PAP, there were some occurences of central sleep apnea, so i think my sleep apnea situation may be complex. I have several aquaintences who use CPAP and BiPAP with no problems.

Anyway, best wishes to you all and just keep at it and I enourage you to confer with your doc(s) to ascertain the best path(s) you can take. After afib-free several years I thought the ablation was a cure, but it seems we are back to managing it for now and that’s ok, because we can be grateful for the opportunity and tools to manage the issue.
Thanks,
Scott