Epilepsy and Sleep Apnea - Any experiences

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doickle

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Good Afternoon,
I have had epilepsy most of my adult life which has been controlled by meds. I have just recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea which I have probably been suffering from unknowingly for most of my life as well.
I have events during sleep that my spouse witnesses but cannot say for sure if it is a seizure occurring or an apnea.
A 72 hr EEG and a Polysomnography sleep study did not reveal a cause either.
I am looking for advice or any experiences from people that have made a correlation between Sleep Apnea and epilepsy. Is there any link and how can I find out for sure? What can I do about it?
Things have improved after starting CPAP therapy but have not gone away.

Thanks
 
A Sleep Study Is Needed!

doickle,
You need to have a sleep study done that includes an EEG. This can be done at many Sleep Study Clinics. I have had this done at least three times. It can be a great help when it comes to helping your neurologist figure out what he/she may need to do in your treatment. :twocents:
There are several other members of CWE who have had a Sleep Study done.
I have also found out that in some cases a person may have Sleep Apnea that is serious enough that it actually can be the original reason a person developed E. That is why getting a Sleep Study done is so important.
I'm sure that there are many clinics in Texas that do this type of study, so it shouldn't be hard to get an appointment set up! Just google 'sleep clinic Texas' and you should find a clinic near you! :ponder:

acshuman
 
Are you uk or American.cos if uk NHS will loan you machine that helps breathing.I do believe certain criteria Need test don as others say.
 
Hi doickle,

Welcome to CWE! As AC mentioned you need to have a sleep study done with a e.e.g..
I had a sleep study done alone with an e.e.g. and e.k.g. all at the same time and my Dr. found I was having seizures in my sleep 1-2 hrs. before I would wake up in the morning.
I don't have sleep apnea but my brother does and it's caused a lot of problems for him with his heart and breathing and that in turn can lead to seizures in some cases. Also lack of sleep along with stress are the 2 main things that can trigger seizures for a person. Ask your Dr. to do a sleep study and e..e.g and e.k.g. all together and you should know for sure if there are seizures going on. I wish you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue
 
Hello and welcome! Lately I have been doing some research on sleep apnea, since I developed it myself in 2014. It started after I got a Vagus Nerve Stimulator placed about 3 years ago. When they activated the thing I immediately began snoring and groaning and making other odd noises at night when the thing cycled on. After a couple of months, for various reasons, it became clear the the VNS was not working for me so they shut it off. Unfortunately the snoring and such continued, but it wasn't until a couple of months ago that I realized it was probably sleep apnea. I suppose it had gotten worse. At this point I think it is probably what is called complex sleep apnea, which is a combination of obstructive apnea and central apnea. (Fitting, because I also have complex partial seizures, which fortunately have been completely controlled for almost 3 years now!)
I had my first appointment with a sleep specialist a week ago, and will be going in for a polysomnography on the 11th. I found one link which shows a correlation between epilepsy and apnea, and I 'm sure there are others. I read something about that the other day while researching apnea, but I can't find the specific site again. What did your polysomnography show about your breathing? What was your AHI? My somewhat limited understanding of apnea treatments and polysomnographys is that they should be able to tell if you have OSA or CA or both. There are also a couple of machine options available for those. You said the apneas have not gone away, but has your AHI improved since the CPAP treatment started? I guess there is also an adjustment period to get your pressures right, make sure your mask or nasal pillows are fitting correctly, etc.

I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences. Here's the link:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-02/link-between-epilepsy-and-obstructive-sleep-apnoea/4728076

I'm kinda bummed about having two chronic conditions, but I'll get used to it, I'm sure.

I'll keep you posted on how things go for me.

Carry on!
 
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I just actually got my CPAP set up last night and slept (or tried to) with it.

I'm trying to give it the benefit of the doubt but so far, it's pretty miserable.

I'm currently well controlled (we think) with my seizures (I've had simple partial, complex partial, and tonic clonic - mostly in my sleep). But the sleep study that my GP recommended shocked me when they told me I had a mild sleep hypopnea (My breathing slows down but does not fully stop). The CPAP titration study indicated that my breathing was better on the machine, so now I will be hooked up to the dumb thing.

My biggest fear right now is that the 4 to 6 week adjustment period for the CPAP machine, where I'm getting poor quality sleep, will trigger more seizures.
 
Kellybones,

The CPAP therapy will work although it may take some time to get things working just right.

As I have discovered, forums are a great source of support and help. Here is a link to the Sleep Apnea group I am involved with: "apneaboard.com/forums"

The people on this forum are a wealth of knowledge and can help get over the initial transition period of starting CPAP.

It may take a few months but you will notice improvements in your energy levels.

I also believe there is some relation between the two (Sleep Apnea and Epilepsy).

The bottom line is to stick with CPAP, if you were diagnosed then you definitely need it and if you need it then it is worth it for yourself and your health to make it work. There are so many options for machines and masks and settings that you will find a way.

Good Luck.
 
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