CPAP machines

My husband was dx with sleep apnea after several sleep studies. He then was told that he needed a CPAP machine. After 3 days, he began to exp chest pains thinking it was indigestion, he took some tums. I encouraged hime to contact his MD who told him that it would take some time to learn breathing and acklamation to the CPAP. His resp therapist also told him the same thing and that the added air can become trapped so he tried meds like Zantac and other OTC meds. exactly 3 weeks later he was in e medical center in Johnson City TN with a LAD heart attack otherwise know as the "widow maker". I'm not saying the the CPAP machine caused the heart attack, but he is 49, in great shape, doesn't smoke or drink nor have high BP. I wish his MD would have been alittle more diligent in listening to their pts when they complain of pain exspecially follow up on these type of complaints. I would encourage anyone just starting on a CPAP machine to be your best advocate and if you exp something that may appear as discomfort, plz don't let your MD discount it as just getting used to the machine and hold them accountable to following up with those complaints.

Thanks for that heads up and reminder, LWesley. More and more we have to become our own best advocate when it comes to medical care. I am ever so grateful and thankful to read that your husband's LAD didn't make you a widow!!!!! I can only imagine the terror you went thru at the chance of losing your husband.

Being a heart patient I can empathize with what has just happened to you and your husband. I do hope you have learned an important lesson also - whenever you have chest pains go to the emergency room!! I would rather pay for the visit and an EKG that would tell for sure what was taking place. You can talk to your doctor later. Had he been more astute that's where he would have sent you anyway, in all probability. Being extremely healthy, as your husband apparently is, you don't think to do anything other than call your doctor, I guess. My dad, who had little use for doctors in general, used to say about them, "They only had to make 70 to pass!"

Lesson is - DON"T PLAY WITH HEART PAIN! Don't play long with indigestion that doesn't seem to go away.

Yes, chest pain should never be ignored. It is not caused by CPAP. I would always call 911 in the event of chest pain. If something happens while you're driving him to the hospital or doc you won't be able to do anything to help him. Hope everything turns out ok.

OSA can cause heart problems, not using CPAP! Had your husband not been using a cpap machine, he would have still had this event....or worse, he may have died in his sleep because his O2 would have dropped and caused heart failure. I am happy he is alive and on the road to recovery. Using his cpap machine for the rest of his life is imperative! Best of luck to you both.....