HELP: Sudden drastic worsening of Sleep Apnea - Can't sleep at all, CPAP completely useless

Hi everyone. I'm desperate for help. I haven't been able to sleep at all during the last 48 hours and I'm starting to fear the issue won't resolve any soon.

I have obstructive sleep apnea and I've been on ASV therapy for 6 months with great success. Everything was going great until I caught Covid for the first time 6 weeks ago. Suddenly, I wasn't able to fall asleep due to my nasal breathing becoming severally impaired. It felt as if something around my upper airway —maybe the soft palate–, blocked the airway as I dozed off. My breathing would slow down until it was too weak and would wake me up before I could start falling asleep. My nose however was completely clear. This issue lasted a couple of days until I managed to sort it out by switching from a nasal mask to a nasal pillow. Things got progressively better from there on.

However, fast forward 6 weeks, and the same issue re-emerged, this time with even greater severity to the point that my ASV machine is now completely useless and won't help me sleep at all, even after setting the pressure to its maximum. The difficulty breathing is most noticeable when exhaling.

I am not sick, and the only thing I can think of that may have triggered the blockage this time is an aerobic session of easy running on the treadmill. During the run, I was very focused in breathing deeply through the soft palate. I am not sure if breathing this way may have caused swelling in that area.

Even while I'm awake I can feel something around my soft palate, it makes me want to swallow.

Has anyone experienced anything remotely similar? I don't know what to do. I have an appointment with an ENT on 11th November but I can't wait that long, I need a solution right now.

Things I've tried so far without success:

- Sleeping upright
- Mandibular advancement device + ASV
- Steroid Nasal Spray
- Ibuprofen

What does your MD say?

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:08 am

I have an appointment with an ENT on 11th November but I can't wait that long, I need a solution right now.

Ask the ENT practice if they could put you on a cancellation list. If they don't keep such a list, ask them if you can call every day to check on cancellations.

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:08 am

Even while I'm awake I can feel something around my soft palate, it makes me want to swallow.

Have you used a flashlight to look in the mirror?

If you think there is something in there, I would do a sick visit at my GP or even go to an urgent care clinic.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 10:37 am

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:08 am

I have an appointment with an ENT on 11th November but I can't wait that long, I need a solution right now.

Ask the ENT practice if they could put you on a cancellation list. If they don't keep such a list, ask them if you can call every day to check on cancellations.

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:08 am

Even while I'm awake I can feel something around my soft palate, it makes me want to swallow.

Have you used a flashlight to look in the mirror?

If you think there is something in there, I would do a sick visit at my GP or even go to an urgent care clinic.

What CG said.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 10:37 am

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:08 am

I have an appointment with an ENT on 11th November but I can't wait that long, I need a solution right now.

Ask the ENT practice if they could put you on a cancellation list. If they don't keep such a list, ask them if you can call every day to check on cancellations.

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:08 am

Even while I'm awake I can feel something around my soft palate, it makes me want to swallow.

Have you used a flashlight to look in the mirror?

If you think there is something in there, I would do a sick visit at my GP or even go to an urgent care clinic.

I did use a flashlight to look in the mirror but I can't see anything apparently abnormal. I suspect the problem lies in or around the soft palate, I don't think it can been seen with that method. I can definitely feel something bulgy around that area, even when I'm awake.

Julie wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2024 9:10 am

What does your MD say?

I haven't seen him yet. Honestly I've lost almost all trust in the medical community; they've proven to be utterly useless with matters related to sleep apnea. It's like we have to pull all the weight to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it.

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 11, 2024 4:08 pm

It's like we have to pull all the weight to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it.

With the use of CPAP, that's true. It's best to learn how to manage your own CPAP therapy.

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 11, 2024 4:08 pm

I did use a flashlight to look in the mirror but I can't see anything apparently abnormal. I suspect the problem lies in or around the soft palate, I don't think it can been seen with that method. I can definitely feel something bulgy around that area, even when I'm awake.

You need to see a doctor right away. I don't think you have a tumor, but tumors can come on quickly. A delayed diagnosis can be dangerous.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 11, 2024 4:18 pm

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 11, 2024 4:08 pm

It's like we have to pull all the weight to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it.

With the use of CPAP, that's true. It's best to learn how to manage your own CPAP therapy.

Unkikonki wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 11, 2024 4:08 pm

I did use a flashlight to look in the mirror but I can't see anything apparently abnormal. I suspect the problem lies in or around the soft palate, I don't think it can been seen with that method. I can definitely feel something bulgy around that area, even when I'm awake.

You need to see a doctor right away. I don't think you have a tumor, but tumors can come on quickly. A delayed diagnosis can be dangerous.

I went to the hospital yesterday, it was a complete waste of time as I expected. Fortunately I managed to find a workaround: sleeping pills (zopiclone). Not great, but at least it helps me get some sleep which is better than none.

I don't think it is a tumor. I've felt it there for a quite a while now and it's definitely what is causing my obstruction. Besides, an ENT did an endoscopy a few months ago and didn't find anything abnormal. I'm pretty sure it is excess tissue from the soft palate, it really feels like that. I'm willing to take a gamble and go for soft tissue removal surgery (modified UPPP) or pillar implant. I'll try to get a DISE done prior but it seems no one around here does that (Auckland, New Zealand).