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OSA, OHS, & Pickwickian same thing??
If anyone has time could you please assist.
Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome, and Pickwickian Syndrome all the same thing? Has the name of the same condition just evolved over time or is there a distinction between these?
Here is a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickwickian_syndrome
Toward end of this link there's lots of Apnea info.
My understanding is OSA is one disease. And OHS & Pickwickian are the same thing.
2 different diseases but 3 names? Yall agree or do I have it wrong?
With OSA & OHS is there a distinct chicken or egg thing. Could either one come first followed by the development of the other or can only one particular one come first?
Sorry for my stupidity but I think I have CO2 toxicity
Barbara
Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome, and Pickwickian Syndrome all the same thing? Has the name of the same condition just evolved over time or is there a distinction between these?
Here is a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickwickian_syndrome
Toward end of this link there's lots of Apnea info.
My understanding is OSA is one disease. And OHS & Pickwickian are the same thing.
2 different diseases but 3 names? Yall agree or do I have it wrong?
With OSA & OHS is there a distinct chicken or egg thing. Could either one come first followed by the development of the other or can only one particular one come first?
Sorry for my stupidity but I think I have CO2 toxicity
Barbara
Views: 1432
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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OHS and pickwickian syndrome are the same thing. It is my belief that OHS is a constant breathing disorder that can be caused by being obese. Meaning that it is a 24 hour respiratory problem. It is the added pressure on the chest I believe that leaves people short of breath. OSA however is a sleep related breathing disorder, caused by an obstruction in our airway while we SLEEP. They both seem to have some of the same side effects. I will see what I can find to verify. Thanks for sending me on a mission.
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Permalink Reply by Barbara on
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If I had Pickwickian Syndrome (OHS) would it have been diagnosed in conjuction with the sleep study?
Is this something that's even tested for when not so severe as to be in ICU?
It looks like repeated awake CO2 levels would be most important thing for diagnosis (I'm guessing). Are CO2 levels done during sleep studies (before, during, or after sleep)?
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Permalink Reply by Sandra Limbach on
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The one thing that I would add to the discussion is that you don't have to be obese to have OSA.
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My understanding is that CO2 is detected by an ABG (arterial blood gasses draw) or by a full PFT (pulmonary function test). I'm not aware of any other way to measure CO2 levels. That doesn't mean there aren't any other way, I'm just a patient. But I do have COPD and CO2 levels are one thing they keep an eye on from time to time.
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Still searching, reading, and discussing. The 2 are definatley not the same disorder. Will post some info soon. I think it is ok to say that if you have been diagnosed with both you should began working to fix or control them as soon as possible. OHS GREATLY ENHANCES THE EFFECTS OF OSA..
jeff as usual you ROCK! thanks for the links.
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Permalink Reply by Heidi Palmer on
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Judy said:My understanding is that CO2 is detected by an ABG (arterial blood gasses draw) or by a full PFT (pulmonary function test). I'm not aware of any other way to measure CO2 levels. That doesn't mean there aren't any other way, I'm just a patient. But I do have COPD and CO2 levels are one thing they keep an eye on from time to time.
You can measure CO2 levels by measuring the amount in your exhaled air (this is done in the ER or ICU), but this is not a standard part of most sleep studies as far as I know. The goal in a sleep study is to get your O2 levels to an optimal level.
I would like to add that Wikipedia, although a valuable resource, is built and edited by the general population (you and I can log in and make any changes to the definitions that we want) and therefore I would be careful about taking the information as gospel.
The disorders that you are discussing here are 3 distinctly different entities, and although they share certain characteristics, they do also have certain very separate issues. Your doctor is the only person who can tell you which exact disorder you have and how to effectively treat your specific case.
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Heidi Palmer,
Would you please describe to me how, medically speaking, Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome is different from Pickwickian Syndrome? You write that they "are 3 different entities". I know Rock will chime in soon but if you understand it I'd appreciate the explaination. I've read several medical journal abstracts (and jnk's link to longer report) but like I wrote earlier - maybe I have CO2 levels buring gray matter :o) Thanks
Heidi Palmer said:Judy said: The disorders that you are discussing here are 3 distinctly different entities, and although they share certain characteristics, they do also have certain very separate issues. Your doctor is the only person who can tell you which exact disorder you have and how to effectively treat your specific case.
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sorry if I mislead. OHS and pickwickian are the same, differing from OSA. Pickwickian being a reference to a Charles Dickinson character and not used very often by medical practitioners. OSA is cause by an obstruction in the airway. OHS is caused by pressure on the chest restricting breathing. Usually in persons with very high BMIs. They are very similar in the fact that they can both cause obstructions do to gravity. They afeect the body much the same by causing a lack of o2, and or a build up of co2 leading to pulmonary hypertension and many other things. Both disorders are still being studied in full. My suggestion is if you have 1 or both of these disorders that you consult a PCP. CPAP therapy along with exercise and a balanced diet will greatly benefit you.
Rock Hinkle said:Still searching, reading, and discussing. The 2 are definatley not the same disorder. Will post some info soon. I think it is ok to say that if you have been diagnosed with both you should began working to fix or control them as soon as possible. OHS GREATLY ENHANCES THE EFFECTS OF OSA..
jeff as usual you ROCK! thanks for the links.
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I thought I had finally figured out my mystery illness but I guess not.
I may be big but my chest is not big enough to smoosh my lungs.
It is amazing how much damage apnea can cause. All the independent labs taken over the months that I was so ill all fall within the guidlines of OHS but I guess the abnormalities (slight in most cases) were the result of the sleep apnea.
Another puzzle piece fell into place!!!! Ran across this tid bit of info in an article this morning.
Sleep apnea (hypoxia) can cause PVC's. Severe PVC's were one of the BIG developments in the course of my deterioration. Was put on beta blockers which I now have to take 3 times a day everyday.
This sleep apnea is a d*mn monster.
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PVCs are the most common EKG abnormality seen with apnea. Fortunately with the help of CPAP therapy they can be one of the first fixes. As your o2/co2 gases readjust back to consistantly normal levels your body is allowed to repay sleep debt. It is the combination of these 2 actions that allow your body to begin the repairs that have been put off for so long. Apnea is a monster that can be tamed, corrected, and lived with.
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