What Causes Difficulty In Breathing While On Treatment For Sleep Apnea?

Posted on Wed, 14 Dec 2016

Question: My husband has had difficulty breathing for some months and is being treated for sleep apnea as well as taking an inhaler. He began having a cough 6 weeks ago and within the past week he has been having other symptoms like back pain, changes in bowel habits, and stomach upset. He's seeing a pulmonologist tomorrow and pain doctor next week but is there anything else you can think of? e.g.,
West Nile or Zika?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
None of the above: West Nile or Zika!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Am so sorry to hear about your husband's illness. I have reviewed the information fully and nothing suggests an active ongoing infection like Zika or west Niles. Infections often present with at least a fever alongside many other nonspecific symptoms that are totally lacking here.

I will say let him hold on after seeing the pulmonologist for further evaluation. Between, the CT scan should also wait for more inputs after this visit.

His digestive symptoms are short lived for now and require that we monitor only. This could be related to changes in his diet. However, should they persist beyond two weeks, we would have to investigate and address accordingly.

Keep me updated after both visits. Also, feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar