oxygen desaturations, worth CPAP?

[tiredandscared]

This sort of thread has probably been created a hundred times, but bear with me(i'm a newbie). I've been gathering data with GE trusat oximeter for a few weeks now. And I obviously have oxygen desaturations(it's probably the reason by I have very fragmented unrestful sleep) caused by hypopneas, which mirror the ones I had from a home study test. Ignoring the artefacts/sensor failures, my lowest oxygen desats go as low as 90-89, with the episodes in the 89 figure happening twice, or thrice, all totalling 20-30 seconds over a period of 8 hour sleep. I know that these oxygen desaturations are involved in arousals that fragment sleep. Why I'm asking is whether, It's useful to invest in a CPAP meanwhile I attempt weight loss. Or should I go ahead with weight-loss, as they're neglible? Also I want to ask about how they grade oxygen desaturations. Any examples? Of mild, moderate, severe?

[Julie]

Any desats above 88 (or 90 depending on who you listen to) are NOT considered to be 'desats', or particularly abnormal. If you have only very low (88-92) numbers all night, then you need to talk to your doctor, not us, but 3 over a whole night at your numbers are not big red flags, just something to think about.

If you need to lose weight, just do it, never mind OSA - it can only benefit you.

[HoseCrusher]

You need to focus on cause and effect...

If you oxygen bounces around and nothing else is effected, no big deal.

If you oxygen drops and your heart rate speeds up to compensate, then you are stressing your body.

During your desaturations how did your heart rate react?

[Enchanter]

might be hard to lose weight with OSA. So wear the CPAP mask while losing the fat.

[tiredandscared]

Any desats above 88 (or 90 depending on who you listen to) are NOT considered to be 'desats', or particularly abnormal. If you have only very low (88-92) numbers all night, then you need to talk to your doctor, not us, but 3 over a whole night at your numbers are not big red flags, just something to think about.

If you need to lose weight, just do it, never mind OSA - it can only benefit you.

What do typical desats look in OSA? I've already contacted GP, and once she saw how run down I was, oozing eczema, and after mentioning that my dad has OSA. She remitted me to a sleep lab. Will take 4 months. I'd rather start doing something about it now.

You need to focus on cause and effect...

If you oxygen bounces around and nothing else is effected, no big deal.

If you oxygen drops and your heart rate speeds up to compensate, then you are stressing your body.

During your desaturations how did your heart rate react?.

It wasn't notably elevated. But it was higher than on higher oxygen saturation levels.
Time Date Spo2 Heartrate Perfusion index
11:34:26 06/27/01 90 93 0.773 Low SpO2
11:34:30 06/27/01 90 86 0.823 Low SpO2
11:34:34 06/27/01 89 63 1.087 Low SpO2
11:34:38 06/27/01 89 64 1.119 Low SpO2


A bad spot will look like this ^

might be hard to lose weight with OSA. So wear the CPAP mask while losing the fat.

This is one reason why i'm considering getting a CPAP machine. But on the other hand, If i'm not risking hypertension/cognitive impairment or lowered cognitive function, and all the other effects that come with sleep apnea, I think I should save a buck.

[HoseCrusher]

Go to page 15 http://www.daveburrows.com/cpap/sleepst ... pstudy.pdf

You will see O2 levels drop and heart rate go up during an apnea.

Of course the air flow also changes.

[tiredandscared]

Go to page 15 http://www.daveburrows.com/cpap/sleepst ... pstudy.pdf

You will see O2 levels drop and heart rate go up during an apnea.

Of course the air flow also changes.

How many times will a person with OSA have hypnoapneas? or oxygen desats. I mean pattern wise.

[HoseCrusher]

The range is something like 6 to over a hundred.

Your "sleep" is constantly being disrupted.

[tiredandscared]

The range is something like 6 to over a hundred.

Your "sleep" is constantly being disrupted.

I think that settles it for me. I'm getting a machine.

[avi123]

are you the poster from Sweden who posted before that you have not been approved to buy a machine over there based on you home test ? So, from where will you get a machine?

[tiredandscared]

are you the poster from Sweden? from where will you get a machine?

I'll see if I can buy a second hand machine. I'd have to borrow money. But feck it. I don't want to live like a sleep-deprived zombie, and risk brain damage, or this conditioning worsening. I want to treat it before it causes serious harm. I already feel like I've been clobbered everyday.

[Enchanter]

might be hard to lose weight with OSA. So wear the CPAP mask while losing the fat.
This is one reason why i'm considering getting a CPAP machine. But on the other hand, If i'm not risking hypertension/cognitive impairment or lowered cognitive function, and all the other effects that come with sleep apnea, I think I should save a buck.

Only you can decide if the money is worth it

[tiredandscared]

might be hard to lose weight with OSA. So wear the CPAP mask while losing the fat.
This is one reason why i'm considering getting a CPAP machine. But on the other hand, If i'm not risking hypertension/cognitive impairment or lowered cognitive function, and all the other effects that come with sleep apnea, I think I should save a buck.

Only you can decide if the money is worth it

I think it's worth it. I've been suffering for 5 months. I'm finally getting to understand what the real problem is.

[Julie]

Has it occurred to you that by focusing on OSA you could be completely missing another condition that needs treating?

[avi123]

tiredandscared in Sweden, try to convince members on this board to give you a used machine and a mask as Enchanter did.
What make of CPAP your dad use?