Would anyone be willing to share what their oxygen saturation levels were during their sleep test? My results show that I was between 80 & 90% for 32% of the time I slept w/o CPAP. I was between 70 & 80% for 1% of the time w/ a low of 70%. The Dr. said this was extremely dangerous but didn't go into great detail. It went back over 90% when I was put on CPAP (thankfully). I was wondering if anyone had results which were that low or lower & if long term CPAP use helped with the cognitive effects that seem to come along w/ the lack of oxygen.
Oxygen saturation level
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The problem is called oxygen deprivation. That is, the brain is not getting enough oxygen to properly function causing fatigue, headaches, drowsyness, memory loss, and other problems. My sleep study showed that I had a nadir of 79%. Anthing under 95% is bad.
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jeepdoctor
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:23 pm
- Location: "Green Country" Northeastern OK
On CPAP, I average a SpO2 of 98% without mouth taping and 98.7% with mouth taping. On a night when I slept without CPAP, I had a mean SpO2 of 97.92%, but had 40 desaturations with 12 below 85% with the lowest being 81%. I was in the 87 to 80% range for 3.6 minutes.
Here is what a veterinarian that I know told me. If your O2 level drops below 85%, you will eventually have an enlarged heart. The tech at the local sleep lab says the magic number is 88%.
The Vitabase software that comes with the SPO 7500 pulse oximeter has bands of 100 to 94%, 93 to 88%, 87% to 80%, and then decrement by 10%. My thought is that 100 to 94 is okay, 93 to 88 is a question mark and 87% and below are in the danger zone.
There is lots of info out there about the manifestations of oxygen desaturation, so I am not going to belabor them here. Suffice it to say that after I talked my vet friend and told him that I desaturated to 68% during the sleep study, he told me that I was headed for health problems if I didn't do something to stop the desaturations.
If you will PM me with your email address, I will send you a couple of .pdf files showing my SpO2 levels during sleep. One with CPAP use and one without.
Here is what a veterinarian that I know told me. If your O2 level drops below 85%, you will eventually have an enlarged heart. The tech at the local sleep lab says the magic number is 88%.
The Vitabase software that comes with the SPO 7500 pulse oximeter has bands of 100 to 94%, 93 to 88%, 87% to 80%, and then decrement by 10%. My thought is that 100 to 94 is okay, 93 to 88 is a question mark and 87% and below are in the danger zone.
There is lots of info out there about the manifestations of oxygen desaturation, so I am not going to belabor them here. Suffice it to say that after I talked my vet friend and told him that I desaturated to 68% during the sleep study, he told me that I was headed for health problems if I didn't do something to stop the desaturations.
If you will PM me with your email address, I will send you a couple of .pdf files showing my SpO2 levels during sleep. One with CPAP use and one without.
DEFINITIONS:
APNEA = cessation of airflow for 10 seconds or greater.
HYPOPNEA =>50% decrease in airflow for 10 seconds or greater with a decrease in oxygen saturation of >3%.
APNEA/HYPOPNEA INDEX (AHI) = apnea plus (+) HYPOPNEA/hour of sleep.
RESPIRATORY AROUSAL INDEX (RAI) = AHI +snoring related EEG arousals/hour of sleep.
AHI/RAI** Scale =<5 events /hour = (none); 5-15 events/hour = (mild); 15-30 events/hour = (moderate); >30 events/hour = (severe).
Respiratory related sleep fragmentation: Sleep arousals due to respiratory events or snoring.
Desaturation = Drop in O2 oximetry distribution saturation by 3% below average saturation.
SaO2 scale: >89%=(none); 85-89%=(mild);80-84%=(moderate); <80% (severe).
EPWORTH SLEEPINESS SCALE =<10=(does not indicate EDS (Excessive Daytime Somnolence));10-15=(indicates daytime somnolence-not excessive);>16 (indicates EDS).
RESPIRATORY EFFORT RELATED AROUSALS (RERAs)=Sleep Arousals due to respiratory events characterized by pressure flow limitations in the airflow indicator channel without significant O2 desaturations.
StageIII and StageIV are combined and referred to as Deep Sleep.
Sleep Efficiency = Normal is >80%
APNEA = cessation of airflow for 10 seconds or greater.
HYPOPNEA =>50% decrease in airflow for 10 seconds or greater with a decrease in oxygen saturation of >3%.
APNEA/HYPOPNEA INDEX (AHI) = apnea plus (+) HYPOPNEA/hour of sleep.
RESPIRATORY AROUSAL INDEX (RAI) = AHI +snoring related EEG arousals/hour of sleep.
AHI/RAI** Scale =<5 events /hour = (none); 5-15 events/hour = (mild); 15-30 events/hour = (moderate); >30 events/hour = (severe).
Respiratory related sleep fragmentation: Sleep arousals due to respiratory events or snoring.
Desaturation = Drop in O2 oximetry distribution saturation by 3% below average saturation.
SaO2 scale: >89%=(none); 85-89%=(mild);80-84%=(moderate); <80% (severe).
EPWORTH SLEEPINESS SCALE =<10=(does not indicate EDS (Excessive Daytime Somnolence));10-15=(indicates daytime somnolence-not excessive);>16 (indicates EDS).
RESPIRATORY EFFORT RELATED AROUSALS (RERAs)=Sleep Arousals due to respiratory events characterized by pressure flow limitations in the airflow indicator channel without significant O2 desaturations.
StageIII and StageIV are combined and referred to as Deep Sleep.
Sleep Efficiency = Normal is >80%
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NightHawkeye
- Posts: 2431
- Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:55 am
- Location: Iowa - The Hawkeye State
Just to add another tidbit of desaturation info:
With an oximeter the measured oxygen saturation is only approximate. The only way to accurately determine oxygen saturation is by drawing blood and analyzing the gas concentration.
In particular, how warm or cold your body temperature is will skew the results by a few percentage points. When I first started using an oximeter, before xPAP even, my saturation at rest consistently max'ed out at 100%. Of course, my hands were always cold then. The person who rented me the oximeter didn't believe the 100% reading and at first thought that his sensor was broken because he'd never seen it happen before. He tried other sensors, but kept getting the same result, so he eventually just sent me off with the original sensor. The explanation is that most of his clients were babies. Babies tend to be nice and warm, hence they show a lower saturation percentage.
For the few weeks I used an oximeter prior to starting xPAP therapy my resting saturation remained around 100%, but as soon as I started xPAP the problem with being cold much of the time stopped and my resting saturation immediately dropped down to around 97% and has stayed there since.
Just my experience, of course.
Regards,
Bill
With an oximeter the measured oxygen saturation is only approximate. The only way to accurately determine oxygen saturation is by drawing blood and analyzing the gas concentration.
In particular, how warm or cold your body temperature is will skew the results by a few percentage points. When I first started using an oximeter, before xPAP even, my saturation at rest consistently max'ed out at 100%. Of course, my hands were always cold then. The person who rented me the oximeter didn't believe the 100% reading and at first thought that his sensor was broken because he'd never seen it happen before. He tried other sensors, but kept getting the same result, so he eventually just sent me off with the original sensor. The explanation is that most of his clients were babies. Babies tend to be nice and warm, hence they show a lower saturation percentage.
For the few weeks I used an oximeter prior to starting xPAP therapy my resting saturation remained around 100%, but as soon as I started xPAP the problem with being cold much of the time stopped and my resting saturation immediately dropped down to around 97% and has stayed there since.
Just my experience, of course.
Regards,
Bill
Interesting facts...
I was reading the Remstar theory and they say less than 40 percent airflow is a hypopnea, less than 80 percent is considered an apnea.
My two pulmonolists say the medicare standard for a hypopnea is 30 percent less airflow with a 4 percent desaturation.
The Profox software that comes with my Nonin oximeter uses a default of 4 percent desaturation (which is changable to any number I like) to denote a hyponea.
I guess it all depends on who you talk to however they all agree that desaturations are not a good thing....
Marc
I was reading the Remstar theory and they say less than 40 percent airflow is a hypopnea, less than 80 percent is considered an apnea.
My two pulmonolists say the medicare standard for a hypopnea is 30 percent less airflow with a 4 percent desaturation.
The Profox software that comes with my Nonin oximeter uses a default of 4 percent desaturation (which is changable to any number I like) to denote a hyponea.
I guess it all depends on who you talk to however they all agree that desaturations are not a good thing....
Marc
Thank you for all of the input. If anyone has more to add please continue this topic, it seams to be the biggest problem of my apnea & I am trying to learn all I can about it.
PS Jeepdoctor - I've been trying to PM you but have had no luck. I get kicked out of the forum & it asks me to log in again & then repeats the cycle. Very frustrating.
Can you paste into a message on this board? If you don't want to I understand & appreciate your previous response.
PS Jeepdoctor - I've been trying to PM you but have had no luck. I get kicked out of the forum & it asks me to log in again & then repeats the cycle. Very frustrating.
Can you paste into a message on this board? If you don't want to I understand & appreciate your previous response.
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arthuranxious
- Posts: 120
- Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2006 3:19 pm
Unless you make sure to get all the details you are likely just to get your lowest desaturation point in the sleep study results. Clearly for damage to the heart and the rest of the hemo-dynamic system to occur, there is a big difference wheher there are brief drops of oxygen saturation or whether the lower saturation is for longer periods of time.
Foolishly, I forgot to ask these deatils and have to try to get them from my doc at next appointment, maybe he emphasized how low 86% is in order to make sure I didn't resist CPAP... on the other hand maybe I have been a lot worse than I realize.
Foolishly, I forgot to ask these deatils and have to try to get them from my doc at next appointment, maybe he emphasized how low 86% is in order to make sure I didn't resist CPAP... on the other hand maybe I have been a lot worse than I realize.
Hi there
to answer your initial question - my destats were in the 70's for apnea's - stopped breathing for 60 to 70 seconds and I was deteriorating fast, ie, memory, emotions, etc.
since cpap therapy, I can tell that I am cognitively doing much better with my job, and my memory is getting better as well - emotions are stabalizing as well - it's been about 5 months now - and the different is extreme - but then I was diagnosed w/ severe apnea - hope that helps~
to answer your initial question - my destats were in the 70's for apnea's - stopped breathing for 60 to 70 seconds and I was deteriorating fast, ie, memory, emotions, etc.
since cpap therapy, I can tell that I am cognitively doing much better with my job, and my memory is getting better as well - emotions are stabalizing as well - it's been about 5 months now - and the different is extreme - but then I was diagnosed w/ severe apnea - hope that helps~
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Laron
Re: Oxygen saturation level
Hey there I just did my sleep study and the results scare the crap out of me. Dr said when on my side or stomach I stoppped breathing average of 73 times an hour and when on my back I stopped breathing 77 times per hour. The worst part is my o2 sat was at 50% at its lowest! I'm scared to sleep for the next 2 nights before I get my mask! I have experienced weight gain, high blood pressure, eye sight in my right eye is blurring, cluster headaches, generally lethargic, increased blood sugar, and heart beat irregularities. I am so glad I found this out. Don't wait if you think you have sleep apnea. I've always been in good shape, healthy and happy and that all slowly changed it. It is a snowball effect. Once it starts affecting you it gets worse and worse. Guys I'm 48 thought I was a bad ass but this slowly drained the tough guy right out of me. If your wife or kids or anyone tells you you stop breathing while you sleep get it checked out! They let you do study in home now and it's easy and it's your life.
Re: Oxygen saturation level
My study results showed hardly any obstructive apneas, BUT my SpO2 average was around 90% with drops to ~73%, which made me wake up. My daytime, active SpO2 runs around 96-98%. I do have COPD. Since CPAP (auto) I avergae at night around 92-94%, but rarely, if ever, drop below 83%. I added a touch of oxygen to my mix, and the drop is now rarely below 88%. The thing is, I trained myself to use diaphramatic breathing, from pulmonary rehab, and my Tai Chi classes. So that keeps things up during day, but at night, asleep, my breathing gets shallow, causing the SpO2 drops. I am wondering if BIPAP might help even more than the APAP I am using.
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Re: Oxygen saturation level
what are your stats from sleepyhead, that has your minute vent and tidal volume, that should indicate how ventilated you are
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Re: Oxygen saturation level
I imagine the person you are posting too either quit, lost interest years ago as the thread has been dead for 11 years. Mainly because it was of little good. JimLaron wrote:Hey there I just did my sleep study and the results scare the crap out of me. Dr said when on my side or stomach I stoppped breathing average of 73 times an hour and when on my back I stopped breathing 77 times per hour. The worst part is my o2 sat was at 50% at its lowest! I'm scared to sleep for the next 2 nights before I get my mask! I have experienced weight gain, high blood pressure, eye sight in my right eye is blurring, cluster headaches, generally lethargic, increased blood sugar, and heart beat irregularities. I am so glad I found this out. Don't wait if you think you have sleep apnea. I've always been in good shape, healthy and happy and that all slowly changed it. It is a snowball effect. Once it starts affecting you it gets worse and worse. Guys I'm 48 thought I was a bad ass but this slowly drained the tough guy right out of me. If your wife or kids or anyone tells you you stop breathing while you sleep get it checked out! They let you do study in home now and it's easy and it's your life.
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire
14 posts
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