Oxygen issues not just when Im asleep but when awake as well

[awaiken]

I decided to use the contec oximeter all day today and have the alert go off whenever i fell below 90, and the alarm went off a few times.. I'm fully awake, not even sleeping, and it's happening. I would love to see how often this happens through the course of a normal day for me, but it would be difficult to use something like the CONTEC all day at work having to type on a computer.


Any recommendations? What kind of doctor specializes in something like this?

Is there a name for any disorder for oxygen issues happening when awake? I sometimes catch myself not breathing or holding my breath in sometimes involuntarily..

I appreciate your help...

(i'm not a smoker, never smoked, work out everyday)

[JDS74]

Living at a high altitude could cause that -
Lung function issues could cause that - so Pulmonologist is the specialty
Central apnea issues could also - so Neurologist is the specialty
Peripheral circulation issues could also - so cardiology or vascular specialty, or endocrinology (diabetes).
There must be other possibilities but I can't think of them right now.

But, since you already have an oximeter, how about wearing it all night if it is a recording one and see how an 8-hour period does. Otherwise, all day Saturday and Sunday and keep a journal of the SpO2 levels once each hour.

I'd start with my primary care physician who should be in Internal Medicine and let him guide you about how to get a diagnosis. Your symptoms are too non-specific to make a good guess on line - better to see your PCP.

[Pugsy]

What is your normal at rest (breathing normally) pulse ox reading?
What altitude do you live at?
The specialist...pulmonologist most likely...that's a respiratory/lung specialist.

[JDS74]

BTW the medical term for this is Hypoxemia but it is generally applied when the SpO2 level is down mostly and not occasionally as you are observing.

[awaiken]

Living at a high altitude could cause that -
Lung function issues could cause that - so Pulmonologist is the specialty
Central apnea issues could also - so Neurologist is the specialty
Peripheral circulation issues could also - so cardiology or vascular specialty, or endocrinology (diabetes).
There must be other possibilities but I can't think of them right now.

But, since you already have an oximeter, how about wearing it all night if it is a recording one and see how an 8-hour period does. Otherwise, all day Saturday and Sunday and keep a journal of the SpO2 levels once each hour.

I'd start with my primary care physician who should be in Internal Medicine and let him guide you about how to get a diagnosis. Your symptoms are too non-specific to make a good guess on line - better to see your PCP.

Used it all night last night, seems pretty normal.. i watched a youtube video that compared CONTEC (which is honestly a shitty chinese knockoff brand) along with other more serious brands like nonin, and contec was at times 20 points off which is scary

[awaiken]

BTW the medical term for this is Hypoxemia but it is generally applied when the SpO2 level is down mostly and not occasionally as you are observing.

thanks..

What is your normal at rest (breathing normally) pulse ox reading?
What altitude do you live at?
The specialist...pulmonologist most likely...that's a respiratory/lung specialist.

I'm east coast, in the new york area, so sea level basically. i do catch myself holding my breath sometimes completely involuntary which is scary

[Goofproof]

Many O2 monitors aren't made for use while exercising or working out. Most are made for resting readings. Jim

[awaiken]

Many O2 monitors aren't made for use while exercising or working out. Most are made for resting readings. Jim

How about just monitoring my oxygen levels through a normal day (outside of working out). Is there any value in that kind of information

[Pugsy]

Are you sure the alarm going off wasn't from loss of contact artifact causing a low reading?

[awaiken]

Are you sure the alarm going off wasn't from loss of contact artifact causing a low reading?

I'm going to use it a few more times laying still in bed to be sure.. but I didnt lose contact when it went off, i was just watching tv.

[Goofproof]

Many O2 monitors aren't made for use while exercising or working out. Most are made for resting readings. Jim

How about just monitoring my oxygen levels through a normal day (outside of working out). Is there any value in that kind of information

O2 levels are more of a guide line. After my bypass my O2 was 90, they put me on O2 24/7, for 9 months, then removed the need for O2, my levels were the same. 4 years later they put me on O2 with XPAP at 3L during that 5 year period I am now at 93.

This is with a good dr, it is what it is, worrying about things you can't control will put you in the ground quicker, than not! Jim

[awaiken]

Ok so I used the spo2/pulse monitor last night and set it to alarm if I hit subnormal levels. My pulse went down to 43-48 about 3 times which woke me up. Now I'm concerned, was using CPAP all night too

[LSAT]

Ok so I used the spo2/pulse monitor last night and set it to alarm if I hit subnormal levels. My pulse went down to 43-48 about 3 times which woke me up. Now I'm concerned, was using CPAP all night too

Puls rate of 43-48 is fine for most people....Have you ever searched? Sounds like you have a lot of anxiety.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/inde ... 722AAVBxbK

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/inde ... 20sleeping

[awaiken]

Ok so I used the spo2/pulse monitor last night and set it to alarm if I hit subnormal levels. My pulse went down to 43-48 about 3 times which woke me up. Now I'm concerned, was using CPAP all night too

Puls rate of 43-48 is fine for most people....Have you ever searched? Sounds like you have a lot of anxiety.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/inde ... 722AAVBxbK

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/inde ... 20sleeping

I read that this may be common for people who are physically active. I have a sedentary job, i work out minimum hour a day, or 2 hours on a good day but I would not call myself an athlete. i switch it up daily between yoga, jogging and weight training.. but I am not doing amazing cardio (usually 30 mins of cardio) that would condition my body to pump less blood, in my opinion. It's good to know this is nothing to be worried about though, might give me less anxiety. I did freak out seeing pulse rate in mid 40s this morning.

[Zoopshine]

Let me try to put your mind more at ease.

Those type of devices measure oxygen levels by reading blood flow through your finger. Therefore, the only thing that it is measuring is the level of oxygen that is currently circulating through that particular finger. Anything at all, from a clot, through temperature variations, right down to your finger being bent, can affect that blood flow. Commercial/home use machines are designed primarily for spot checking during rest, such as sleep. If you are using this while you are up and active during the day, it would be far more surprising to see no "episodes." Furthermore, you cannot measure pulse using these devices with any real degree of accuracy for precisely the reasons I mentioned above. Your fingers contain very small vessels that can easily be pinched, not to mention the fact that the device is one-size-fits-all. Simply wiggling your finger can affect the reading. I know because I do exactly that when I'm instructing nurse aides in its use on patients! It is a tool with very limited uses, nothing more.

What I'm trying to say here is that I think you're giving yourself needless, unnecessary stress. What made you want to check your oxygen levels during the day? When you are fully conscious, the best indicator that you are short of breath is, frankly, feeling short of breath. You don't need this machine to tell you that.