Started CPAP a few months ago..

[thejsays]

Just introducing myself. My name is Jay and I started using a CPAP a few months ago. It has definitely been a big improvement for my life and overall well being.

My experience with the system that lead me here has been less than awesome but I'll save that long story for another time.

Since my Oxygen level were not improving enough my Dr started me on an oxygen concentrator as well. 2LPM bled into my CPAP line. I just started that a couple of days ago. So far it has been good. When I measure my SpO2 levels during the day (where I was averaging about 91%) they seem to be around 97%. So I am encouraged.

Thanks for taking the time to read.

[ChicagoGranny]

Glad to hear of your improvement.

When I measure my SpO2 levels during the day (where I was averaging about 91%) they seem to be around 97%.

The use of supplemental oxygen/CPAP at night has no effect on SpO2 levels during the day.

[thejsays]

Glad to hear of your improvement.

When I measure my SpO2 levels during the day (where I was averaging about 91%) they seem to be around 97%.

The use of supplemental oxygen/CPAP at night has no effect on SpO2 levels during the day.

Thanks.

Guess it must be a temporary fluke. As I mentioned, I only just started using the Oxygen at night so I haven't yet measured it during the day many times after using it to see it was only a fluke.

[lowsats]

Hello Jay! Welcome to the forum, there is certainly lots to be learned from people here.

Chicagogranny is correct, hemoglobin in your blood can only bind to the extra oxygen for about 10 minutes, so seeing those numbers for about 10 minutes immediately after you stop the therapy would be considered normal. However, you mentioned that you have been on therapy for a few months, and I would image by now your intercostal (between your ribs) muscles have adjusted well to the therapy and perhaps you are simply breathing better and more efficiently throughout the day, which could explain the increase in sats you are seeing. Also, due to the way CPAP works and the effect it has on the respiratory system, 2 lpm supplemental O2 delivered via CPAP is much more effective than any other passive means of administration.

The most important part, IMHO, is that subjectively you continue to feel better. Welcome again, it's a wonderful place to be!

Edit: Might I also suggest that you change your profile settings to display your equipment via text instead of the images. In the future if you need help with anything, it will make it much easier for the help to know exactly what machine and mask you're using!

[Hang Fire]

your intercostal (between your ribs) muscles have adjusted well to the therapy and perhaps you are simply breathing better and more efficiently throughout the day

CPAP will not make your daytime breathing "more efficient".

[lowsats]

CPAP will not make your daytime breathing "more efficient".

Wrong. Just like professional athletes have slower resting heart rates because their hearts become more efficient, your muscles are able to work more effectively and efficiently the stronger they are. CPAP causes PEEP, which in turn makes intercostal muscles/diaphragm stronger, which can in fact make the physical act of ventilation more efficient.


Edit: Also, the OP's addition of supplemental O2 also makes an implication that he has some type of underlying respiratory pathology or inadequacy. Either of which would be immensely benefited by even a negligible strengthening of the muscles involved with ventilation.

[ChicagoGranny]

You two can believe what you want, but my breathing at pressures as high as 18 is so relaxed and easy that I cannot believe it has made my intercostal muscles stronger.

[Hang Fire]

Either of which would be immensely benefited by even a negligible strengthening of the muscles

If it is "negligible", it is of no benefit. You've conceded?

[lowsats]

Whether or not you feel it, it has. Normal ventilation is only an active process on inhalation and passive on exhalation. On CPAP it makes both inhalation and exhalation phases active (even with EPR).

Hence why a few people new to CPAP complain of a mild, quickly dissipating chest pain/soreness in the first mornings after starting their therapy. Your chest wall muscles are active all day long, so it doesn't take them long to adjust and cope.

I actually find the higher pressures of CPAP comforting. I'm weird. When I used to volunteer to be hooked up to the machines we used for testing or training, they would always try and mess with me by turning up the pressures, never bothered me and in fact made me fall asleep on more than one occasion.


HangFire: not at all. I mean to imply that even the smallest bit of increase in strength, one that may be negligible in a normal healthy patient, may in fact benefit the OP.

[palerider]

Whether or not you feel it, it has. Normal ventilation is only an active process on inhalation and passive on exhalation. On CPAP it makes both inhalation and exhalation phases active (even with EPR)..

this is true, normally when one inhales, your diaphragm contracts, effectively increasing the area inside your ribcage, creating a negative pressure zone, which pulls in air. exhaling is just relaxing the diaphragm and allowing the elastic structures to return to their normal resting state, thus pushing the air out.

forcing air out is not a normal part of breathing, though the intercostil and abdominal muscles can do that when needed... so strengthening them, even a little, could help if someone is having problems breathing during the day.

[ChicagoGranny]

this is true, normally when one inhales, your diaphragm contracts, effectively increasing the area inside your ribcage, creating a negative pressure zone, which pulls in air. exhaling is just relaxing the diaphragm and allowing the elastic structures to return to their normal resting state, thus pushing the air out.

So, with CPAP, more muscle force is used to exhale, and less muscle force is used to inhale = net difference of zero.

Unless you are using EPR or a bilevel setting, in which case your muscles get LAZIER.

[Duck]

So, with CPAP, more muscle force is used to exhale, and less muscle force is used to inhale = net difference of zero.

Unless you are using EPR or a bilevel setting, in which case your muscles get LAZIER.

I'll go with that.

You could also argue that the muscles got more exercise before CPAP because they had to struggle to breathe (apneas).

Try running, cycling or mountain climbing to make those muscles stronger. CPAP will not do it.

[thejsays]

So... can OSA impact SpO2 level during the day?

Because last year I was told when I went in for a hernia surgery that my low SpO2 during the day was a sign of possible OSA. That is what inspired me to see my Doctor about a sleep study and lead me to be a cpap user.

If that was true and OSA does negatively impacts Sp02 levels during the day, then I guess that is why I assumed my treatment for OSA would positively impact my Sp02 levels during the day. I do now understand that the oxygen treatment alone isn't something that by itself will have a lasting impact beyond the time I am using it. However, I was given the impression by my doctor that with my cpap use I should see my SpO2 level increase during the day as well.

[lowsats]

So, with CPAP, more muscle force is used to exhale, and less muscle force is used to inhale = net difference of zero.

Unless you are using EPR or a bilevel setting, in which case your muscles get LAZIER.

I'll go with that.

You could also argue that the muscles got more exercise before CPAP because they had to struggle to breathe (apneas).

Try running, cycling or mountain climbing to make those muscles stronger. CPAP will not do it.

You're both missing the entire point of my posts. But it's not worth arguing about.

[palerider]

So, with CPAP, more muscle force is used to exhale, and less muscle force is used to inhale = net difference of zero.

well, the thing is your diaphragm is still working at normal levels during the day, you're just toning up the other muscles at night... so, net improvement.