SPO-7500 usage results and accuracy

[sparky2]

Hi,

Not too long ago someone asked about accuracy of these pulse oximeters and wondered if there would be a difference without cpap.....

Mindy, that thread was:
viewtopic/t28757/Quick-Check-of-Oximete ... 815a8c681e

The last post in that thread explained that a nurse friend of mine got equal responses with a hospital pulse oximeter and my CMS-50E - so I finally started using it.

I tried it for one night with my CPAP set to a value that is lower than my optimum pressure and got a very scary set of data from the pulse oximeter. Unfortunately, that was one of the nights that my Series M decided to not share it's detailed data with me. Based on the oximeter readings and how I felt the next day, I decided not to try that experiment again.

I have worn the device every night since then, however - seven or eight nights now. I can see a correlation in the data from Encore Pro and the CMS-50E, but it is not quite 100%. Sometimes I see some OBD events with no strong pulse or oxygen response. Likewise, I do not always see an OBD event when there is a drop in SaO2 or a heart rate change.

I have noticed, however, that when I am a "large leak" situation where the CPAP is not working at all for me, I always get a large response in the pulse oximeter. This is basically like taking the CPAP off for a short period of time (about 15 - 20 minutes) and then looking at the pulse oximeter response. It is very scary to see what can happen in that short amount of time. I hate to think how long I have been doing that to my body before being diagnosed with sleep apnea.

I have still not gotten my AHI down to where I want it, as I am still around 7.0 +/-, but I have gotten the leaks under control. Last night with no leaks I did not go under 92% SaO2. Things are slowly getting better with the help of the pulse oximeter.

[mindy]

Sparky,

Thanks for sharing that info! Sorry I couldn't remember that thread ... memory is one of those things that goes downhill fast with age

Yes, I too find it scary to see how much blood O2 levels can drop so much and so quickly. It's opened my eyes to what's truly important for my therapy!

Mindy

[Barks1]

Can O2 levels drop during the day?
About 10.30am to about 11.30 is my worsed time when feel crap. Just wondering if my O2 levels drop around that time too.

[mindy]

Barks,

I would think that could be many things ... including blood sugar.

Mindy

[Nodzy]

Can O2 levels drop during the day?
About 10.30am to about 11.30 is my worsed time when feel crap. Just wondering if my O2 levels drop around that time too.

Your O2 levels vary constantly, and... YES... they surely can drop while you're awake and moving, sitting, walking, jogging and standing in addition to when sleeping. Much depends on your general health, physiology, ailments, medications.... and numerous factors. Even foods factor into it.

My suggestion is to get a recording oximeter with software so you can wear it, import the data into a computer... and check it yourself. You may know someone who has one you can borrow. Good luck.


Nodzy

[Barks1]

Nodzy/ Mindy thanks for the tips. I planning to get SPO 7500 soon and looking forward to seeing the data and maybe talking it over here.

[fire-151]

I also wanted to know just how effective my cpap therapy was. So I bought a recording pulse ox. I have been on cpap with oxygen since August. I did a pulse ox before getting the cpap and determined I also need oxygen. Got a auto m series in December, but did not know if I was improving. Bought a pulse ox in Jan.. I also have lost 43 lbs since the first of January. My goal was to get off of the Oxygen, knowing I will probably always need a cpap. My first test was no oxygen and no cpap for a base, results where :

Sp02 dist. min % of time # DeSats
100% - 94% 21.5 3.5 0
93% - 88% 95.0 15.5 17
87% - 80% 299.6 48.9 218
79% - 70% 174.9 28.5 361
69% - 60% 20.1 3.3 71
59% - 50% .4 .1 2
From these results it was obvious I needed help!!!!!
Next test was No Oxygen just Cpap
Sp02 dist. min % of time # DeSats
100% - 94% 209.5 42.3 0
93% - 88% 226.1 45.6 127
87% - 80% 57.1 11.5 148
79% - 70% 2.5 0.5 .8

This showed that the Cpap did it’s job. But I wanted to see if I still needed the Oxygen… Next test Oxygen 2 lpm + Cpap
Sp02 dist. min % of time # DeSats
100% - 94% 266.2 58.0 0
93% - 88% 118.0 30.3 38
87% - 80% 37.8 9.7 48
79% - 70% 3.8 1.0 26

Showed this to my Dr., she thinks I can probably go off of the oxygen, which is my goal, without the pulse ox How would I know…?

[Nodzy]

I would think that could be many things ... including blood sugar.

Yeah... what Mindy said, ^ there.

That time of morning "crap" feeling... the 'tween breakfast and kind'a closer to lunch period.... could well be glucose levels sagging below "your" norms. Hypoglycemia feelings are documented to be in the "crap" range.

As a hint: My norms when I finally started getting good therapy, in 2006, were that I suffered hypoglycemia conditions at 77to 80 glucose count. Now, eight months later my bottom level is 63 to 66 glucose count before I start feeling notably crappy from low blood sugar. And my "food NOW before I hit the floor" point is at 58 to 61.

My "where you live" range has slowly adjusted to be closer to medical standards.

Those frequent, repeated apnea-generated hypoxias cause unknown numbers of subtle chemical imbalances at cell level... all of which are detrimental to health and feeling good. Not to mention, they promote or worsen multiple other ailments.

Great PAP therpay, for most folks, does allow the body to attempt to normalize metabolism that's been repeatedly hindered by oxygen deficiencies (hypoxias). Well, Nodzy thinks so.

Nodzy

[mindy]

I've heard similar things about the effect of CPAP therapy on inflammation -- which is related to so many things including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I am under the impression that low O2 levels are not good for any of our internal organs.

I've been working some more with my SPO-7500 and the results seem to mirror my general AHI results ... I haven't reviewed on an hourly basis but my oximeter results are much better when my AHI is below 3. Now that I've got my pressure range at 11-13, my AHI is around 2.0 and I spend about 60-80% of the night at O2sat of 90% and above and none below 85%. If I increase pressure to 14 or drop it below 11, my AHI goes up and o2sat goes down so I think this is about as good as it gets for me.

It's really helpful to have those o2sat numbers along with the Encore reports!

Mindy

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, AHI

[ozij]

[quote="mindy"]
<snip>
I've been working some more with my SPO-7500 and the results seem to mirror my general AHI results ... I haven't reviewed on an hourly basis but my oximeter results are much better when my AHI is below 3. Now that I've got my pressure range at 11-13, my AHI is around 2.0 and I spend about 60-80% of the night at O2sat of 90% and above and none below 85%. If I increase pressure to 14, my AHI goes up and o2sat goes down so I think this is about as good as it gets for me, as it does when I'm below 11.

It's really helpful to have those o2sat numbers along with the Encore reports!

Mindy

[Nodzy]

Mindy and O,

Absolutely. And you nailed it... the "Magic 5" actually correlates to a dollar limit on med-type effort on behalf of the patient.... in the end. And 'bureauocratic' is the right tag.

It's no less wrong than the BMI Index that's been adjusted downward multiple times as they figure out how wrong each preceding "guidline" was.

And... Glucose Index guidlines have been adjusted downward similarly multiple times over the past 12 years too.

While harldy healed and still suffering chronic and endless neuropathy and fibromyalgia pain, I do generally feel somewhat less crushed on many days.... now that my Overall AHI consistently remains below 2.2.

Since late last year I'm getting 0.6 to 1.4 as weekly AHI averages. No magic cure for me, but at least I feel somewhat human on more days than during the past many years. I mean, 'cept when I have a bug or nasal congestion. Thankfully that isn't often.

It appears to me that the best target would be "3" and surely below.

Nodzy

[mindy]

IMHO, since any threshold numbers are to some degree approximations based on studies and often involve trade-offs (I've calculated some), they are generally not perfect. It would be really interesting to see how others find their AHI and O2sats corresponding. I hadn't expected it to be as good as it is in predicting. If I had to guess, I would think that the o2sat may be the more valuable measure to me because it's closer to the "real" impact on my body rather than being a number like AHI that says how many times I stop breathing.

I'm still tickled pink to have both Encore and the PulseOx - wouldn't want to be without either one. I already got a supply of batteries.

Mindy

[ozij]

[quote="mindy"]

I'm still tickled pink to have both Encore and the PulseOx - wouldn't want to be without either one. I already got a supply of batteries.

Mindy

[DreamStalker]

Yea, it sure would be nice if they made smart PAP machines with a pulse ox option that you could just add by plugging into the back of the machine to record along with efficacy.

Instead, they just keep coming out with smaller but dumber machines with no data capabilities at all -- such as Sandman, Sleep Easy, Zzz -Pap, IntelliPap (ain’t that an oxymoron? … pun intended )

[mindy]

Yes, that would certainly be convenient!!!

m