Need help understanding SpO2 Report, Please?

[jxl]

Rogue Star,

DON'T use CPAP/BiPAP until you see a pulmonologist. The yellow phlegm you are spitting regularly is a sign that there is something wrong there. I don't know what that might be - it might be even some "trivial" and easily curable disease that has been left unnoticed and untreated. Try to do at least some basic tests of you lungs (I don't know much about lungs - I guess that would be an x-ray, lab study of the phlegm you are spitting, and measurements of your vital lung capacity). It will be good to have a general blood test too! It will give insight what's happening in your body.

As elg5cats suggested - wear the oximeter while you are awake. See how it changes before and after coughing.

When your wife hear you snoring - what kind of snore was it? Was it a kind that you finally were able to overcome it and inhale, or a kind of snore that ended up in "suffocation"? She could record you while you sleep and snore.

Speaking simplistically, the problem is either in your throat, in your brain, or in your lungs (or in a combination of some of the above).
If it's in your throat - than you have an Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The soft tissues of you throat are collapsing when you fell asleep and are closing the airways. When you try to overcome this obstruction you snore.

If it's in your head - than you would have a Central Sleep Apnea. The brain doesn't give timely signals to the breathing muscles and they "forget" to breath sometimes.

If it's in your lungs - than there could be a lot of things. If the problem is there doing CPAP/BiPAP therapy might be dangerous.

Looking at the detailed graph of you pusleoximeter data I see the "wave-form". I read somewhere that this is typical for apnea - you have difficulties or stop breathing (for whatever reasons) for probably 20-30 seconds, the level of the blood oxygen drops, than you breath again and it raises. And it is going that way over and over whole night. If you have nightmares - this is another sign that you might have apnea. But having so limited data we can only speculate now what (and where) is wrong. The blood test and the lung's vital capacity tests should make things clearer.

If you decide not to do any tests and want to go straight to experimenting - I feel (and I am speaking strictly of your situation) that trying small amounts of supplemental oxygen would be a little safer for you than cpap/bipap.

Although your situation is serious, there is no need to panic. You have slept that way for years, without any incidents. And I was very surprised to read that you wake up well rested. My oximeter readings look better than yours, but I feel terrible in the mornings. This is the most important indicator - the way that you feel.

[RogueStar]

Thanks again for all the input.
I agree with the advise given so far.
First of all, I am now not convinced I have an obstruction in my breathing. I don't get that gasping feeling at night.
Maybe my situation is closer to central apnea or more likely a lung problem.
I started taking Mucinex and my lungs have really cleared out. I seem to breath deeper, feel better and I slept all thru the night last night without any out of breath episodes. I feel like dynamite today. Never realized what a difference a good sleep can make. I'll work with my ANP next week and do some more oximeter studies to get this thing nailed down. I was starting to get a little discouraged and depressed about this whole thing but have a whole new attitude about it now.

Thanks all, I'll let you know what i find out.

John

[elg5cats]

Thanks again for all the input.
I agree with the advise given so far.
First of all, I am now not convinced I have an obstruction in my breathing. I don't get that gasping feeling at night.
Maybe my situation is closer to central apnea or more likely a lung problem.
I started taking Mucinex and my lungs have really cleared out. I seem to breath deeper, feel better and I slept all thru the night last night without any out of breath episodes. I feel like dynamite today. Never realized what a difference a good sleep can make. I'll work with my ANP next week and do some more oximeter studies to get this thing nailed down. I was starting to get a little discouraged and depressed about this whole thing but have a whole new attitude about it now. Thanks all, I'll let you know what i find out. John

As you begin to feel better, don't overlook the fact your 02 sats are abnormal.......it's possible you can have OSA and have no knowledge of obstructed breathing when it is occurring, you may sleep through it......not everyone who has OSA is self aware of what is occurring. Equally, it's very possible to have more than one thing going on at the same time, such as central apneas, OSA, asthma, COPD, etc!

elg5cats

[SuperGeeky]

'Denial is a nice warm blanket'! You may think your feeling better, but relative to what??

Happens to me all the time, I'm used to feeling like crap... I get sick with a sinus infection or what ever, get used to that and then after seeing the doctor, realizing how truly sick I was... Gosh, why didn't I go to the Doctor??

Were in between Health Insurers right now because my wife got a new job. Feel like crap, rather put up with it, then pay..

Well it's getting old...

SG

[RogueStar]

I got a PM from a member who suggested recording with a microphone throughout the night to listen for audible breathing abnormalities. I already have the equipment and software so I will try that tonight. I can record with the oximeter at the same time and corolate the desats with the sounds. Pretty soon I'll have my own sleep study clinic in my bedroom.

Thanks again

John

[jxl]

Glad you are feeling better, John! Please, keep us posted on your (self) study and progress.

[elg5cats]

I got a PM from a member who suggested recording with a microphone throughout the night to listen for audible breathing abnormalities. I already have the equipment and software so I will try that tonight. I can record with the oximeter at the same time and corolate the desats with the sounds. Pretty soon I'll have my own sleep study clinic in my bedroom. Thanks again John

The first time I became concerned with possible OSA was on vacation where I was teased for "snoring." I had NEVER been told I snored, and NEVER heard myself snoring before, but I had gasp the night of "snoring" as I went to sleep in a hotel room shared with a family member. When I got home, I put a voice activated recorder in bed with me. Not only did I hear my snoring, I heard silence for breathing cessation and gasping for air.....so putting a recorder in your bed is not a bad idea.........what might be less than the best idea in your situation, is to keep prolonging diagnostics without an end in sight without a plan for beginning treatment!!! Honestly, if your pulse ox report was happening to me and it wasn't my asthma, it might scare the s*i* out of me. In fact, if it were my asthma, it would still scare me!!! I don't think I would "monkey around" with this to save money! Breathing still isn't optional! It's essential.

elg5cats