Oximeter Results Help? Newbie Train Snorer

[StevenXXXX]

Oh and I forgot to add that very often I will wake at night saturated in sweat (Nice I Know), my T shirt will often be drenched or the exact opposite I am freezing cold to the core as if I've been outside all night.

We don't have any heating on in the room and it's winter here but even my hair can be drenched which is never under the quilt. I'm at a loss to explain this.

This sweating CAN be caused by OSA (the extra exertion required to maintain your breathing when you stop breathing).

I do live in a very humid climate, so we have to run the A/C a lot just to keep the mugginess down.

But, before getting on CPAP I also sweat that much during the night.
It quit the very 1st night I was on CPAP.

I think that with that problem and the various others, you SHOULD DEFINITELY have a Sleep Study done.
All of the electrodes they hook up to you might very well show other problems that you are not even aware of.

[Slartybartfast]

To my untrained, but familiar with what my SPO2 and Pulse traces look like, eyes, your traces look fine. Yes, there's a sharktooth pattern, but it doesn't dip very far and the resolution in the CMS pulse oximeters isn't outstanding, and isn't really adequate for diagnosis.

However you've mentioned a number of things that indicate you really SHOULD have a sleep study. First is the snoring. That's indicative of airway obstruction. It won't get any better as you age. You're still young and skinny, if you don't mind my saying so. You' won't always be that way. Second, the waking up drenched in sweat. That shouldn't happen. And your cardiac condition. That's always cause for concern.

Were I you, I'd definitely show the data to your GP. However, GPs aren't sleep docs, and yours likely doesn't routinely see SPO2/pulse traces. Pulmonologists, cardiologists and sleep specialists, on the other hand see that kind of data all the time. Get a referral to a sleep doc. Preferably one who's also a pulmonologist. That is a good combination for your situation.

Get the sleep study and put your concerns to bed, so to speak.

[M.D.Hosehead]

Hi, stud500.

Another angle no on has mentioned yet:

You wrote that your new wife may be wishing she hadn't married you. Is that because of snoring?

Because if snoring's a problem, XPAP is almost guaranteed to stop that.

If, as seems possible, you have sleep apnea, documenting that diagnosis is the key to insurance coverage for the machine.

Add in the possibility that XPAP may clear up your "brain fog" and you have a number of good reasons to have a sleep test. I don't think you should worry about "being a pest".

[HoseCrusher]

I have to respectfully disagree with Hose crusher. I think you do have a case for a sleep study. AFAIK the official definition of an apnea is 4% desaturation. And I see plenty of those. They do not go below 88% but they are still desaturations. And with heart damage there may be cheyne stokes respiration which may also explain the saw tooth pattern.

On my sleep study my O2 levels did not drop below 92% but I was diagnosed with borderline severe OSA 30.1 AHI.

If Studio500 can swing it I would suggest a sleep study.

Just my IUESHO (ignorant uninformed ever so humble opinion) !

Did you happen to notice the part where his pulse events are listed at 1.6 per hour? This is a little different from your AHI of 30+ per hour.

With that said, there is something going on when he sleeps. It's just that major airway obstructions don't seem to be a part of it.

[chunkyfrog]

All the posters here make very good points:
You need to see a doctor--a new doctor!
Changing doctors is not hard--I've had to do it myself.
This one is doing you no good, and it will eventually lead to harm, maybe worse.
Something is definitely wrong; probably with your sleep.
We are not physicians here-well at least most of us.
We can only offer our experience and advice--it worked for me.
Not even a doctor can diagnose you online--your current doctor has not done any better in person.
You need to let the barge float down 'de-Nile' without you.
I sincerely hope you are willing to fight for a definitive diagnosis and proper care.
--Just do it. Good luck.

[zeeser]

Thanks for the tip on the oximeter; I ordered my CMS50F from Amazon today, $189.

Cheers, Tom

[sewsleepy]

Studio500, did you decide to go in and see your doc yet? I just wanted to contribute one thing, my and my husband's experience is that all you have to do is say you snore and you suffer from daytime sleepiness and you are indicated for a sleep study right there. You should not have to do any convincing beyond that to get a referral. If you tell your doc you are drifting off at the wheel, that settles it. If he balks, tell him you'd feel better knowing what's going on.

My husband snored like you describe for years and years before I could convince him to get in for a sleep study. When he finally did, they got him right on cpap and he has felt so much better. Plus I really appreciate the blissful quiet at night