O2 down to 75% during sleep study

[kell420]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea don't know the exact numbers but they said I was rated severe. Since last May I have been trying get used to my cpap but because I have lost 50 lbs and thought I didn't need it been trying to sleep without it. last 2 home sleep studies have been showing again dropping for a few seconds to 75% o2. Doctor thinks I have some other problem with my lungs wants me to see a pulmonologist I thought the doctor I was seeing was one he only is for sleep disorders. My question is has anyone seen during their sleep study O2 dropping that low or into the 80's when you stop breathing? My awake o2 is in the low 90's like 92-95 but if I breath little deeper It goes up to 98%. Doctor said I should not go skiing anymore until my lungs checked out I brought a small pulse o2 meter I bought on amazon it was reading 83% at 9500 Feet high. I didn't feel bad I skied all day long even higher then that up around 10k feet high. About 5 years ago doctor noticed I have a elevated diaphragm he said not to worry about it I wonder if that is the problem.

[palerider]

My question is has anyone seen during their sleep study O2 dropping that low or into the 80's when you stop breathing?

lots and lots of people, 75% isn't anywhere near the lowest people have reported.

[kell420]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one because the doctor who I think isn't actually a doctor he might be a PA because all my sleep studies are signed by someone else who is a doctor told me none of his other patients have low o2 levels like mine. If I keep allowing that to happen I could drop dead of a stroke. I do feel better on the cpap so I will continue to use it best I can. Just came down with a chest cold not easy to use I need to get a full face mask for when the nose is plugged up.

[Mudrock63]

My O2 level was in the 60's. Not good, but neither was yours. Congrats on the weight loss, but that may not cure you. It's a fallacy that only overweight people have sleep apnea.

[Titan]

75% for a few seconds might be an artefact from a loose probe or laying on your arm - was the rest of the night not too bad?

83% saturation at 9k feet may not be too bad either - air is starting to get a bit thin up there.

Like you I keep very active, but have low 90's awake saturation at rest while awake, with the levels back up to 98-99% with a big breath or two. I have no lung or heart disease on extensive testing - maybe it's an adaptation to (recently diagnosed) probably life-long sleep apnoea. Sounds worth a visit for you to see the lung guys for further tests just to make sure you don't have something that needs sorting out, but maybe you have the same sort of thing.

[Julie]

And I would want to know if the person I was seeing was a PA or an MD!

[ChicagoGranny]

I have lost 50 lbs

You should start using Sleepyhead software. All the regulars on here use it and would not be without it.

If you are not currently using SH, ask for help to start.

[Thatgirl]

Well the doctor or PA is certainly right that sleep apnea can put you at risk for strokes.

[IDontSnoreISwear]

SpO2 in the 60s here, for a significant portion of the night.

[stienman]

My question is has anyone seen during their sleep study O2 dropping that low or into the 80's when you stop breathing?

Yes. My sleep study had me going down to 56%, and my own measurements prior to apap show me spending over 25% of my night under 88%.

Since I started the apap I've rarely dipped below 90%, and never below 88%. But I'm only one week into apap therapy, and am still using my pulse/oxygen logger at night to get a good idea of what's happening while I adjust my therapy. I'll probably stop using the pulse/oxygen logger nightly and only put it on occasionally when I'm noticing changes in my apap treatment, as I'm convinced the apap has largely resolved my low oxygen problem.

[palerider]

told me none of his other patients have low o2 levels like mine.

from what I've heard here, it seems lots of doctors the same thing to lots of their patients.

[kell420]

Thanks for all the reply's I'm sure I'm hitting 75% because last 2 home studies and 1 in-house study all showed the same thing my breathing stops I hit 75%. I suspect the doctor/PA was trying to scare me into using the CPAP because I was not taking it seriously. He never made all this hoobla about the low O2 until my last visit where I didn't use the cpap for a month. I think I have had apnea 10 years one would have thought I would have dropped dead by now wasn't for my wife complaining about my snoring I would have never even bothered with the doctor. I don't really feel that tired if I get 8 hours of sleep without the cpap. I do feel better when I use the CPAP in the morning less sleepy when I first get up and my chest hurts sometimes from all the snoring so that doesn't happen when I'm on CPAP. He just said my low O2 was getting him very nervous seems that goes hand in hand with apnea. Makes sense if you don't breath for extended time it is going to see a drop in 02. As far as weight loss I never had apnea until I put on all this weight didn't even snore until I got over 210 for someone who is only 5.6" tall that is I got up to 260 at my peak weight. I'm at 195 now my goal is 160 the weight I was back in my 20's before I had all these medical problems it's the only thing I can control in my life what I eat and if I exercise or not. I just have to force my self to get used to the cpap I'm getting about 4-5 hours a night on it I adjust the temp and humidity I'm getting more hours a night.

[palerider]

didn't even snore until I got over 210

this is more of a musing on a point, rather than trying to say anything about whether you're right or not... but a lot of people say things like that... "I didn't snore till I gained weight"... but at the same time they're gaining weight, they're also getting older, and things change...

my grandfather snored like a freight train as far back as I can remember, to the point that when I was a kid, grandmother and grandfather slept on different *FLOORS* of the house... and he was always quite trim, in his 60's he could still wear his ww2 army uniform.

[kell420]

didn't even snore until I got over 210

this is more of a musing on a point, rather than trying to say anything about whether you're right or not... but a lot of people say things like that... "I didn't snore till I gained weight"... but at the same time they're gaining weight, they're also getting older, and things change...

my grandfather snored like a freight train as far back as I can remember, to the point that when I was a kid, grandmother and grandfather slept on different *FLOORS* of the house... and he was always quite trim, in his 60's he could still wear his ww2 army uniform.

I'm only referring to my apnea and I feel my apnea is related to obesity. I understand others who have apnea are thin has nothing to do with obesity, but this fact has been studied and Sleep apnea has a relation to obesity. I'm still hopeful that when I get down to 150's my apnea will go away my doctor said he has seen many who have been able to get rid of apnea by losing weight until then I have to learn to sleep with the CPAP.