Cpap usage and O2 Saturation

[Monterrey8]

Just a curiosity question. Does anyone know if using a cpap can lower your O2 saturation. It just seems as if I'm always a little tired and I just wondering about this.

[ejackson1200]

In theory it should raise it as you are not having as many episodes of apnea.

For us his sats are down about 2-3 points an hour on average when he's not on the cpap as he's gotten up and fallen asleep before remembering to rehook up.

Adding 2L of O2 takes it up about the same amount.

BUT there is a confounding factor for some in the carbon dioxide levels not falling enough to trigger them to breathe. So I suspect in fact that it doesn't take everyone's levels up.

[moresleep]

Just a curiosity question. Does anyone know if using a cpap can lower your O2 saturation. It just seems as if I'm always a little tired and I just wondering about this.

Are you saying you're feeling more tired than before starting Cpap? That should not be, at least not once you get used to Cpap. Proper Cpap therapy prevents the obstructive apneas that cause desaturations. However, with some people, breathing pressurized air can increase central apneas (where you just don't try to breath), essentially trading the obstructive events for central events. Medications can also contribute to central apneas. Possible solutions: different meds, Cpap at less pressure (if still effective against obstructive events), Bipap, or, ASV.

Tireness, of course, can be cause by many things, most of them not O2 desats, An easy way to tell if you are experiencing desats is to buy a recording oximeter (about $100 on Ebay).