O2 concentrator coming----have questions

[ameriken]

So, the VA doc had me pick up an oximeter for a night last week. He called today, and while my levels are not bad, it looks like I spent about 25% of the night in the 80's. So, they are sending an O2 concentrator which will be here tomorrow. (I believe this is a rental?). I don't need O2 during the day as my levels are great during the day, so this will bleed into my ASV setup for the nights.

It looks like I've got a mild case of overlap syndrome (CPOD/sleep apnea). viewtopic.php?f=1&t=71872&p=662771&hili ... ap#p662771

In any case, I hope and pray that this is the final missing piece of the puzzle that will bring my energy and memory back.

Any words of wisdom or advice or caution as I start down this road?
Any others with the overlap syndrome?
What kind of results did you get with the O2?

[MaxDarkside]

I don't really have any info for you, but I'm curious. I did sat in the 70's during my sleep study, but mostly just a jab down there, else in the 80's quite a lot. The Dr. didn't order supplemental O2 for me, but I did buy an oximeter with recording ability and sometimes wear it to bed to monitor me on xPAP. My sats have been in the lower 90's which is below "normal" de-satting, but not a lot. I'm curious...

[ameriken]

From what I understand, you want your sats in the 90's, at least that's what I was told. Nightime sats are typically lower than day, but should still be 90's. If you're desatting because of sleep apnea, then once you're breathing again on CPAP, then you should be back up into the 90's.

Even with CPAP, I'm still dropping into the 80's at night, probably because of the overlap syndrome, and waking up with headaches and still low energy.

[MaxDarkside]

Yes, I sat about 10 points higher on PAP than untreated. I would think that if you still sat in the 80's then O2 would be needed, but I am NOT a doctor. I love your "Advanced funeral planning. If you can't face this challenge, then you will probably need it." You know that I died and spontaneously recovered on August 1st if you saw my "My Story: Do or Die" post today. You are so right.

[ameriken]

Yes, I sat about 10 points higher on PAP than untreated. I would think that if you still sat in the 80's then O2 would be needed, but I am NOT a doctor. I love your "Advanced funeral planning. If you can't face this challenge, then you will probably need it." You know that I died and spontaneously recovered on August 1st if you saw my "My Story: Do or Die" post today. You are so right.

I've got to give credit to member 'chunkyfrog' for the funeral planning quote, I stole it from her today when she replied to someone else right here:
viewtopic/t72310/When-is-any-of-this-go ... ml#p665505

I saw your thread, I'll read it tonite. Thanks for your input!

[Roger2]

So, the VA doc had me pick up an oximeter for a night last week. He called today, and while my levels are not bad, it looks like I spent about 25% of the night in the 80's. So, they are sending an O2 concentrator which will be here tomorrow. (I believe this is a rental?). I don't need O2 during the day as my levels are great during the day, so this will bleed into my ASV setup for the nights.

It looks like I've got a mild case of overlap syndrome (CPOD/sleep apnea).

I am not sure what “overlap syndrome” is but I have been using an O2 concentrator since 2003 as well as a portable device I fill from a lox tank when I am away from home. Did your doctor tell you what liter level to set the concentrator at?

According to the research people at National Jewish (which includes most of my doctors there) your minimum saturation level should be above 90% so between 90 & 94 is usually good. Keep in mind that Oximeters are not always accurate but on the average they are typically within 4 to 5 percentage points.

I thought you had told us before that you had a recording Oximeter and if so you can probably gauge the correct liter flow yourself with that. Unfortunately I have to have the O2 24/7 and you do need to be somewhat careful with it in the night, especially if your mask comes off in your sleep. If the O2 is flowing into your bedding or mattress it only takes a small spark like from static electricity to start a fire. There have been a few deaths here in Arapahoe County in the past years from that. You might want to avoid sleepwear and bedding that builds any kind of static charge although admittedly, the chances of that occurring are somewhat slim but it is still something to think about. Other than that, there is not much to suggest, it should help a lot in giving you a better night’s sleep.

pax
Roger

[ameriken]

Hi Roger, I don't own one but I might have mentioned that I wanted to get one since I was suspicious of my levels being low. Fortunately the VA gave me one to use for a night. I haven't gotten the setting yet but I'm sure I'll have that tomorrow when Roth Medical comes out to set it up. I'm guessing I won't need that much.

Thanks for the warning, I've got a Tempurpedic mattress (memory foam) so hopefully it won't get absorbed, and I've never unintentionally taken the mask off at night (knocks on wood). Fortunately we don't have much static electricity in the house, but I'm glad you brought it up, I'll watch out for that, especially with our dry climate.

Hope to see you next month at Perkins?

[teknomom]

Ken, I hope this is the final step in getting to where you want to be. I was on O2 for about 4 months before I got my ASV just to keep my levels above 90. I haven't checked my O2 since I started therapy but hope to after Christmas. Good Luck!

Teri

[ameriken]

Teri, I was in fact thinking about you because I remember you started on O2 before you got the sleep study.

I hope this does help.

Let us know what you find out the next time you get an O2 reading.

[Mr Bill]

My mom has had one for a couple years for her central SA. They therefore tried to titrate me with O2, because I have central SA, and I'm related, and its heritable; but it made my centrals worse. Its really a no brainer. It makes an aquarium pump like noise that soon becomes easy to ignore.These units concentrate O2 from the air and so, there is no net increase in oxygen in the room except near your face where you are wearing the cannula. So, I think the fire hazard potential is low. Except possibly if you saturated your pillow or bedding near your face and were then foolish enough to light a cigarette.

My mom uses 2L/min. I suggest try sleeping with your recording pulse oximeter and it will be quite apparent how it changes your SPO2. My mom's runs over 96% at 2L/min and my SPO2 without O2 runs between 90 and 93%.

[Goofproof]

Most doctors set you at 2 LPM O2 bleed into XPAP, that doesn't make any sense to me as most of the O2 is blead out in the XPAP flow, so I set mine at 4 LPM into XPAP of 15 CM. It never killed me or anything else. Back in those days my daytime O2, was 90 or below without added O2. Now if I'm lucky I am at 92 to 93 during the day without added O2, and no longer use added O2 at all. Jim

[Mr Bill]

Most doctors set you at 2 LPM O2 bleed into XPAP, that doesn't make any sense to me as most of the O2 is blead out in the XPAP flow, so I set mine at 4 LPM into XPAP of 15 CM. It never killed me or anything else. Back in those days my daytime O2, was 90 or below without added O2. Now if I'm lucky I am at 92 to 93 during the day without added O2, and no longer use added O2 at all. Jim

Is there a little "T" connector at the exit or are you talking about the inlet? Just wondering.

[Kody]

Ken glad to hear your finally figuring this all out. Since you've gotten your numbers so low and still didn't feel well the 02 level would make sense. They told me that is why I had the headaches as well since my 02 went down to 78% in my original sleep study. Happy to say the headaches are now completely gone, however I'm still tired. Have an RT helping me out adjusting the machine, so hopefully will get it dialed in one of these days. I did check with an oximeter and the level stays in the lower 90's when using the ASV. However one night I had it on and fell asleep without the mask by mistake. It only took 20 minutes for the oximeter alarm to go off and wake me up, and I had the alarm set to go off at 83!

Please keep us updated on your progress, as you and I had some very similar things going on with our data. It's starting to sound like this may be the last piece of the puzzle for you, good luck I wish you well.

[Goofproof]

Most doctors set you at 2 LPM O2 bleed into XPAP, that doesn't make any sense to me as most of the O2 is blead out in the XPAP flow, so I set mine at 4 LPM into XPAP of 15 CM. It never killed me or anything else. Back in those days my daytime O2, was 90 or below without added O2. Now if I'm lucky I am at 92 to 93 during the day without added O2, and no longer use added O2 at all. Jim

Is there a little "T" connector at the exit or are you talking about the inlet? Just wondering.

I had a connector that bleed the O2 into the air stream after the HH, and the hose hooked onto it, the adaptor had a flap built into it that vented the O2 into the room if the XPAP shut down for safety. I also had ComfortFull FF masks that had O2 ports, but I used the adaptor (one less hose to deal with). Jim

[Lizistired]

Hi Ameriken, I have to view those slides a few more times to absorb it all. I would like to have heard that first hand. Did the speaker happen to elaborate on this part from slide #9?
"Diaphragmatic displacement when the patient is lying recumbent"
I wonder because my O2 drops when I lay down or kick back in the recliner to watch tv. It seems that this causes me to doze off.
BTW, a recording oximeter is well worth the $100.