CPAP and Oxygen Question

[Grumpygus]

I've been using the CPAP mashine for a straight week now, and even though that max time I've stayed asleep with it on is 4 hours, I've had dramatic improvements overall.
However, according to my OXIMETER readings, my SPO2 is still dropping several times a night to 70. Should I be concerned with this? and If so, should I ask the VA about an inline supplemental oxygen supply for my mask?

Thanks guys for all your help!

[Sheriff Buford]

Yes, I would certainly mention it to them. Most cpapers' (including myself) O2 levels dramatically dropped during their 1st sleep study test, and maintained "normal levels" using cpap therapy... during the second sleep study test. It appears you may have other issues that cpap therapy is not addressing. Low oxygen levels to your body is not good. Again, tell your doctor. I would though, make sure I have my cpap "numbers" are under control. That's probably the first thing the doctor will look at.

Sheriff

[Xney]

Yes, any regular drop in O2% is medically relevant. Also, it will probably cause sleep disturbances, though you may have less of them now on xPAP therapy.

[greatunclebill]

ask your doc to order an overnight o2 study that he can use to order o2 thru your insurance and dme. i'm sure insurance won't accept a report from an unknown oximeter administered by the patient. if you ask monday you can likely have the oximeter delivered same day, use it that night and have your o2 concentrator that day or the next. when it involves your o2, the gears roll smoother and quicker. the criteria is that o2 drops below 88% for a certain number of minutes over the course of the night.

[Grumpygus]

Awesome, Thanks!!!
I'll call the Respiratory folks at the VA on Monday and let them know what's going on.

[-tim]

Some software marks the 88% line so I would talk to your doctor if your below that.

Just be careful of what you are reading. I can sit here in my chair and move the sensor and drop from 98% to 60% in seconds. Any graphical data showing a drop in O2 will show it decreasing, not straight down. If you want to see how O2 drops, get someone to watch you, sit in a chair you can't fall out of, hook up your o2 sensor, exhale and hold your breath. If you're using a program to record the data, be suspicious of any drops that are much quicker than the breath holding experiment.

If you want to see a false drop, put on the O2 sensor and move around a bunch. You'll get drops that instantly come back.

The O2 sensor shines two lights through your finger. You can see the red one and there is an invisible infrared one as well much like the one on your TV remote control. The sensor uses one light to calibrate the other and it has to do it several times a second. The difference between the two lights is related to your O2 levels. When you move around, it gets confused and can report low values.