Oxygen Question For Those Data Capable Machines

[2Tim215]

I am curious if successful CPAP treatment brings the oxygen levels to normal or near normal? What should our oxygen levels be on CPAP and can we expect to maintain them with adjustments on data capable machines if we see they have dropped?

[metron9]

Do you have an O2 monitor? I am not aware of a cpap machine that has O2 sensors.
I want to buy an O2 monitor but I see the only ones you can buy without a script don't have data saving capabilities.

[Pugsy]

I replied to Metron9 about recording pulse oximeters in his thread.

To 2Tim215...
During sleep titration studies I think the cut off is 88% to be considered as acceptable.
Ideally effective cpap treatment will limit the apnea events so that there are minimal to none drops in oxygen levels from "normal".
Normal can vary between people though so what your daytime normal might be different from my daytime normal.
So when you get your pulse ox you will want to check your awake oxygen levels to find out what is normal for you.
Then when you use it at night you will have something to compare it to. It's normal for oxygen levels to drop a little during sleep so a minor drop is usually not significant.
Prolonged oxygen level drops are the hardest on the body.

[2Tim215]

Thank you for replies.
Pugsy, I'll do that, run a check to see where I'm at in the wake and then see what it records on CPAP. Post Office just up-dated the tracking, I'll have it tomorrow. Already downloaded and read manuals, Kevin sent me the software link so I'm set for a first trial tomorrow.

I should have been more specific about the question. It would apply to those who check their oxygen with data capable oximeters during CPAP. I am wondering if the levels increase with long term CPAP use to normal levels. My test results are almost two years old. After looking over the report several times trying to understand it better it appears I was at 91 to 98 at 7cm for the CPAP duration. Really looking forward to a Autoset, technology is amazing to where we are at today!

[SleepyToo2]

I was told by my sleep doc that if your apnea is treated effectively, your SaO2 will be normalized. Certainly my SaO2 has been normal when I have checked it (only a couple of times, but I don't see the need to do it every night). The key is the word "effectively." If you do not have a full efficacy data-capable machine, you are not going to know if it is providing effective treatment, in which case your O2 may be lower than "normal."

[archangle]

By the way, you sort of have to learn the limitations of pulseoxen. They're doing some very difficult measurements. Sometimes if you move, you'll get a glitch and get wrong readings. Usually, if they show a good reading, it's correct. Sometimes, they'll glitch down and give you a wrong reading. Look at the graphs. If it drops from 90% to 70% in 10 seconds, it's probably not a real reading. Also, you can get a feel for how a real reading "wiggles."

The first night I used mine, it showed my minimum SpO2 was 20%, but when I looked, it dropped to from 90% to 20% and went back to 90% within 10 seconds. That would have been really scary if I didn't know how to look at the graphs.

The CMS-50D software will also turn the trace from color to gray some of the time when it figures the readings are invalid.

[2Tim215]

By the way, you sort of have to learn the limitations of pulseoxen. They're doing some very difficult measurements. Sometimes if you move, you'll get a glitch and get wrong readings. Usually, if they show a good reading, it's correct. Sometimes, they'll glitch down and give you a wrong reading. Look at the graphs. If it drops from 90% to 70% in 10 seconds, it's probably not a real reading. Also, you can get a feel for how a real reading "wiggles."

The first night I used mine, it showed my minimum SpO2 was 20%, but when I looked, it dropped to from 90% to 20% and went back to 90% within 10 seconds. That would have been really scary if I didn't know how to look at the graphs.

The CMS-50D software will also turn the trace from color to gray some of the time when it figures the readings are invalid.

The CMS-50D software will also turn the trace from color to gray some of the time when it figures the readings are invalid.

Okay, appreciate the reply, great information. That gives me a head start of what to look for and not be alarmed about!

[woodworkerjunkie]

Tim, here is a screen shot of a blip on the chart where I switched fingers with the pulse-ox. If you see a drastic drop you can zoom in on the 1 minute or 10 minute view to see it better. The one below is in the 1 minute view,so that you can see the gray line easier. This is what archangle is talking about.

[-tim]

I have one of the over priced S9 SpO2 sensors.

As woodworkerjunkie showed, steep drops in SpO2 are because the sensor is confused, not because your O2 dropped. If you get a recoding sensor, you can sit in a chair and hold your breath for as long as you can and wait until your pulse rate returns to normal and look at the data. The slope of the line is about as steep as you will ever see for real data.

[2Tim215]

The one below is in the 1 minute view,so that you can see the gray line easier. This is what archangle is talking about.

Okay, got it. I see what you are talking about. After I had yawned I see it was searching for a signal. Looked just like the graph drop on yours. Appreciate the help from all.

[2Tim215]

Do you have an O2 monitor? I am not aware of a cpap machine that has O2 sensors.
I want to buy an O2 monitor but I see the only ones you can buy without a script don't have data saving capabilities.

My Primary Care advised me to buy one outright when I called for a prescription. I was told the price was comparable. I paid a little more for a data capable oximeter from this link that was given to me by another member here, http://www.pulseoxstore.com/Downloadabl ... anchor_107 Currently this model is on sale and believe it will meet all of my needs. It is data capable and the software from the same website was easy to install. I am still learning to use mine, last night was first data mode use. I am posting a new question below about transfer of the data.

[2Tim215]

I am not sure what steps to take to upload my data from my CMS 50D Plus Pulse Oximeter. I don't want to lose the information and wondering if it can be saved to print out later? I am currently on my laptop and not hooked to a printer. Can anyone advise on how to do this with this oximeter? Thank you!

[Lizistired]

See Papit's post in this thread.
viewtopic/p754427/CMS-50F-Pulseox-newSH ... ml#p754427

[2Tim215]

See Papit's post in this thread.
viewtopic/p754427/CMS-50F-Pulseox-newSH ... ml#p754427

Thank you, I'll go check it out now.

[2Tim215]

Okay, Thank you, I did get the information to upload correctly. I see a print option like posted in the graph above but don't see a save data option. Can someone suggest where it might be? Also I am searching to find information about using this software, I'm not sure if I found the correct link or not yet at stores web-site. I am using SP02 Version 1.2 for windows 7 as advised by vendor.