O2 sats are not where they should be

[amurray77]

I did the stupid at home test. I should have done in an in lab. All of a sudden my red blood cells shot up so I got a pulse ox study done by my pulmonologist. The majority of my sleep night is spent below 94%. Between 93% and 92 and below. Does this mean my pressure is wrong? I’m seeing the doctor on Wednesday. What is ideal O2 sats for a properly setup CPAP? Mine is an APAP 6 to 15cm of H20. I’m tired all the time and rip the mask off in my sleep n drake up full of air day after day.

[TropicalDiver]

Let me see if I can sort through your questions and issues.

Oxygen saturation is essentially the percentage of red blood cells that are carrying oxygen. Typically is probably 95 to 99ish. Below 90, and they start to think about putting you on oxygen. Many things can cause desating -- and apnea is certainly one. That said, treating OSA alone may not resolve 02 sats. Docs tend to look also at the depth and length of time you desat.

I think of treating apnea and desating as treating two separate -- but potentially related conditions. Please work with pulmo to resolve these issues. Solving apnea may solve desats -- or not.

From a lay perspective, here is how I would problem solve. If the desating is long enough or low enough, get on supplemental 02 until you get the OSA stuff figured out. Otherwise, I would start with the OSA.

1) Are you complaint with the device?
2) Is the treatment effective?
3) Are there issues folks here can help you sort through?

If you are a yes to #1 and #2, and still desating to a level the docs find concerning, time to explore that issue with a pulmo. The answer might be resolving a different medical problem and/or supplemental 02.

For folks to help (especially with #2), they need some information. First, I don't think your listed device as correct (as what you list is a standard CPAP) but you talk about a range. Second, can you describe what issues you are facings (feeling like you air is blasting you; or you are not getting enough)? Third, consider downloading sleepyhead and then extracting data from that tool. You will then post some of that info (ideally in a fairly specific format) for others to look at. This is covered in one of the sticky posts at the top of the forum.

Make sense?

[palerider]

1) Are you complaint with the device?

"compliant" is typically only half the night, 3/4ths of the time.

A better question is "are you using the machine all night, every time you're sleeping".

[raisedfist]

I did the stupid at home test. I should have done in an in lab. All of a sudden my red blood cells shot up so I got a pulse ox study done by my pulmonologist. The majority of my sleep night is spent below 94%. Between 93% and 92 and below. Does this mean my pressure is wrong? I’m seeing the doctor on Wednesday. What is ideal O2 sats for a properly setup CPAP? Mine is an APAP 6 to 15cm of H20. I’m tired all the time and rip the mask off in my sleep n drake up full of air day after day.

Read the link in Palerider's signature and use SleepyHead to get your data and post your charts here so we can help you. In addition, it is normal for oxygen saturation to dip a bit while sleeping. Generally anything above 90% is good, and the occasional dip to 88% is fine as long as it isn't sustained.

I suggest tackling one thing at a time. First, we examine your sleep data and see what's going on. Maybe even optimize it. Then see what your O2 sats are. Then see how you feel.