82% Blood Oxygen

[SleepGuy]

So my teenage daughter's friend was admitted to the hospital today based on an 82% blood oxygen level following pneumonia. His pneumonia is resolved--the only issue is residual low blood oxygen (he has some congenital heart/lung issues).

It made me wonder how many years I was at 82% (or lower) for hundreds of hours a month without a clue it was happening....

This therapy works and it's about a LOT more than sleep (as important as that is).

[JayC]

Yes, sleep is the least of it, in many ways.

And I have only been masked for two weeks today. Even a crappy night (amount of sleep too short) like last night was not as bad as my *best* nights for the last 20+ years. I am really liking mornings now!!

J

[6PtStar]

I was concerned about the blood oxygen levels also. I finally bought a Pulse/Oximeter and check mine ever once in a while. Mine went down in the low 80's during my sleep study so they put me on O2 along with the CPAP for a while. After a year my O2 levels are staying up around 96+% average without the O2 injection so I was able to get rid of the noisey oxygen concentrator. Doc's get concerned when they get below 90%. Aparently the grey cells don't like it when they don't get enough O2.

Jerry

[Arizona-Willie]

That's why we all should have Pulse Oximeters --- we need a law to make the manufacturers build them into the CPAP / APAP/ VPAP units.

We all track our AHI religiously, as well we should. The reason for concern with apneas is because by blocking the airflow it reduces our blood oxygen percentage.

That is the real culprit.

Unfortunately, AHI is not the be all .. end all measurement. My sleep doc is most concerned ( properly so ) about the percentage of time spent below 90%.

And, we can have a decent AHI count and still have a time percentage below 90% in excess of 10 % .... easily. How? Slow and or shallow breathing has the same effect as a hypopnea but it doesn't cause an event to trigger in the machine algorithms.

I have seen it both ways in my tracking data .. relatively low AHI and high percentage of time below 90% and also high AHI ( well 7 or so ) and very good percentage of time below 90% despite have some apneas ( because they don't last long ).

The machines count total stoppage of breath and partial stoppage, but if you breath slow or shallowly the machine thinks that is normal and doesn't record that as an apnea. As far as I know ( I could be wrong!! ) the machines aren't programed to expect 11-15 breathes per minute ( a MRI tech told me that was normal ) and to pop an alarm if you fall below that. They should be.

[SleepGuy]

As soon as my machine dies I'm going to upgrade to one that collects data. I still have no clue what's really going on all night, though the subjective indications of getting normal sleep with good O2 are all fantastic. But that dern F&P just won't quit.

[Pirateghost]

That's why we all should have Pulse Oximeters --- we need a law to make the manufacturers build them into the CPAP / APAP/ VPAP units.

I agree with you but can see the dilemma of this situation. Where does it stop? How about blood pressure and pulse rate? They, along with blood ox, should all be measured with this apnea problem. IMO, that is the true test of treatment. You would think that they could be able to do it with modern electronics but we all know what the medical business does to a simple device. Something that should cost a few bucks ends up being hundreds.

[Goofproof]

Aparently the grey cells don't like it when they don't get enough O2.

The good news the more of them die off, you have less to share that O2 with. Except you can't count the ones damaged by Mad Cow, as they are still breathing the O2. Jim

[jskinner]

Unfortunately, AHI is not the be all .. end all measurement. My sleep doc is most concerned ( properly so ) about the percentage of time spent below 90%.

AHI completely ignores the length of each apnea. Two people can have exactly the same AHI and one can be very sick and the other perfectly healthy. We need a better measurement.

Never forgot: You might have a single apnea all night (which most doctors would ignore) but if you never start breathing again during it then your dead.

[Billmanweh]

I think during my sleep study I was in the mid-70's.

[crossfit]

I agree with you but can see the dilemma of this situation. Where does it stop? How about blood pressure and pulse rate?

Well, there are easy at home ways to measure blood pressure and pulse. You don't even need a prescription. I have had a set up for years. I don't actually test in the middle of the night but I test daily. Trends are what is important with these two measures.

[GumbyCT]

My doc ordered another overnite o2 for me. Is there a xPAP with optional or built-in O2 meter or recording?

[Arizona-Willie]

I < think > Resmed machines ( at least some of them ) will do it but they require a very expensive pulse oximeter and possible some other hardware to interface with the pulse oximeter. I know in the software there is a place for 02 but I know of no way to get my data from my PO input into the machine or the software.

[sepool]

Do people here that have oximeters have the single reading type, or is anyone using the ones that record all night?

If anyone does have the recording oximeters, can they recommend a model?

On people with the spot-check type, do they read it when they wake during the night? How reliable is this?

My doctor also relies more on the oxygen level than the other things, and has ordered a oxygen-overnight study. I've been on CPAP for 2 weeks.

Thanks a lot!

[jskinner]

Do people here that have oximeters have the single reading type, or is anyone using the ones that record all night?

If anyone does have the recording oximeters, can they recommend a model?

If your going to be using an oximeter for sleep apnea, you need a recording one.

I use the Nonin/Respironics WristOx 3100.

[Slinky]

W/the Resmed S8s you'd want the S8 ResLink, the Embla DF2 w/3-Pin connector (XPOD) and one of the Embla 8000 sensors. I'm not sure of what versions of the software, for me v.3.4 but I think earlier versions, possibly even AutoScan 5.7, "might" be compatiable.

For the most part you are talking probably $800-$1000 additional to the xPAP and software and cable reader. Patience, judicial shopping, more patience you "might" be able to get by w/$450. But w/yahooauctions gone ... there's still e-Bay .... AND a few local DME suppliers who deal strongly, possibly exclusively, w/Resmed devices and equipment .... online DME suppliers who deal heavily w/Resmed as cpap.com does w/Respironics ... patience and just keep searching and inquiring ...