When to try Bipap?

So I have used my pulse oximeter a few times now and consistently getting under 90% oxygen for at least an hour a night. My AHI is well under 5. I have gone from extremely exhausted and in a fog to just really tired.
I have appointment I think on January 9th and was told to bring sp02 reports.
Would a Bipap be warranted?

We're at a disadvantage not having any of your history incuded in this thread to go on. Some things to consider in general...
Bilevels can be advantageous at higher pressures. What are your settings?
Have you correlated your oxygen drops with prolonged hypopneas or obstructions?
Are many of your remaining events centrals?
What has happened prior to this that indicated moving to a bipap should be your next step, or that a bipap could raise your oxygen levels?

USMCVet wrote:So I have used my pulse oximeter a few times now and consistently getting under 90% oxygen for at least an hour a night. My AHI is well under 5. I have gone from extremely exhausted and in a fog to just really tired.
I have appointment I think on January 9th and was told to bring sp02 reports.
Would a Bipap be warranted?

USMCVet wrote:I recently had EKG that showed I have a left bundle branch block which I assume was caused by hypertension but next month I have appointment with cardiologist.

Have you seen the cardiologist yet?

Pressure settings should still be in my signature which is 6 to 20. 90% pressure is usually around 8 or 9. For the most part still just have hypopneas.

I'm asking if it could be advantageous solely for increasing oxygen saturation.

No other diagnosed issues. Cardiologist said I was fine after being told I had a heart condition based on someone else's EKG.

The machine does not supply oxygen, it just helps you breath while asleep. Your breathing is what supplies oxygen. I don't thing bipap will do any more that a CPAP at your pressure range.

Since you are having mostly hypopneas, I would recommend raising your lower pressure slightly higher. Normally, hypopneas are corrected by higher pressures.

Going to bipap wouldn't increase the oxygen levels if that is what you were thinking it did.
Regular bipap is nothing more than cpap/apap with more adjustable pressure support (difference between inhale and exhale) and it will go over 20 cm if needed. They don't manufacture extra oxygen.

If your OSA is well controlled at current pressure....then the drop in oxygen levels are more likely from something else and not the OSA and if that is the case it doesn't make any difference what machine you use. You are getting the same air no matter what machine you end up using.
With your current settings..you don't need pressures over 20 anyway. BiPap would offer you nothing except maybe additional comfort settings with PS but I don't hear you complaining about breathing comfort while awake and on the machine.

Like pugsy said my OSA is well controlled.

Also here is one link that got me thinking about bipap. http://www.alaskasleep.com/blog/what-is ... y-pressure . I believe it increases oxygen levels by blowing off more CO2 because of difference in pressures.

Blowing off carbon dioxide doesn't increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. All it does is change the ratio involved between the 2.
Bilevel can be useful when centrals are involved and causing the drop in oxygen levels. I don't see it on your reports...not anywhere near enough centrals to be remotely a problem.

That website is providing some overly simple generic comments. There's a lot that they omitted.
They implied that bilevel would fix low oxygen levels and didn't go any further and there is a lot more too it than what they said.
Bilevel can help oxygen levels if the low oxygen is caused by central apneas which are caused by the brain not sending the require "breathe" signal because the carbon dioxide levels aren't high enough because too much carbon dioxide gets blown off prematurely.
It's actually carbon dioxide levels that trigger the "breathe" response...not low oxygen levels as some people might think.

BiLevel for low oxygen levels in the absence of the low level being caused by central apnea....won't help.

Here is sleepyhead data dialed into the hour that my 02 seemed most effected this time from roughly 0253 to 0353. During this time my 02 was around 88%.

In case anyone wants the regular data as well for same time period.

I don't see enough going on in terms of the OSA stuff to be responsible for the low O2.

You can try more minimum though...won't hurt and who knows it might help and it costs nothing to try.

Yea it's one of the cleanest parts of the night as far as events.