CPAP and O2 desaturation

AHI 7.6 (2 centrals, 3 obstructive, 0 mixed, and 40 Hyponea
SaO2 Nadir: 86% on room air. 48.6 minutes below 88%. Mean o2 sat 91% room air
Arousal index 12.8 hr. (76 arousals)
mild obstructive sleep apnea with associated significant nocturnal hypoxemia

If I'm not having a lot of apneas, is a mask that necessary and will my o2 sat improve much with CPAP?

Well you can't do Cpap without a mask... am I missing something here? If you've been sleeping on your back, just changing to side sleeping might make a lot of difference to reported events (it usually does).

But if you do Cpap, your 02 sats will normalize unless there are other issues besides apnea (or hypopnea).

How did you determine the info you posted?

If you had a sleep study what was the recommendation of your sleep doctor?

Lukie wrote:AHI 7.6 (2 centrals, 3 obstructive, 0 mixed, and 40 Hyponea
SaO2 Nadir: 86% on room air. 48.6 minutes below 88%. Mean o2 sat 91% room air
Arousal index 12.8 hr. (76 arousals)
mild obstructive sleep apnea with associated significant nocturnal hypoxemia

If I'm not having a lot of apneas, is a mask that necessary and will my o2 sat improve much with CPAP?

Keep in mind that the oximeter is measuring what is occurring at your fingertip. The constant assault of stress hormones along with varying blood gas levels is likely to make a much greater change on the extremity of an extremity (a fingertip).

Since most of your events are arousals and hypotneas - well - I think ventilatory stability is likely your greatest issue.

Regardless of whether you treat with CPAP or not I think you would be wise to check your vitamin D levels. Dr. Stasha Gominak has noted that many of the areas in the brain which deal with breathing control are sensitive to D3 hormone levels and that many of her patients had good results after their levels were raised to her recommended range. Those who are working with the D3 hormone (A.K.A. Vitamin D3) (e.g. Dr. Stasha Gominak, Michael F. Holick, Ph.D., M.D., Vitamin D Council) seem to be finding that the very low side of the “normal” range of 30-100 ng/L produces a range of symptoms including OSA, pain, and infection. All believe that a level lower than 50 ng/mL is not good and Dr. Stasha Gominak recommends 60-80 ng/mL for good health.

I saw the sleep doc and will be getting a resmed 9 auto and mask of choice. I will go back to him with the data in a month and also have a titration mainly to check oxygenation while on CPAP. I have had vit D levels checked and the doctor put me on vitamin D3. Now I have to do battle with DME to get my machine without waiting for months for an approval from Medicare. I think I have to sign a waiver.

I use a every two week D3 prescription suppliment from the compounding pharmacy in addition to daily over the counter. I noticed a difference in several aspects of life. The over the counter did not noticeably help but two weeks into the script from compounding pharmacy based on my individual bloodwork suprised me. My internist is not a big vitamin pusher but when he put me on the D3 it helped several issues noticeably.

Hueyville

Can you share with us what dosage the pharmacy is providing and what else might be in it?
What dose are you taking over the counter?

What was your vit D level when tested?
I have been working on raising my vit D level as well.