Using Oxygen with CPAP

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:12 pm

Test your O2 levels with a pulse oximeter that you can buy (needs to be able to record overnight and not just spot check) while using the cpap first before worrying about doing the DIY oxygen thing.
Did you ever get one? I thought you were thinking about doing it a while back.
They are getting a bit hard to find what with the COVID thing happening but I think they are still out there if you look.
I would check Amazon or EBay first. Between 50 and 100 bucks depending on the features you might want.

Your DME should also have one available....ask them to ask your doctor to order it. That's what I did some years back. Didn't cost me much and was speedy.

Then if it still shows marked drops in the O2 levels even on cpap THEN we can talk about maybe going the DIY route or light a fire under the DME to get you some added O2.

Pugsy, I'm honored that you even remember who I am after my two year absence. I did buy a CMS50F pulse oximeter and used it a few times back in 2018. I'll have to get back on board about using it. But during this quarantine I have plenty of time.

I might not remember what I ate for lunch yesterday but my memory for forum members is still pretty good.

Dig out that unused pulse oximeter and check to be sure just what your oxygen levels are doing during the night.
Then you can make a more informed decision on your next steps.

I don't know what things Julie is thinking might be "dangers" of supplemental O2 during cpap therapy, but there really aren't any (other than fire).

Bleeding in a couple LPM of O2 during cpap won't raise the concentration of O2 in the supplied air to any danger levels, but it can help raise your SpO2.

The question, of course, is do you NEED your SpO2 levels raised?, and the only way to determine that is to do what Pugsy suggests, measure them while you're using your CPAP.

With adequate cpap treatment, your SpO2 levels may be perfectly fine during the night. Yes, they drop when you're not treated, but for most people, adequate CPAP treatment = adequate oxygenation.

palerider wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 28, 2020 1:08 pm

I don't know what things Julie is thinking might be "dangers" of supplemental O2 during cpap therapy, but there really aren't any (other than fire).

Bleeding in a couple LPM of O2 during cpap won't raise the concentration of O2 in the supplied air to any danger levels, but it can help raise your SpO2.

The question, of course, is do you NEED your SpO2 levels raised?, and the only way to determine that is to do what Pugsy suggests, measure them while you're using your CPAP.

With adequate cpap treatment, your SpO2 levels may be perfectly fine during the night. Yes, they drop when you're not treated, but for most people, adequate CPAP treatment = adequate oxygenation.

Thank you for your assurance. I hope you're right that proper CPAC usage will keep my SpO2 at least in the low 90s. My day time SpO2 is usually 93%

Josiah wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 28, 2020 8:43 am

I intend to monitor with a recording pulse oximeter my O2 sat while sleeping with my CPAP. I'm desperately trying to hang onto what cognitive abilities I have left and for that reason I see starving my brain of O2 as a major problem which needs to be fixed. As it is, my daytime O2 saturation is only 93% and I'm anxious to improve on that number.

It’s great that you already have a recording oximeter figuring what your O2 sats are with CPAP is important to determining whether or not you need O2. Your daytime number is a bit low, but I’m not sure it is low enough to be concerning. Have you ever had spirometry done? It’s pretty easy and inexpensive test that checks your lung function. Your daytime O2 levels aren’t impacted by your OSA so since you are concerned you should ask your doctor to look a little deeper.

If I was in your shoes the question I would ask my doctor is not do I need supplemental O2, instead I would ask if oxygen therapy would offer benefit? There are lots of boxes a doc has to be able to check to get insurance to cover O2 therapy, but if your doctor believed that O2 therapy could help slow down your cognitive decline perhaps they would be willing to prescribe O2 and monitor your therapy it if you are willing to pay for a concentrator out of pocket.