Oximetry data would like feedback

Hi,

I'd love some feedback from those more knowledgeable than I. I've posted a night of oximetry data from a recent test of side sleeping, with no cpap. How does this look? I've had to pause my cpap use due to a back injury and the need to sleep on my side for a few days, which doesn't work well with my masks. Thanks for the feedback.

"remstarcpap"

I've posted a night of oximetry data from a recent test of side sleeping, with no cpap. How does this look? I've had to pause my cpap use due to a back injury and the need to sleep on my side for a few days, which doesn't work well with my masks.

The OxiMetry Report option will give you additional information in form of percentages/amount of time for desats If you have data capacity with your machine, you might want to check the pulse ox report against the apnea events for data. Is this data consistent with Sp02 reports when you are using the CPAP? I'm not clear why you are unable to use CPAP while sleeping on your side especially with using pillows. When I've used the Swift LT pillows, I found side sleeping easier than with FF/nasal mask. You may want to explore additional mask options for preferred sleep positions.

elg5cats

The OxiMetry Report option will give you additional information in form of percentages/amount of time for desats If you have data capacity with your machine, you might want to check the pulse ox report against the apnea events for data. Is this data consistent with Sp02 reports when you are using the CPAP? I'm not clear why you are unable to use CPAP while sleeping on your side especially with using pillows. When I've used the Swift LT pillows, I found side sleeping easier than with FF/nasal mask. You may want to explore additional mask options for preferred sleep positions.

The oximetry report basically says that I had 4 events between 90 and 94, and 1 between 85 and 89. I spent no time below 88%. My basal SPO2 was 94.6, and my average low SPO2 was 90.4.

I'm wondering if this indicates that at least while side sleeping, my apnea is very minimal.

The main reason for not using the machine is to recover from a back injury, and keep sleeping on my side as comfortable as possible. My sense of this data is that with perhaps 17 seconds below 90% in the whole night, I don't have to worry.

Well, your oxygen levels are not alarming anyway.

However, your pulse events MAY indicate mini-arousals - not lasting long enough to drop your oxygen, but might keep you from having good rests.

Have you ever done a pulse/ox measurement with your CPAP? And how do your pulse events look then?

Sam

How variable is pulse anyway during sleep? If I shift positions, which I do quite a lot, as I turn from one side to another, I assume that raises pulse rate. I know that side sleeping is a little harder to not move around, as my arms sometimes get pressed under my pillow, and go to sleep. I want some movement though, as I think that one of the causes of my back going out was sleeping too much stationary on my back.

When my back is better I can do a combo test with oximetry and cpap, but for now, given my sats look good, I'm going to focus on my back healing first.

It could be you have positional sleep apnea. A few weeks back i fell asleep without my mask (by mistake) but with just my oximeter and chin strap on. I woke on my side which was unusual but when i checked my report i had a basal SpO of 94 and felt fine.

I need to get round to following up on this by forcing myself to sleep on my side by using the tennis ball taped to my back trick. I'm going to get my laptop computer and web cam set to take pictures using some free motion sensing software which will detect my movement and take a snapshot picture and save it with a timestamp. I will have to sleep with a dim light on for this to work.

remstarcpap wrote:...sleep on my side for a few days, which doesn't work well with my masks...

Just curious: I use an OptiLife and only sleep on my side and do not have a mask issue. Are you turning your head into the pillow and dislodging the pillows?