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torontoCPAPguy wrote:In your case, with SpO2 dropping down into the low 80's suddenly I wouldn't panic but I would want to speak with my pulmonologist about it. Any changes taking place? Less worries. Narcotic or other pain killers or med changes. Etc. These could all be potential causes.

I think I'm going to get at least a week's worth of tests and see what happens. Nothing has really changed -- no medication changes, no unusal stress -- nothing I can think of. I just don't understand why things could be going so well, then suddenly I'm dropping down to the mid/lower 80's.

But then we go back to the old problem I have -- get the ventilator download, which I can't do unless my doctor orders it. And I need to be sure I have sufficient reason before I contact her.

I think another few days worth of tests -- and if they all are about the same, I'll start it again and contact her.

Although, I may just bump the oxygen up some and see if that helps. Your situation has definitely given me a lot to think about!!

Well, I wish you luck. There does not seem to be a cause and effect science to this per se. I am a physicist originally - until I found all my fellow physicists driving cabs and then I shifted into business and computers. 1 plus 1 ALWAYS equalled two unless you were travelling close to the speed of light and then things could change a bit.

I am going to stick with 2L/M and 12 cmH2O tonight. Am going to get out my O2 tester (yeh, I bought one of those as well.... next is the EEG) and make sure I am getting what I paid for at the mask still. If you have an O2 tester available I would check the output of my concentrator at 2L/M and then follow it through to the mask. I am also going to double check the backflow valve on the output of the CPAP machine to make sure it is not leaking and is opening fully when the CPAP is blowing, etc. Barring any changes in results I am just going to go to bed as usual tonight and see what happens. At least I know that my SpO2 stays in the 90's, etc. I am bothered by the lousy night of sleep. Incredibly lousy and light sleep. I believe I detect only one period where I may have been in REM sleep but without EEG data it is only a guess.

torontoCPAPguy wrote:If you have an O2 tester available I would check the output of my concentrator at 2L/M and then follow it through to the mask.

My DME checks the oxygen concentrator every 6 months and just checked it in July or August. He checked the output and all the filters, replacing the internal filter because it was getting nasty. Nobody bothered to tell me to clean the outside filter regularly and I went about two months never cleaning it. He said that probably caused the substantial buildup on the inside filter and he said it wouldn't be good for another 6 months.

I'm reasonably confident that my oxygen concentrator is working properly.