LOW SpO2!
Hi folks. 'Been a while.
Short version: An increase in pressure didn't stop my O2 level from going into the lower 80s. What's up with that? I may be put on supplemental O2, but I need to know what's causing it.
Ideas?? Solutions??
To all, to each, a fair good-night,
And pleasing dreams, and slumbers light.
Scott—Marmion. L’Envoy. To the Reader.
Diagnosed with OSA in 2014
AHI=18
Lowest SpO2: 79%
RE: LOW SpO2!
We'd need more data to know how to help. Below 89% SpO2 for more than 5 minutes will be the cutoff for supplemental oxygen. Even with more info, we'd probably not be about to determine why, unless it's seen on OSCAR that for example, Apnea aren't yet treated.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: LOW SpO2!
(06-23-2021, 08:22 PM)SarcasticDave94 Wrote: "...unless it's seen on OSCAR that for example, Apnea aren't yet treated."
I don't quite understand that last part.
Until several months ago, my events were always under 5, then they jumped to 8-9. Along with that, I was extremely exhausted all day every day--even to the point of taking time off to sleep for a few hours (and this is what drove me to the doctor).
I have been wearing a Wellue O2 monitor every night for a couple months, as my PCP suggested the fatigue was due to a decrease in SpO2. That did uncover the <85 dips, but the exhaustion dissipated even before I saw the pulmonologist and had my CPAP pressure increased.
I'm baffled.
To all, to each, a fair good-night,
And pleasing dreams, and slumbers light.
Scott—Marmion. L’Envoy. To the Reader.
Diagnosed with OSA in 2014
AHI=18
Lowest SpO2: 79%
RE: LOW SpO2!
About the only way members here can help determine why your oxygen levels are down is if there's some reason, such as not treated Apnea.
Since you say AHI is typically below 5, then it's apparent Apnea is treated.
Have you been tested for various lung conditions like COPD? This would require a PFT-pulmonary function test, to grade your breathing. I myself have these at least yearly for my COPD.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: LOW SpO2!
I believe you can import your SPO2 data into OSCAR to see if the dips are occurring at the same time as apnea. If so then adjusting settings may improve both AHI and SPO2 levels.
Increasing pressure alone might not have helped for a number of reasons. They could be central apnea, they could be positional apnea, without OSCAR data just guessing.
RE: LOW SpO2!
Yes correct, a pulse oximeter can help by recording and uploading data into OSCAR.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: LOW SpO2!
(06-24-2021, 06:13 AM)Lambsydoats Wrote: Hi Since you say AHI is typically below 5, then it's apparent Apnea is treated.
It's no longer below 5. I have not been tested; I have no symptoms.
RE: LOW SpO2!
Do you have an OSCAR image that we can look at then? If the AHI isn't controlled, then that may be why.
Also, what pulse oximeter are you using? If it's one of the supported Contecs or Viatom/Wellue devices, you can upload the pulse oximeter data into OSCAR as well for us to see. Otherwise, post a screenshot of your overnight oxygen levels so we can compare it with the OSCAR details.
If you are getting desats even with regular breathing, then there's something else going on. However, it's also possible to have alterations to your breathing that don't meet the classification for either an apnea or hypopnea but are still affecting your oxygen levels. We won't know without looking if we can help.
RE: LOW SpO2!
I have an iWatch 6 that tracks Oxygen level throughout the night. A graph along with the sleep stages is available through an iPhone app call Autosleep. It is very effective and informative.
About a week ago I woke up suddenly and gasped for breath. The next morning I check the tracked O2 level. At the point where I woke up the oxygen level had dropped suddenly to 90%. I must have kinked the APAP hose at that point.
Sleep is worth the effort.
RE: LOW SpO2!
How often does that app measure your SpO2? My understanding is that most smartwatch type products don't tend to sample very frequently. It would probably be beneficial to look at your OSCAR data to see what happened because I'd imagine apnea might be more likely than a hose kink. That said, if that's something you want to explore, go ahead and create a thread so we can go through it without derailing Lambsydoats' thread. 
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