Oximeter readings and daytime sleepiness

[OximeterResults]

Posting for traffic !

Need help with Oximeter readings !

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Do you have an underlying condition, such as COPD? it's usual for SpO2 readings to be 95% plus in healthy adults. Yours seem to be dipping into the low 80s.

No underlying condition.

I start monitoring mine or DS's asthma carefully once our levels fall below 97%. Generally we are 99%\100%.

Yours seem very low.

These are overnight readings. During the day I am usually 99% for ODI4 reading.

Difficult to say, really. Might be a bad contact, equipment problem etc. Seems a wide variance in pulse rate too; have you been running up the stairs? Take the results with you, see what they say.

Will low ODI4 make me tired ?

These are readings whilst asleep, so no running upstairs or the like.

Doctor did mention ruling out sleep anpena (sp)

You need to see the sleep clinic and they can do a full sleep study. From those readings it looks like your saturations are dropping overnight which will need investigation. Could be sleep apnoea but not enough information to really tell.

When is your appointment?

I have no idea what that reading means; it wasn't on our portable ones we we used to use.
Do you find that you get out of breath at night, and it wakes you up? Then you have to sit up to breathe?

Doctor hoped the sleep study would rule out sleep apnoea.

If it does he will re look at my thyroid levels. But they have been borderline for over 10 years and I have only felt this tired for the last year.

I do snore (hence the referral)so badly my DH sleeps in the spare room.

I avoid sleeping on my back as I wake up choking. So I sleep on my side with a mouth guard as I grind my teeth in my sleep.

When's your appointment?

Appointment is in three week.

IIRC, Sp02 is of limited effectiveness if you're anaemic, as it's measuring the oxygen binding to haemoglobin in the red cells that you have circulating; it doesn't 'know' that you have less of those cells in your bloodstream. Proviso is that I don't do this for a living anymore, and I might be remembering incorrectly.
Anyway, technology is a useful tool, but can be flawed. Take the readings with you, I think they'll be interested to see them.

Ah. So my low iron might be causing low sp level

My DS was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea at 3 so i can only comment on experience with him and what I have learnt from along the way.
We have been told that the oxygen levels (SpO2) above 94 are seen as normal range, below that, quality of sleep can become impaired. 100% will be when you are awake. the dip to low 80's could be why you are so sleepy as quality of sleep is not good, however they will want to study how long the levels stay low. Your body could react quite quickly to the dip and you'd only be out of normal range for a short time.
Your heart rate does also go low though.

However, I will agree with previous poster, this could be inaccurate as the equipment you buy will not be as sensitive as the one at the hospital and the readings can be very off with a sensor that is slightly in the wrong place (have previously rushed DS to hospital after a night of very low readings, only to find we had a faulty batch of sensors)

Good luck

No. That'd have to be measured by arterial blood gases. You can be anaemic and have normal Sp02. That's what I was trying to say.

cross posted with a few comments there!

However, the low iron level and thyroid problems may well be contributing to your tiredness, of course. Which may well be being aggrevated by sleeping problems.

Thank you.

I think this is far too complicated for me. I will show the sleep clinic nurses and see what they say.

That's a good idea.

I'm a nurse. Those sats are dropping low through the night and is be concerned with the heart rate too. The high is too high which probably coincides with your low sats.you also have a low heart rate too through the night. I'd suspect sleep apneoa tbh. You may need overnight o2. See what they say at the clinic x

Thank you Charlie I will check with clinic.

Update
The sleep clinic have diagnosed me with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea NOT syndrome (not sure of the difference myself)

They did use my oximeter results to diagnose me and will be doing a full sleep study with their equipment in a couple of months to see how things are going.

I have been given a cpap machine to take home to use and I have to inform dvla that I have a diagnosis but under treatment. I should keep my license, as long as I use the machine for 4 hours a night.

The full mask makes it hard to breath out but breathing in is easier. Tried it out this afternoon at home and fell asleep with it, so despite me struggling to breath out, it is comfy. Or maybe that is a reflection of how tired I am feeling.

I am highly relieved that I can still drive and looking forward and dreading tonight in equal measures.

But if this cpap machine works and I stop feeling tired all the time, it will be worth it.