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I Was Recently Diagnosed With Sleep Apnea . I Have
Question: I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. I have begun using a CPAP machine nightly, and the machine is reporting a successfully lowered AHI of 3.1.
However, on a separate device, I am still recording very low oxygen levels. Last night, I hit 77% on a pulse oximeter even though my AHI was good.
I'm at a loss as to why this would be happening, since I believed treating the sleep apnea would take care of the oxygen levels.
However, on a separate device, I am still recording very low oxygen levels. Last night, I hit 77% on a pulse oximeter even though my AHI was good.
I'm at a loss as to why this would be happening, since I believed treating the sleep apnea would take care of the oxygen levels.
Brief Answer:
I want to know if you are symptomatically improving or not.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
No, it is not always true.
Usually, if AHI is improving, Spo2 is also improving.
But I have seen many patients who show reduction in AHI along with low Spo2.
And this scenario is very common amongst obese patients.
So please let me know
1. What is your height and weight?
2. Are you symptomatically improving or not?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
I want to know if you are symptomatically improving or not.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
No, it is not always true.
Usually, if AHI is improving, Spo2 is also improving.
But I have seen many patients who show reduction in AHI along with low Spo2.
And this scenario is very common amongst obese patients.
So please let me know
1. What is your height and weight?
2. Are you symptomatically improving or not?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Height is 5'2". Weight is 138 lbs.
Generally, I'm still feeling groggy and out of it. This morning I also woke up with a dull headache.
Generally, I'm still feeling groggy and out of it. This morning I also woke up with a dull headache.
Brief Answer:
You might be having uncontrolled sleep apnea.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have calculated your BMI and it comes around 26.
So you are not that obese.
And your symptoms are not subsided 100%.
So your sleep apnea might not 100% controlled.
Please let me know
1. When did you undergo sleep study last?
2. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
You might be having uncontrolled sleep apnea.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have calculated your BMI and it comes around 26.
So you are not that obese.
And your symptoms are not subsided 100%.
So your sleep apnea might not 100% controlled.
Please let me know
1. When did you undergo sleep study last?
2. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
1. I had my sleep study the first week of October and have been using the CPAP for a week.
2. No, I don't smoke.
2. No, I don't smoke.
Brief Answer:
Since its only 1 week, you should wait and watch.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Since its only 1 week on CPAP, I think you should wait and watch for atleast 1 month whole.
And BiPAP machines are better than CPAP.
Please let me know
1. Your pressure settings of CPAP
2. Have you given choice of BiPAP?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Since its only 1 week, you should wait and watch.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Since its only 1 week on CPAP, I think you should wait and watch for atleast 1 month whole.
And BiPAP machines are better than CPAP.
Please let me know
1. Your pressure settings of CPAP
2. Have you given choice of BiPAP?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
The machine I have is a Philips Respironics DreamStation Auto CPAP.
So the pressure varies, but currently I am at
Min Pressure: 5 XXXXXXX Pressure: 15
90% Pressure: 7.2 (or thereabouts)
Having pulled the data off the CPAP machine myself, the only thing odd I notice is that my respiratory rate periodically drops throughout the night, with the lowest being 8.57. Might that be significant?
So the pressure varies, but currently I am at
Min Pressure: 5 XXXXXXX Pressure: 15
90% Pressure: 7.2 (or thereabouts)
Having pulled the data off the CPAP machine myself, the only thing odd I notice is that my respiratory rate periodically drops throughout the night, with the lowest being 8.57. Might that be significant?
An update to my previous posts, I have attached the chart with my respiration rate for reference.
Brief Answer:
Do you have Spo2 recording chart?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the chart you have attached.
If possible also send me chart of Spo2 recording.
I want to check whether fall in respiratory rate is associated with fall in Spo2.
If so then you might need resetting of pressures.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Do you have Spo2 recording chart?
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the chart you have attached.
If possible also send me chart of Spo2 recording.
I want to check whether fall in respiratory rate is associated with fall in Spo2.
If so then you might need resetting of pressures.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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