I just got back from my sleep study and I expected to be put in the CPAP machine half way through the study.  This didn't happen because my apnia only occured during REM sleep.  She also told me my O2 level went down to 70%.  Does this mean my apnea isn't going to be bad enough for treatment?  I sure am tired most of the time and have hopes they can do something to fix that.  I will have to wait for an appointment with my doc to get his opinion, but I would really appreciate any input.  Thanks

Anthony,

You might want to look at the post in Late Night With Sleep Apnes, "Mystery Diagnosis" - fits you to a 'T'...

The O2 level is pretty low, no wonder you're feeling lousy.

See if you can get in earlier to see your doctor.  See if you can get the appointment set up for a second sleep study.  Read as much of this site as you can.  Be assertive to the point of obnoxiousness.  It's a shame that we have to stand up for ourselves and follow up so much when we're feeling so tired and foggy.

Keep at it, the therapy is worth it!

diana

Anthony,

You definitely have something going on that will require treatment.  Normal O2 sat. is 95-99%.  When it gets below that, especially at 70%, your brain is being starved for oxygen.  Many people have apnea that is worse or onlly shows up in REM.  I agree with Diana, call the doc and find out what is going on.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Anthony,

As Diana and Vicki have already said,you definitely have something going on that will require treatment. My first sleep study revealed a nadir of 70% oxygen level in REM sleep too, however I was also having a total of 58 events per hour, and apneas of up to 30 seconds in duration. The respiratory physician considered the oxygen levels low. In conversation he hinted at short term memory loss and an early possible onset of dementia if nothing was done about it!

Thanks for your help.  I talked to my doc today and he diagnosed me as having severe obstructive sleep apnia.  I am being scheduled for a second sleep study, this time with a CPAP.  Any advise?  Also, can you use the CPAP most of the time and "get by" with a mouthpiece that holds your jaw forward?  I do a lot of camping and really don't know how I could plug a CPAP in while I am doing that.

Anthony -

Do not despair!  One my first sleep study, there was not enough time to do the titration after they determined I had sleep apnea.  Like you, I had severe arterial oxygen desaturation.

Once the results were sent on to my doctor,  he ordered another night at the center to do the actual titration.   I apparently still had some severe arterial desaturation even with the cpap, so there was oxygen bled into the process.  Don't ask me to explain that any further!  I just posted over in sleep studies in hopes sleepydave can explain it more to me.

My prescription includes having oxygen bleed in.  So hang in...  things should work out for you!  The tech told me that if they don't have enough time to do titration, they simply run the sleep study without the first night and you generally end up returning for the titration process.

My apneas are most prevalent during REM as well and occured mostly the second half of the night, another contributing factor to NOT having the split night test.  I hope this gives you some comfort knowing others have similiar situations as yours.  :)

Laramie