My doctor said that I was measured at 83%, but did not say at what point in the sleep study.  (I was so full of questions I forgot to ask).  He said it is no wonder I can't make it through the day, and that I can't make a couple hour drive safely - I have to stop for a nap!..

So, how bad off is 83%?

I can not sleep with air conditioning.  I will, in a hot room, wake up, covered up, freezing to death.  My ex-wife beat me up a couple times, getting me awake, and said I was so still and sooo cold, she just knew I was dead.

Hi brokenrail:
Sitting around while awake the normal oxygen saturation is >95%.  For the purpose of qualifying the severity of sleep apnea according to oxygen desaturation, a good reference is:

Quote:

The severity of sleep apnea can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe on the basis of the apnea-hypopnea index. Mild sleep apnea is defined by an apnea-hypopnea index from 5 to 14, an oxygen saturation of at least 86%, and minimal daytime disability. Moderate sleep apnea is defined by an index from 15 to 30 or an oxygen saturation of 80% to 85% and significant work or social dysfunction due to drowsiness and loss of concentration. Severe sleep apnea is defined by an index greater than 30 or an oxygen saturation of 79% or less and incapacitation due to the sleep disorder.  
Flemons WW. Sleep-related breathing disorders in adults: recommendations for syndrome definition and measurement techniques in clinical research. Sleep 1999;22(5):667-89.

The AHI ranges vary a bit from reference to reference, but those desaturation values should give a good idea of where you're at.
sleepydave