Question:
Just got my BiPAP yesterday (diagnosis: sleep apnea w/hypoxia). It's a
hassle to wear it and try to sleep, but I'm determined I'm going to master
the thing. Since my mean stretches of no breathing were 26 seconds, and my
longest stretch was 78 seconds without a breath, I figure I'd better master
the thing--or else.
In discussing my situation with the respiratory therapist, yesterday, she
said the thing that was most troublesome to her was that my oxygen
saturations went down to 71%. She was quite alarmed over this and told me
that if that happened while I was in the hospital, they'd intubate me.
I guess I'm in worse shape than I'd originally thought. I really kind of
expected they were going to tell me I didn't have sleep apnea, much less
w/hypoxia. The only time I'd ever been told I snored was when I've been
congested. I knew I didn't sleep well, and I knew I tossed and turned a lot
during the night, but you could have knocked me over with a feather when I
got this news.
After more than 16 years of searching for answers, I think (hope!) I'm
finally on the right track!
Answer:
Mebbe Im wrong but I think hypoxia often happens with apnea. mine was
something like 78 and yes its a strong motivator. Been on APAP abt a
year now, so far so good.
I think it probably does often happen with apnea, but evidently not always.
My DH had a study the night after I had my first one, and he has no
hypopnea--just the sleep apnea.
I'm glad to hear you're feeling you've had good results. I really hope I
can say the same. Nurse warned me not to expect great improvement for maybe
six months because "you're so messed up."
I felt a bit more energetic this a.m.--until my usual nap time. Then it hit
me like a ton of bricks, as usual. Hoping I won't always have to go down
for an afternoon nap. Really cuts into the productive time at work.
(Although I work at home; no work, no $$$.).
I guess that you meant hypoxia here - hypopnoea is a reduction in
ventilation of 50-75% and apnoea is more than 75%. These definitions
are made for consistency purposes for diagnosis and treatment, but of
course the numbers are kind of arbitrary. For example, might there be
some effect if there is a reduction of 49.5%? Possibly - there has to
be a line drawn somewhere for consistency.
Hypoxia to whatever extent can happen as a result of these and one test
that is commonly done is to use a finger probe recording oximeter while
the patient sleeps. It may be that your nurse/doctor will suggest
this for you in order to measure the effectiveness of the therapy.
basically it's a non-invasive little probe that clips or tapes to the
finger and connects to a little instrument. This then records oxygen
saturation during the night.
It can be that long, might be less. It makes sense for her to set
expectations fairly low, then if it is faster, you will be pleasantly
surprised.
You might want to have a look at references to sleep hygiene and sleep
debt. Almost certainly you will have built up the latter, and feeling
the need for an afternoon nap is a classical apnoea effect.
It's worth looking at whether there are any sleep hygiene things you
can do, but again don't try to change too many things too quickly if it
makes you uncomfortable - some will just happen naturally anyway.
Other changes can be more subtle because of improved oxygen etc.
