Does APAP control O2?

[Allessio77]

Last Night I removed my mask for 3 hours in the middle of the night. (I don't know why).
During those 3 hours my Oxygen desaturation plummeted into the <88% area about 18 times for 20 minutes.
The rest of the night (with the mask on) was relatively uneventful.

How should I interpret this event? (I know I should keep my mask on)

[Walla Walla]

APAP doesn't control O2 it allows your airway to remain open so your normal breathing process can get O2.

[SarcasticDave94]

IMO when you control apneas via any version of CPAP therapy, it does have the ability to influence O2 levels. Without real numbers, assume a normally breathing person exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide X times per minute. The person that has an apnea event, which is 10 seconds or longer, cannot exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide at the same rate as the normally breathing rate above. With all other things being equal, the apnea sufferer would be exchanging air 10 seconds less than the other. OK, introduce CPAP therapy to the mix, and the apnea patient being properly treated, should be able to exchange O2 and CO2 at a closer rate as the one who does not have apneas.

I may have drove us off a cliff, but my theory sounds good. And look at that view. I now therefore declare a coffee break for all.

[Sleeprider]

That makes a pretty good case that you need CPAP.

[Allessio77]

That makes a pretty good case that you need CPAP.

It certainly got my attention!!

 I am wondering if I may need some supplemental O2 because even on nights when I my mask stays on all night, I am experiencing 58.2 4 % desats events per night (on average) and have an average(in Jan ODI) of 7.4.

[ajack]

I would also lift you max pressure to 15 as it looks like it wants to rise more. and move the min to 7, around the median for now.
Also I go by the o2 chart and not the report, as that will include some glitches. The chart while on cpap looks ok. As long as the drops stay above 92%, that is in normal range. Below 88% there are issues and over 90% is ok.. The machine will mark a 3 or 4% movement as a desaturation.

[SarcasticDave94]

As I understand the O2 situation, less than 89% desat for 5 minutes or longer should qualify you for supplemental oxygen. That's what I have learned for myself, as I was researching to see if I qualify for it due to COPD.

[Sleep2Snore]

IMO when you control apneas via any version of CPAP therapy, it does have the ability to influence O2 levels. Without real numbers, assume a normally breathing person exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide X times per minute. The person that has an apnea event, which is 10 seconds or longer, cannot exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide at the same rate as the normally breathing rate above. With all other things being equal, the apnea sufferer would be exchanging air 10 seconds less than the other. OK, introduce CPAP therapy to the mix, and the apnea patient being properly treated, should be able to exchange O2 and CO2 at a closer rate as the one who does not have apneas.

I may have drove us off a cliff, but my theory sounds good. And look at that view. I now therefore declare a coffee break for all.  

That sounds good to me and easily understood.
However, can I have tea instead and a cream bun as I am a greedy pig
Oh ok, put a dash of whisky into the coffee and I will tolerate it,
Some good moonshine, that will upset my reading for tonight!  

[Sleep2Snore]

It certainly got my attention!!

 I am wondering if I may need some supplemental O2 because even on nights when I my mask stays on all night, I am experiencing 58.2 4 % desats events per night (on average) and have an average(in Jan ODI) of 7.4.

That is a bit low to say the least!
Follow any advice given and lets see if things improve.
Taking off a mask can happen at the start of treatment, so don't worry to much about it, just put it straight back on as soon as you find you have removed it.