New Here, Been using OSCAR, Need Advice Regarding Adjustments

[Deborah K.]

You certainly don't need to worry about mouth tape, as your leaks are not enough to be concerned with.  Also, don't worry about sleeping on your back.  I sleep that way every night because of back pain I get otherwise, and almost always get 0.something AHIs.

[TechieHippie]

Sounds like a good plan. Good luck with it all!

I would guess that oxygen in the daytime at the doctor's office might be higher than, say, sitting in front of the computer or the TV , or working in the kitchen, when I sometimes forget to breathe. Even having the monitor on causes me to breathe more fully and not hold my breath when I'm doing everyday tasks.

The devices I mentioned, by the way, are not sleep trackers. I've checked several sleep use against doctors oxygen monitors and they track well. Still, they are a consumer device.

Lisa

[FrankReality]

Thanks.  Thinking the same.

[FrankReality]

Yes, the oxygen sats are fine during the day taken via oximeter, it appears they only are a problem during sleep. so it could be the fitness tracker is off.  When I wake in the middle of the night, I could use my oximeter as a test to validate what the fitness tracker reads. 

I did look at the devices you suggested and yes, they warn that they aren't medical grade.

I've been a somewhat inactive in the last few months, so I need to refocus on my fitness level.  Primary care doc wants me to get on a rehab plan, but I haven't been able to stay with it consistently.  Stationary exercise bike has proven best for those arthritic hips.

Thanks again.

[TechieHippie]

In response to the reply about mouth tape, it can have some jaw relaxing/stabilizing effects at least in my case, though I had tongue-tie release surgery a few years ago, and keeping my tongue/jaw up is a work in progress. With the mouth tape I can relax my jaw more and still breathe well. Sometimes in the morning I leave it on / put it back on as a support as I feed the cats, until my tea is ready. It does depend on getting the placement "just right" for me though. Everyone's different, I may be the side case.

Regarding the continuous pulse oximeters, "not medical grade" is something they are required to say, but having saved my dad's life several times, I have come to trust them. I believe they are pretty accurate consumer devices - probably more accurate than an over the counter $20 pulse oximeter or the average home BP cuff, etc. Also, I've had clear correlations on OSCAR graphs with events the CPAP detects.

The thing is, they can potentially rule out the issue for a low cost, and/or help you monitor whatever the doctor finds. They aren't a substitute for medical treatment, but a way to let you manage that treatment successfully and at a much finer level of granularity than you have without it. But, I also understand that expenses add up. Sometimes they are cheaper on Amazon and I think Supplier #40 offers 10% off for getting on their mailing list.

[FrankReality]

Good points.  I'm guessing an oxygen level test overnight would be more expensive than an OTC oxygen monitor.

Thanks.

[FrankReality]

Last 3 day's data attached here:

           

Seeing considerable variance in the AHIs, but from a CPAP perspective, there doesn't seen to be much I can do.  The big difference in the days is the number of CAs. which map closely to body movement per my fitness tracker - and not a specific blockage.  CPAP's at the maximum anyway.  That day of higher AHI was also when I had a chocolate sundae mid-afternoon.

The reducing of the Remeron from 7.5 mg to 3.75 mg - now for a week - appears to have not had a significant adverse effect on my sleep, and may help me wake up more alert.  Oddly enough, my low overnight O2 sats have improved.

Going forward, I'll go on to the next step (~1.8 mg) in the Remeron taper for a week, keep the CPAP set as is, and redouble my efforts to not eat any chocolate/drink caffeine after Noon!

Thanks all!