Low daytime SPO2 and fatigue

[Dormeo]

I'm very glad to hear you're getting thoughtful attention from a physician, and I hope you'll have success in tracking down the reason for your many troubling symptoms. Wish I could help with your mask question; maybe you could take a look at some of the websites on the suppliers list (banner at top of page) to get some ideas of what might work.

[Morgannon]

Quick update on my appointment with respiratory consultant in April and some questions: 

- supplemental oxygen prescribed for use with CPAP machine, contacted supplier to arrange this
- sleep study and arterial gases tests planned for late June 
- new type of machine (Bilevel or ASV) might be necessary to replace CPAP, depending on results of oxygen therapy
- blood test planned in May to investigate root causes of breath shortness, chest tightness, fatigue, suppressed hematocrit/haemoglobin and low daytime SPO2
- chest and lungs CT scan was done in April - no issues found 
Any views on this plan? 

Another question - going to buy new mask to replace my FFM Airfit F20. As I mentioned in earlier post F20 causes some discomfort - warm and humid feeling of exhaled air which it seems I'm inhaling again. Tried nasal pillows, didn't like those, would probably prefer FFM again, but open to suggestions. 
It seems a mask that does not have a built-in diffuser to its exhaust vents would suit me well. Which mask has no diffuser, just holes as exhaust vents? 

Thanks

VPSDub, would you mind terribly sending me a PM or posting a reply once you find out what is going on?  I have many of these similar symptoms, and I've been worked up for neurological weakness and many other things.  Would be interesting to hear what you found out.

[Llort]

I also have bands of CSA like yours.  I'm investigating neurological issues.  The ASV has really helped with them, however (my AHI went from teens to under 5).  If you're not in heart failure, ASV seems to be the best route for treating CSA (even BiPAP doesn't really treat centrals).

Are you using heat and humidity with your CPAP?  If so, I wonder if turning down the temperature and humidity levels would help with the stale air feeling.

I hope your testing goes well!

~Dani

[vpsdub]

I also have bands of CSA like yours.  I'm investigating neurological issues.  The ASV has really helped with them, however (my AHI went from teens to under 5).  If you're not in heart failure, ASV seems to be the best route for treating CSA (even BiPAP doesn't really treat centrals).

Are you using heat and humidity with your CPAP?  If so, I wonder if turning down the temperature and humidity levels would help with the stale air feeling.

I hope your testing goes well!

~Dani

Does ASV negatively impact heart? Thankfully I never had heart failure but for a few years having angina symptoms - chest tightness etc. Angiogram though found no major blockages. 
CPAP heat and humidity - never used those. Putting ice cubes in humidifier helps, but only for couple of hours

---

Morgannon, will post update about progress

[Morgannon]

I also have bands of CSA like yours.  I'm investigating neurological issues.  The ASV has really helped with them, however (my AHI went from teens to under 5).  If you're not in heart failure, ASV seems to be the best route for treating CSA (even BiPAP doesn't really treat centrals).

Are you using heat and humidity with your CPAP?  If so, I wonder if turning down the temperature and humidity levels would help with the stale air feeling.

I hope your testing goes well!

~Dani

Hey Dani, thank you for responding!  May I ask what neurological issues they are investigating?  For me, they investigated and ruled out ALS, Myasthenia Gravis, Periodic Paralysis, and a couple of others.

[vpsdub]

Hi there
Just a quick update and question:
Last week started to use supplemental oxygen at night as prescribed. Oxygen concentrator (AirSep, model VisionAire) tube connects to CPAP tubing. SPO2 improves to 97-98 percent with mask on, but drops back to my usual 91-92 percent when mask removed. Sleep and daytime energy a bit better.
The only issue so far is noise from concentrator, it is much louder than CPAP humming. Is it usual? Are there quiet concentrators with noise level similar to my CPAP machine Resmed Airsence 10?
Thanks

[Dormeo]

I googled using "home oxygen concentrator decibels" and found a fair amount of useful information, including the names of some quieter concentrators and some DIY methods for reducing the noise they make. I hope something will work for you.

It's great, though, that you're keeping your O2 up during the night now.

[vpsdub]

Thanks, will try googling, thought maybe somebody has experience with low noise concentrator

[Motorheadrulz]

plz do a search for some of my posts and you'll see an intensive work up for hypoxemia and similar problems.
After 3 yrs of testing & diagnosing, I found I have a hiatal hernia causing most of my problems. Stomach acid is traveling up and dumping into my lungs- causing low SpO2 and other probs. I had similar experiences with an oximeter, hypopneas, daytime low O2, and consistently feeling like sh*t.

I'm also on a FFM, ASV + oxy conc. Everyone one I've tried is loud. I keep mine in a closet with a 25' extension hose to my bed. Hoses and splices are cheap.

I'm not a dr, but asking yours if this is a possibility will save you 2 yrs of troubleshooting. A simple chest CT may lead to an upper GI scope.
Good luck!

[vpsdub]

Thanks for advice! Done chest CT in April, no issues found