[Symptoms] Home test clears me, but oxygen sat levels are LOW. Please help. Scared.

[Black Sheep]

Hi ConfusedInRI, welcome aboard. I mean no disrespect, but are you obese? Because I have the same symptoms and I'm obese but I don't mouth breath. I'm also in the process of finding what the hell is wrong with me? Will keep you posted of my progress. So far I am diagnosed with mild lung obstruction and/or restriction possibly from obesity.

Al

[JVinNE]

Hi ConfusedInRI, welcome aboard. I mean no disrespect, but are you obese? Because I have the same symptoms and I'm obese but I don't mouth breath. I'm also in the process of finding what the hell is wrong with me? Will keep you posted of my progress. So far I am diagnosed with mild lung obstruction and/or restriction possibly from obesity.

Al

No disrespect taken. A bit chunky but not that big. Overweight by about 25 lbs.

I have plans to go see a pulmonologist/sleep specialist. Got an appointment.

[JVinNE]

I also suffer from anxiety, and I am on a low dose of Klonopin right now. I have an appointment to go see a pulmonologist/sleep specialist.

[Jerry Anc]

Stay the course. One night of home testing may not be telling the whole story. Talk to your doc about your fears with the low saturation numbers. If he doesn't feel you are a candidate for cpap, then he needs to refer you to someone that can address your o2 levels appropriately.

I have "severe" (they keep calling it that) emphysema, and my o2 levels can get a little dicey once in awhile. But I have found that with CPAP my numbers perk along all night in the 92-94 range just fine. So even if I didn't have any apnea events, and to be sure I don't have many, I would continue to use the cpap at night. During the day when I feel crummy I can take other action if need be.

Also, there have been some nifty studies that show icu patients with really nasty breathing issues can often do better if placed on straight cpap rather than oxygen.

In the meantime, don't be scared. Do be proactive. For instance take steps to sleep on you side, not your back. Be sure the head of your bed is elevated some. ....and use your oximeter, writing down your results to put in front of the doc.

I admit it, I am a bit scared, and I will continue to use my own ox, but I don't know if I can record and have the alarm on at the same time, and honestly, that alarm means so much more to me. The other night, when I was falling asleep, I got woken up several times by it, and one of the readings was 71. I cannot imagine why my doctor did not recommend a CPAP with oxygen that low, and by the way, my doctor is NOT the nicest guy. I went to his office today to pick up the report from the sleep center, and he would not even talk with me for 5 minutes. He didn't even have any patients at the time. It's sad, and fairly obvious to me that he doesn't really care about me.

PS. I never sleep on my back, always on my side, and if I sleep on my tummy, I make sure I'm propped up well and my airway is not in the pillow.

My 2cents on this...I hope that doctor is a pulmonologist...I would get that report and show it to another Doctor. Your primary care should be able to write you a prescription based on your symptoms...I can't believe the sleep lab didn't pick up on something that warrants further study or investigation. I know it stresses you out,to have something wrong, and no one is willing to address it. You don't need that !
Keep hounding them until they satisfy you that you have nothing to worry about, or that they test you again. I know I am ranting on, but this distresses me to see your stress. I wish you the best and good luck !

[quiescence at last]

@Jerry Anc - welcome! nice of you to post. hope you are getting great input and info here.