What are signs you need supplemental oxygen?

[Enhander]

Just wondering what the most common sense answer would be. Over the years I have suffered severely from OSA type headaches. They aren't REAL headaches, they are headaches that have to do with what goes on in my sleep. This is fact because when I wake up, I feel it. How do you know exactly if you need oxygen?

Now I'm still awaiting test results for the last titration I took. It's been a long road for me, just doing all the tests. I am using a temporary mask though. Problem is I barely can sleep with it, it's just tough. It's harder to sleep with it, then without. But how do you know if you need supplemental oxygen.

ALSO, this is important. If you have Central Sleep Apnea, what would the difference in therapy be compared to obstructive SA?

[OpalRose]

Hi Enhander,
Welcome to Apnea Board!

First of all, you need to get your titration results. Call your doctor and ask for it. At the same time, make an appointment with doctor to discuss your results. He or she would have the information you need as far as oxygen needs.

When you get all of that info, please post it here so someone can advise you.

Also, as far as masks go, there is no one size fits all. You will have to try different ones to see what will work best for you.
You are apparently using a machine now. Did you purchase on your own before titration results or did you have a previous sleep study done?

[me50]

Just wondering what the most common sense answer would be. Over the years I have suffered severely from OSA type headaches. They aren't REAL headaches, they are headaches that have to do with what goes on in my sleep. This is fact because when I wake up, I feel it. How do you know exactly if you need oxygen?

Now I'm still awaiting test results for the last titration I took. It's been a long road for me, just doing all the tests. I am using a temporary mask though. Problem is I barely can sleep with it, it's just tough. It's harder to sleep with it, then without. But how do you know if you need supplemental oxygen.


ALSO, this is important. If you have Central Sleep Apnea, what would the difference in therapy be compared to obstructive SA?

If you have O2 desats (which your titration should show) that would be part, if not all, that would determine your need for supplemental Oxygen.central SA is treated with a different type of machine than OSA. Hope this answers your questions.

[mollete]

If you have O2 desats (which your titration should show) that would be part, if not all, that would determine your need for supplemental Oxygen.

Desaturations would actually be treated with pressure.

Baseline drops are treated with oxygen.

[Mosquitobait]

Welcome to the board. If you are in the U.S., you don't get supplemental oxygen unless your average oxygen level is below 88 percent using a device. There are exceptions for certain conditions. If you have a lot of centrals, they move you to a different type of machine although it looks the same as a cpap.

Practice using the mask while you are watching TV or reading or listening to music. This helps most people. But, yes, you may need a different mask. We all have different face shapes.

Edited: average oxygen level drops below 88 percent using a device.

[trish6hundred]

Hi Enhander,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
There are many masks out there so try as many as you need 'till you find the one that works for you.
Hang in there for more responses to your post.
Much success to you with your CPAP therapy and fine tuning it.

[Enhander]

If you have O2 desats (which your titration should show) that would be part, if not all, that would determine your need for supplemental Oxygen.

Desaturations would actually be treated with pressure.

Baseline drops are treated with oxygen.

What is a baseline drop?

Should I use a nasal mask? How do I know if I am a mouth breather at night?

And do you have to AVERAGE 88 when you sleep or during the day? What if you go below 88 at times? For some reason I just think I would benefit from oxygen. My brain feels like it's lacking oxygen at times.

[me50]

If you have O2 desats (which your titration should show) that would be part, if not all, that would determine your need for supplemental Oxygen.

Desaturations would actually be treated with pressure.

Baseline drops are treated with oxygen.

not in every case. the titration will show the desats and then I would expect a doctor to deal with that accordingly. You have to look at the whole picture to see what happens.

Thanks for sharing the information.

[Mosquitobait]

Desats occur when you have an event. A baseline drop means your average oxygen level is too low even with a device. You have to look at the sleep study to find out. You feel the way you are because you have interrupted sleep and/or low oxygen when you sleep. It's pretty common for someone to have desats into the 70s and have them corrected by cpap. I've seen that over and over on this board. I saw a few have them in the 60s. But, to have a baseline in the low 80s requiring oxygen usually requires you to have heart problems or lung problems. You would have been referred to a specialist about that.

While oxygen is very useful for many, it is expensive therapy and commonly introduces other medical problems. Thusly, it is a last ditch effort when other options have failed. Even I thought I might end up with oxygen, but my doc says when it reaches that point, I will be getting a pacemaker. Cpap gets my baseline oxygen up from the low 80s to 91 percent.

I really like nasal pillows. They leak way less and are generally comfortable, but not always. If you commonly have a dry or sore throat when you awaken, you are likely a mouth breather. If that only happens once in a while, try nasal or nose pillows with a chin strap or just an ace bandage wrapped around.

[mollete]

If you have O2 desats (which your titration should show) that would be part, if not all, that would determine your need for supplemental Oxygen.

Desaturations would actually be treated with pressure.

Baseline drops are treated with oxygen.

not in every case.

Can you give an example of that (other than Thomas et al treating their CompSAS group)?

TIA.