08-04-2022, 01:00 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-04-2022, 01:01 AM by 444stranger444.)
I'm scared. Am I at risk of death? Or is my pulse oximeter acting up?
Hi; new user here. I'll cut to the chase: I'm 20 (soon 21,) thin, and exercise often, though sleep apnea runs in my family. I fit the bill for (at least) most common symptoms—occasional headaches, constant brain-fog which fails to lift, debilitating sleepiness, etc. After visiting a nurse versed in sleep disorders, I bought a pulse oximeter (EMAY's 99$ "Wrist Pulse Oximeter with Silicone SPo2 Sensor) and monitored my sleep for three nights.What I found worries me, and I'd like some insight.
-The first and second photos show my SpO2 lingers at "dangerous" levels for stretches of time—93% in the former and latter, and 92% in the latter. The third photo shows a minute's gap of zero recorded input—suggesting no breathing, I guess—before recording measurements of 74% SpO2 and 138 bpm; both steadily climb for near-six minutes, then plummet to normal levels. Do I risk lasting brain damage? Does continuing like this for longer, without a CPAP machine, mean I risk death? Do I need to see the ER?
-By what likelihood are measurements by EMAY prone to distortion? The third photo's plummet in SpO2 and bpm, and the length by which both persisted as extremes, would suggest a close shave from death, right? This seems unrealistic to have lived, given my age, weight, and fitness—and also that I've not (seemingly) incurred any brain damage. Writing this, I feel as impaired as in, say, May. Thus, I wonder about anything else which could have caused (or rather, fabricated) such extremes. That night, I fell asleep on my side, and I thought my oximeter, wrapped around my wrist bone, was snug. I can't recall if my arm shifted while I slept, and this I bring up because I read that might alter data.
I don't know. I'm freaking out, though.
I'm sorry for any awkward phrasing. I only slept for six hours. Thank you!
-The first and second photos show my SpO2 lingers at "dangerous" levels for stretches of time—93% in the former and latter, and 92% in the latter. The third photo shows a minute's gap of zero recorded input—suggesting no breathing, I guess—before recording measurements of 74% SpO2 and 138 bpm; both steadily climb for near-six minutes, then plummet to normal levels. Do I risk lasting brain damage? Does continuing like this for longer, without a CPAP machine, mean I risk death? Do I need to see the ER?
-By what likelihood are measurements by EMAY prone to distortion? The third photo's plummet in SpO2 and bpm, and the length by which both persisted as extremes, would suggest a close shave from death, right? This seems unrealistic to have lived, given my age, weight, and fitness—and also that I've not (seemingly) incurred any brain damage. Writing this, I feel as impaired as in, say, May. Thus, I wonder about anything else which could have caused (or rather, fabricated) such extremes. That night, I fell asleep on my side, and I thought my oximeter, wrapped around my wrist bone, was snug. I can't recall if my arm shifted while I slept, and this I bring up because I read that might alter data.
I don't know. I'm freaking out, though.
I'm sorry for any awkward phrasing. I only slept for six hours. Thank you!
