Hi maybe someone here as experienced or has knowledge on this issue. I have an appt with my pulmonologist on Friday but I keep trying to figure out what I'm going to have to deal with.

It all started when I went to my doctor because I felt tired during the day had headaches, sore throats, sleepiness during the day etc..

The doctor after asking me a few questions and saw my tonsils were overlarged presumed I had sleep apnea and felt I needed a tonsillectomy so he sent me to an ENT.

The ENT looked me over and also noticed the enlarged tonsils and a deviated septum so he sent me to have a sleep study done also presuming that I had sleep apnea.

The sleep study showed I had no sleep apnea but it stated that my baseline saturation was reduced.

My baseline O2 saturation was 88
and the lowest O2 sats wtih events was 85 (that was in REM stage of sleep)

So it says that the interpretation is that reduced baseline saturation suggests underlying cardiac or respiratory disease

(although I've been seen by a cardiologist after an abnormal 24 hour EKG and the cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health regarding my heart)

So that leaves respiratory diseases

It also stated I had occasional Tachycardia events

the impressions said unexplained reduced O2 saturation correlate clinicially and consider O2 supplementation

(does that mean they are going to request I be put on oxygen? and if the baseline O2 sats I assume means when I was awake does that mean I will need to be on oxygen all the time day and night?

and if the O2 sats is due to "something" could it be something really simple or should I be very worried about why my O2 sats are low?

To give you a bit of history I'm a 30 year old woman who's slightly overweight smokes a pack a day (I know not good) and does not drink.

I honestly don't know what to tell you. I have asthma (diagnosed 7 years ago). Asthma can manifest itself in several ways - from full blow attacks to fatigue and subtle symptoms like shortness of breath with exercise. That is certainly one of the things the pulmonologist will consider. Of course, he will tell you to quit smoking, because emphysems is likely, bu doesn't usually show up until later in life. I wouldn't worry too much about it until you get a diagnosis. If your sats are down only when you sleep that still would suggest a sleep apnea type problem to me....
Cindy

The only thing is when they do a baseline O2 sat's that was when I was awake from what I can tell they find out what I am during the waking hours to figure out what I should be during sleep..

O2 sats of 88% are low and you should be assessed for long term oxygen therapy, which may include day and night. There are lots of causes of low O2 sats, some to do with smoking and some to do with other diseases. Have you had any PFT's?

I'm at a loss at what PFT's are...

Does it change as far as smoking from one person to another? My husband who is older then me and has been smoking longer then me and smokes harsher more everything cigarettes has a 99% oxygen sat...


edited to add I searched google are you speaking of a Pulmonary function tests if so then no so far it's just the pulse oxymetry that they did while I was awake for a baseline then the entire night while I slept. Also might help to know that they observed some tachycardia events as well. However it's not cardiac cause I've already seen a cardiologist and he gave my heart a clean bill of health.

PFT is short for pulmonary function test. It is a test that measures how the air moves in and out of the lungs. You blow as hard and as long as you can into this tube and the computer measures a variety of things. Do you ever have shortness of breath?

Yes my chief complaints when I went to the doctor was

Shortness of Breath
Fatigue
Floaters in my eyes & Dizziness/lightheadness (which he figured that was dehydration)
sorethroat
cough
Feelings like I have bronchitis (When I would breath in real deep it would hurt)
Back pain associated with the the pain of breathing (this is only every once in a while that i get those feelings)
Headaches (have been plagued with them for a while now they come and sometimes they go away sometimes I have to take an advil for them)
and then the doctor noticed my tonsils were enlarged and the ENT noticed I had a deviated septum.

and then my sleep issues which the doctor since the tests do not show sleep apnea are now looking into checking out to see if I have narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia.

edited to add in fact on the Stress test report they put that they discontinued the test after I got to what I should at least be at because of fatigue and Shortness of Breath

hey again,

Sounds like you should probably have some lung function tests to find out what is going on with your lungs, that would probably give your doctor a better idea of what is causing your symptoms. Are you seeing a respiratory specialist?

well not "yet" Because I had a sleep study done I was assigned a sleep doctor and I called and found out that he is a pulmonologist. I go to see him Friday morning. Just I guess a bit anxious trying to grasp possibilities before I go.