cpap vs oxygen? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

herefishy · 04-20-2005, 07:57 PM

I had low blood oxygen, diagnosed after snoring episodes and sleep study - doc said not too bad, investigate snoring remedies, but nothing helped, so I had another blood ox test and it was still low - so doc prescribed oxygen at night and scheduled me for a sleep study. Oxygen was fine, brought up the blood ox level, and I figured he would cancel the sleep study. But he didn't, and last night I had the study, with cpap for half the night, which also brought up the blood ox. It seems like the cpap is kind of a pain, compared to the oxygen use, which is pretty simple - if he asks which I would prefer, I would think it would be oxygen, but does anybody know why oxygen is not a more common remedy for sleep apnea? I don't know if I even have sleep apnea, seems like if I stopped breathing like in sleep apnea, the oxygen would not be effective. I am confused! Any helpers?

analog2000 · 04-20-2005, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herefishy

does anybody know why oxygen is not a more common remedy for sleep apnea? I don't know if I even have sleep apnea, seems like if I stopped breathing like in sleep apnea, the oxygen would not be effective.

That is why oxygen is usually not a remedy for sleep apnea. If your airway is blocked, it doesn't matter if you have oxygen, it isn't getting into you.

Was your sleep study unable to determine if you have apnea, or have you just not yet received the results? You say that oxygen therapy brought up your levels, but that CPAP brings them up a little more? That does make sense, remember, your airway is not continuously blocked (otherwise you would die!). And you don't have apnea episodes with every single breath. If you do have apnea, I would say that the oxygen helps when your airway is open, which it obviously has to be sometimes, even for the most severe cases of apnea. The CPAP could help more because it keeps your airway open continuously for the oxygen. Does that make sense?

CPAP is a pain, but the results of treatment are often very dramatic, so it is worth it. Good luck.

herefishy · 04-21-2005, 06:13 AM

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Analog, I see your point about the oxygen. However, when apnea was suggested in my case, I resisted it because I do not have symptoms of apnea - no tiredness, no gasping episodes reported by my sleeping partner,etc. All I do is snore and get low blood ox. I do wear a dental device to push my jaw forward, and this helps the snoring a little. My doc is not very easy to talk to, the kind that just says do this and don't ask questions, so I appreciate having a forum to explore my situation. I guess my next action should be to wait for the sleep results, but I wanted to be prepared to ask him some intelligent questions if I have the chance.

analog2000 · 04-21-2005, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herefishy

when apnea was suggested in my case, I resisted it because I do not have symptoms of apnea - no tiredness, no gasping episodes reported by my sleeping partner,etc. All I do is snore and get low blood ox.

If it does turn out that you have apnea, you should probably get it treated even if you do not have severe or even "obvious" symptoms. I look at it kind of like having high blood pressure; you can't look at someone and tell what their level is, many people don't know what their level is, and having a high level doesn't always make you feel bad. No one ever says, "Gee, I just don't feel good today, my blood pressure must be high!" But even though you can't see or feel these signs, having it can be dangerous, and can be doing damage to your body.

If you do have apnea, you stop breathing while you sleep. That means that every night you are being suffocated! That has to have a negative impact on your body, even if you aren't noticing any tiredness. Sleep apnea can cause (or contribute to) high blood pressure, heart problems, depression, diabetes, and stroke!

I knew my apnea needed to be treated because of my overwhelming fatigue, and treatment saved my life. But I have a friend who did not want to have his apnea treated at first, because he was pretty healthy, and didn't feel tired. Then his doc convinced him of how important it was. He says that he does feel more alert and energetic now (after 1 year of CPAP), but nothing dramatic. However, his blood pressure has dropped dramatically, to the point where he doesn't need meds for it anymore.

So this is something to take seriously. And treatment can have a lot of beneficial effects, even if they aren't immediately obvious. Good luck!

whackedback · 04-21-2005, 01:34 PM

Just to mention it as a possibility, you could consider the UPPP surgery to help eliminate your apnea. I don't know if it's for you or not, only you and your doctor can determine the answer to that question.

whackedback