Broken Blood Vessels on face improves with nighttime oxygen!

[Stufftie]

This is more of a statement than a question.  I have researched this topic before and found several answers to why I have broken red blood vessels on my face.  The answers I found were from to much alcohol consumption, washing face to rough and with hot water, heat and cold, rosacea, etc. Other than heat and cold none of them applied to me.  I was disappointed to read that this was permanent.
It seems that the cause of this for me was low oxygen saturation at night
After a couple of nights on oxygen they are disappearing....Which saves on foundation :)

Last night I fell asleep in my daughters room and at 4 a.m. moved to my bed where I began oxygen.  This morning I noticed more red vessels on my face.

I really thought the red vessels were a permanent look for me!
Now just to figure out why I am not breathing at night...I am looking forward to the sleep study.

[Stufftie]

Hey Jerry!

You helped me with a post before. :)

5' 8" and 135 pounds. But small in the facial area.

I found an article that discusses the correlation with hypothyroidism and apnea.  Hypothyroidism can cause tissue swelling.  What I gathered was that even though I am optimized on my thyroid medication - by way of Free T testing - that both the possible swelling and small airways contribute to OSA.  

By thyroid optimized I mean on that day of testing my blood results show that I am within the lab ranges.  Mid T4 and upper T3.  My body cannot adjust how much or little hormone I get in times of exercise or stress - even good stress can knock me out. Geeesh

It will take me years and a very understanding thyroid doctor to know where I feel the best.

In the meantime I will do everything I can not to be in pain or exhausted. Without the use of pain pills - why is that most doctors answer.
My 7-year-old loves bike rides way to much to be in the house all day! If feeling normal includes a CPAP or oxygen at night until my thyroid levels are perfect for me....then so be it.

Someday they will truly understand all the thyroid hormone function and role in the body and this day to day struggle will be over...LOL

[Jerry_NJ]

One can't do much after they fall asleep, but I suggest you try to sleep on your side.  Maybe a pillow against your back will keep you from rolling onto your back.  

Obstructive problems are worse when one is on their back, gravity works to pull the obstruction into the air path.

A sleep study will measure lots of things, but the O2 sat is the key.  They will also monitor sleep stages, body movement, body position, heart rate and the O2 sat.. may be other measures, I don't recall but I do recall the doctor related only to the low O2 saturation intervals to consider what the other measures were at those times.

Mine  OSA is much reduced since I lost abou12 pounds and hope to lose another 8 pounds and then do another at home over night recording oximeter.    The Pulmonary Specialist, Sleep Doctor, said that single measurement would confirm or disprove the effectiveness of the weight loss.

You didn't mention you weight relative to overweight or worse, but if you are even in the upper overweight range that could contribute to your problems too.

[Stufftie]

I am waiting for insurance approval before the sleep study. I should know more in 2 - 3 weeks it seems.

I did buy a pulse ox to ease my mind about O2 during the day and I am a steady 97% - 98%

My oxygen level is 69% at night.

I was very surprised that this was the cause of the blood vessels.  Apparently half the night using the oxygen wasn't enough because they reappeared today.  

I will be dozing off in my own room tonight! :)

[Jerry_NJ]

Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea, specifically obstructive sleep apnea?  If yes you may want to discuss a CPAP breathing mask with your doctor. This device just keeps you air passage open wider when you are wearing it and it "go to" for obstructive sleep apnea.  I think it is also less expensive than oxygen tanks.

Is your oxygen saturation level low during the awake times?  If yes, it isn't sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea becomes a problem when one is asleep and fully relaxed - sleeping on one's back is another aggravation.

If your oxygen saturation is low during the time your are awake it may indicate some surgery to remove blockage is necessary.  

Of course, if you have lung problems that prevent you from extracting sufficient oxygen from the normal atmosphere it seems supplementary oxygen may be the only current answer.  Again, if the O2 is low during the day you may gain further reduction in broken blood vessels if you use oxygen during the day too, maybe just when you can work it in.

[Chevy_mama]

How long did it take for your broken blood vessels to improve? I've been on overnight oxygen for about 3 weeks now. We discovered my o2 levels went down to 52! Next step is a sleep study