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Sleep apnea or COPD?
My cardio doc order an oximeter test for overnight. I did the test and recently was told I need to see a pulmonologist. Apparently I had several dips overnight below 88 percent, one lasting over an hour. I had several complaints, one being labile blood pressure and feeling out of breath a lot, tired during the day etc...
what could this be? I was told maybe copd not sleep apnea because of the hour long drop. I don't see the specialist until next week, but so nervous.
what could this be? I was told maybe copd not sleep apnea because of the hour long drop. I don't see the specialist until next week, but so nervous.
I recently went thru a sleep test and found out that I have mild obstructive sleep apnea and severe nighttime hypoxia. My biggest concern is the low oxygen levels. I live in the high desert at 5500 ft. Would moving to sea level correct my hypoxia? I get out of breath easily during the day, and it seems as if it is harder to breathe? Has anyone out there moved from a high level area to sea level. Tell me what happened as far as oxygen saturation levels. Thank you.
Night One
Night One
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My Primary Care doctor prescribed an overnight oximeter test, and this confirmed I had low saturation levels during the night. I think made an appointment with a pulmonary doctor in a sleep study center. I had several chest x-rays and that along with a physical exam led to a full sleep study.. that is the x-ray and physical exam did not show anything as serious as COPD. On the first exam the doctor said my being overweight (by only 30 pounds on a 6' 5" frame) could be contributing to Obstructive Sleep Apnea - fat in my neck/throat had reduced the size of my air passage . This was never indicated by annual physical exams which included breathing capacity tests.. nontheless I underwent a sleep study, overnight in a hosptial, and that indicated mild obstructive sleep apnea. I agreed to try losing weight before going for a CPAP breathing mask.
I have lost 20 pounds and I no longer wake with any feeling of suffication and I will soon undergo another overnight (at home) recording oximeter test. I expect that to confirm I do not need a CPAP as long as I manage to keep my weight down to abouot 225 pounds, again on a 6' 5" frame.
It seems you doctor believes you results in the oximeter test are not bad enough to raise any survival concerns... thus there is no emergency reason to schedule an immediate sleep study test.
Good luck, and if you are over weight (aren't we all?), your problem could be similar to mine. Losing weight has many health benefits if one is overweight.