Question:
After sleep study they said I am not getting enough oxygen.
I refused a CPAP and they said they would set me up on oxygen with a nasal cannal. SO they brought oxygen concentrator and the huy said Doctors orders to be at a "1" and then said wonder why I was even to use it because it is so low. Well me too. Am I being ripped off or rather insurance being ripped off. Study results came as shallow breathing and @ times oxygen level was 80. What do you all think? I know nothing about this. Thank you — Mickey M. (posted on November 4, 2003)
November 4, 2003
I am a nurse in a pulmonary doctor's office. We routinly order oxygen for
patients that desaturate at night...like you did. A reading of 80 warrants
treatment!!! We start patients with readings at 88. You may feel that
having your oxygen at 1 is not worth it.....but it is worth it to your
body, when you think about what all is getting deprived of oxygen....your
heart has to work harder to try and supply the body, and as your test
results show...it still is not getting the job done if you are dropping to
80. I have seen a few patients DIE because they refuse treatment...they
felt it was not worth it. I would recommend you use the oxygen, and
retest later, you may not need it....but now your body is telling you it
needs it!!!! And I promise you..... the doctor is not "ripping"
off you or your insurance company.....as he will get nothing from ordering
the oxygen.
— jennap
November 4, 2003
I can assure you this is not a rip off because I have been there. I was
diagnosed with hypoxia during sleep and was put on a nasal cannula @2L. I
used it at night and while napping. At first I didn't think I was being
treated seriously, and was being just being placated. Believe me though,
you will notice a difference. I used mine for over a year. Now that I have
lost 83lbs I sometimes "forget" to use it. The noise from the
concentrator will take some getting used to, but after a few days you won't
even remember you have it on. You'll also wake up a few times with a
"super-oxygenated" eyeball a few times. LOL. Just remember to
take it off before you get up to go upstairs to pee. Good luck. Kim K.
— Kim K.
November 4, 2003
I also have to sleep with oxygen, at 2. Many times during the night I am
putting it back on, however it has made a change in my life. It takes some
getting use to but believe me it will be worth your while. I hope some day
I can ditch it all but for now its worth saving my life. Good Luck and God
Bless.
— Joan T.
November 4, 2003
If you refuse to use a cpap, the doc's have no other recourse but to put
you on O2! While the cpap is an irritation, it is one that I gladly put up
with because I used to stop breathing, 18-25 times per hour, and each time,
my 02 levels dropped, until I woke up with a screaming headache, from o2
starvation. I was told that without the cpap, there would be a chance that
I would just stop breathing at some point, so I use my cpap religiously, no
more headaches, and I feel really good and rested after a full nights
sleep. The next level of noncompliance would be an 02 line, but I went with
the cpap. The doc's job is to keep you alive, and if one path won't work,
they try the next one down the line. After wls, the chances of you needing
a cpap or 02 drop dramatically, to the point where you will probably never
need to use either one again, but that is thier call. Follow the docs
recommendations! they are only trying to keep you alive and well!
— track
November 4, 2003
Jeanette, PLEASE be safe and do what the doctor recommends, whether it be
oxygen or CPAP. You are lucky to have a doctor that cares about your
oxygen levels before he does your surgery. My best friend, Ginger
Brewster, listed on the memorial page of this website, died because she had
her surgery with undiagnosed/untreated sleep apnea. Please read her story
to see what CAN happen to someone who is not treated prior to surgery and
no precautions are taken after surgery for the sleep apnea/desaturation
during sleep. I wish you the best of luck for a safe and successful
surgery.
— Hackett
November 4, 2003
I too was diagnosed with shallow breathing. I was up and down in my oxygen
from 70 something % to 80 something %. My average oxygen level while
sleeping was 81%. I was put on oxygen while sleeping or napping. Mine was
set on 3. I think that was because I had a bit of sleep apnea on top of
the shallow breathing. It worked wonders for me. I felt the difference in
my energy level right away. 69 lbs lighter and I am free of the oxygen
concentrater. My last home sleep test showed that my average oxygen level
was 93% while sleeping...so I'm pleased! Just do what your doctor
asks...he/she is only looking out for your best interest.
— Renee B.
November 5, 2003
Why did you refuse a CPAP? You may indeed have a difficult time getting
used to it, but most people eventually can get accustomed to it, and it
could make a very big difference in how you feel. If you decide to try it,
get accustomed to it in front of the TV or with a book, rather than trying
to sleep with it right away. There's a very good CPAP forum on
sleepnet.com, you can learn a lot browsing their archives.
— Celia A.
November 5, 2003
those low oxygen levels can kill you. they cause increased risk of heart
attack, stroke and hypertension. the only one ripping you off is YOU if you
don't comply with treating a serious and potentially deadly medical
condition.
— **willow**
November 5, 2003
I recently found out I have severe sleep apnea and was shocked as I thought
I might have mild, my doctors' were not worried at all by my symptoms. I
requested the sleep study because I was suspicious of a mild problem and
want to have RNY surgery. Tonight will be my 7th night on the Cpap machine
and I have it set at 12 (the tech told me that the more common setting was
7 or 8). I was dreading adapting to the machine, but am having no problem
with the breathing part of it. Now to keep my mouth shut when I am
sleeping really good, I may end up needing a chin strap. Even though I am
still adjusting I am feeling better than I did pre-Cpap so know it is worth
it.
Defintely be careful and follow the instructions to use your oxygen to the
letter, your life could depend on it. I would assume that the doctor will
do a follow up oxygen study to make sure that the 1 is the proper dose for
you. Good luck.
— Arizona_Sun
November 6, 2003
3 years before my surgery I was diagnosed w/Sleep Apnea, severe sleep
apnea. They only ran the test for apx 20 minutes because based on that
short amount of time it figgured out that I stopped breathing around 100
times in an hour. To say I never got a good night's sleep would be an
understatement. Also my hubby was awake most of the night because he was so
sacred I would not start breathing and would die. By Dr's orders I couldn't
drive, falling asleep anywhere was a given. So, you'd think I went home
happily from the sleep study with my Cpap tucked under my arm and had a
great relationship?? Right?? WRONG!!Over a year later I was still refusing
to use that damn thing--hey I'm claustraphobic, no way!!. So finally my Dr,
being the very smart Lady that she is---asked me how claustraphobic I was
gonna be in the coffin, since my o2 levals were so low I was "killing
off my body and my vital organs, oh like heart and brain were robbing the
rest of me of o2 just to survive, and eventually they wouldn't have enough
and would shut down,---but not before brain cells startred to die. OK, hit
me in the head, scare me bad---finally worked. Took a while to get used to
the dang thing---but here's what turned out to be funny. After WLS, I
eventually stopped needing my CPAP, another wonderful benefit of this
surgery---but I continued to sleep with it under my pillow for about 3
months. The noise was a great comfort. Anyway, listen to you Dr., mine was
pretty smart, after all she suggested the WLS surgery too. So far she's
done pretty good making sure I'm around to pay for her new car!!!! It's
about being good to yourself.
— bek4901
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