SPO2 trend during sleeping

I have been using CPAP during sleeping.  I do not have much update and not many thing to post this blog recently.  Today, I review SPO2 trend last a few months.

I have been collecting SPO2 data during sleeping almost every day since May 26, 2018.

Here is the average data and I can see a good improvement.

3rd week of May to 2nd week of June (without CPAP)

• SPO2(Average)                            94.0 %
• SPO2(minimum)                          87.0 %
• SPO2 drop more than 5%            1.3 / hour
• SPO2 drop 4 ~ 5%                       3.0 / hour
• SPO2 drop 3 ~ 4%                       8.4 / hour
• Weight                                          165.6 lb / 75.1 kg

3rd week of June to 2nd week of July (excluding days for CPAP trial)

• SPO2(Average)                            94.6 %
• SPO2(minimum)                          87.3 %
• SPO2 drop more than 5%            1.1 / hour
• SPO2 drop 4 ~ 5%                       2.4 / hour
• SPO2 drop 3 ~ 4%                       6.9 / hour
• Weight                                          161.4 lb / 73.2 kg

3rd week of July to 2nd week of August (with CPAP)

• SPO2 (Average)                            95 %
• SPO2 (minimum)                          89.2 %
• SPO2 drop more than 5%             0.6 / hour
• SPO2 drop 4 ~ 5%                        1.6 / hour
• SPO2 drop 3 ~ 4%                        5.5 / hour
• Weight                                           158.7 lb / 72.0 kg

8月下旬から9月中旬　（CPAP使用）

• SPO2 (Average)                           95.6 %
• SPO2 (minimum)                         91.2 %
• SPO2 drop  more than 5%           0.3 / hour
• SPO2 drop 4 ~ 5%                       0.9 / hour
• SPO2 drop 3 ~ 4%                       3.8 / hour
• Weight                                          156.1 lb / 70.8 kg

SPO2 drop less than 3%, I do not see any difference therefore I did not show here.  It is probably including some measurement error and I do not believe there is no point to compare them.

Before mid June, I felt some symptoms such as felt tired right after waking up and very strong sleepiness during daytime.   However they are going away after that.  I started using CPAP in mid July and the number is significantly improved.

The average SPO2 value is improved by 1.6%.  I think CPAP works very well.  However I think this improvement is not only CPAP but also weight reduction.  Before using CPAP, the value is improved with weight reduction.  I lost about 4 lb.  However, I also tried to improve the symptom with changing sleeping positions as well.  (I think sleeping position is one of factor to improve the value)

After starting using CPAP, there is some improvement.  I think this is due to weight reduction as well as I adopted using CPAP device and the quality of sleeping is getting better.  At least, CPAP and weight reduction works very well in my case.

Follow up appointment for Sleep apnea after started using CPAP

I saw a doctor for the first time since I started using CPAP as a treatment of sleep apnea.  It was really hard to make an appointment with the doctor and it took almost two months.   Finally, I saw the doctor today.   This is a summary.

Nothing to do with the CPAP device

When I made the appointment, I was told I had to carry the CPAP device when I would see the doctor.   Therefore, I packed it into a carrying case before the appointment.  However it was not touched at all during the appointment.
I just asked a question why I needed to carry it.  The reason is it is possible that the doctor consults how to use / adjust it if people have issues.  In my case, there is no issues at all and the doctor does not have to do that.

Thee symptom is improved, no issues

As a conclusion, the symptom is significantly improved and I just need to do whatever I have been doing with the CPAP device.  That is only instruction from the doctor.
The event per hour, which is breath stopping events detected by the device, is 0.5 per hour.  That is a pretty good number and I just need to continue to use CPAP.  The target is 5 per hour and my number below the target.  There is also no issue for air leak from the mask.

Possibility to eliminate CPAP

One thing I am really interested in was a possibility not using CPAP device.  As a conclusion, the doctor still believer I have to use it for a while.

The primary reason is the setting of CPA device is 6 cm H2O ~ 8 cm H2O.   Overall average is 6.1 cm H2O which is recorded by the CPAP device.  However, the maximum value is 7.5 cm H2O, that means the CPAP device adjusts the air pressure to high due to apnea events.   If there is no event, there is no reason the pressure is going up and staying below 6 cm H2O.   Therefore, it is better to use it for a while.

Weight reduction might help some improvement, however, jaw structure for Asian would be a primary cause of Sleep apnea in many cased.  Therefore, even if people loose a lot of weight, it is still better to use CPAP device in many cases.
On the other hand, reducing weight and keeping a right weight is very important to stay healthy for the other reason, thus, it is better to continue reduce my weight anyway.

Next appointment

The next appointment will be a year from now.   Of course,  I might need to see him any time if I have any issues / problems.  Other than that, the doctor thinks once a year would not be a problem in my case.

So, it seems that I have to use CPAP for a while and continue to do the weight reduction targeting to 63 kg.

Progress of weight reduction ~ still getting very good progress!

Due to using CPAP during sleeping, I do not have much new topic....
Since it is the end of August and I report a progress of weight reduction project

The previous update for the weight reduction is about two weeks ago, the average weight of a week was 157.9(lb).  After that, the average changed 155.9(lb) -> 155.8(lb).  There were a few days the weight was less than 155 (lb).  My weight on April 18 was 170.6 (lb), therefore, I have done about 15 (lb) reduction!  My target weight is somewhere less than 140 (lb) so, it is probably a half way now.  (140 lb is BMI less than 22 with height 5 feet 6 inches).

I do not really restricted diet.  Therefore it was not very heard and I sometimes eat some extra when I feel really hungry.


Key is to be "Habit"

I realized that the key for the weight reduction is "to be habit".  I guess I could loose more weight if I more restricted diet.  However, I think it might be hard to sustain that diet.  I guess a better way to maintain a reasonable small adjustment.  For now, I am note sure if I need to reduce amount of what I eat to reduce more weight.  I just watch the trend of my weight with the current "habit".

Improvement?

Since I am using CPAP, the symptom is significantly improved.  The event of Sleep apnea CPAP device detects is somewhere less than 1 event per hour in the average.  (The original event rate in the sleep study was 7.1 event / hour)

Web service by CPAP vendor ~ MyAir

I have not tried any new things recently.  I've just been using CPAP equipment when I sleep nowadays.
The device I am using is ResMed Air Sense 10 AutoSet.  It sends data during sleeping through mobile network and doctors and insurance companies can access my data.  They also offer to access the data through PC and mobile application.

The insurance company decides to cover this treatment based on the usage. 
Due to on-going weight reduction effort, my symptom is getting much better and the event is only less than one event.  (This is based on data the CPAP device detects)

I think weight reduction helps at least my case!

Weight Reduction status ~ making a good progress!

Trend of my weight last 12 months

Background
As I posted a couple times, a doctor suspected "sleep apnea" and I had sleep study at home in April and the doctor concluded as "sleep apnea" in mid May.   Currently, I have been using CPAP machine for the treatment.  Also, one of reasons for sleep apnea is over weight, therefore, I am doing weight deduction now.

After age 40, I have been running a couple days a week.  However, I also ate too much and my weight is 165 ~ 180 lbs last ten years.  It was not too bad as long as I did regular exercise, however once I stopped regular running, I had some chest pain.  Finally I saw a doctor and found "sleep apnea".

Around last November to this February, there is a symptom for stress-fracture, I tended to take some rests and stopped running often, therefore, the weight trend was increasing.  This happened a couple times a yer and my weight was up and down frequently.

Serious weight reduction

Due to some relationship between exercise and the pain, I started weight reduction after I saw a doctor in March.  First thing I did was reduce the strength of exercise to lower the risk of injury to avoid to stop exercise so often.  Due to my age, it might be tough to continue some high intensity menu, I decided to change the direction of exercise.

The other thing was I tried to eat less especially carbohydrate foods such as rice and bread.  However it might be hard to continue very restricted diet for a long time, so that what I am doing is about 60~70% reduction.

I also take a walk during lunch time for 30 ~ 45 minutes around the office other than running.

I think it started working some time after May.  The weight reduction between March and May was probably due to resuming running.  Now, I am adopted and I can keep a good trend for my weight deduction.   It is close to 155 lbs now!

Impact to Sleep Apnea?

I think it depends on a type of sleep apnea.  In my case, it is obstructive sleep apnea and it might be a good chance to improve the symptom with weight reduction.  I can see some improvement before I started using CPAP a month ago.
Currently, I've been using CPAP and it is expected to get some improvement, however, a data detected by the CPAP machine shows it is also improved.

I will continue the weight reduction to target somewhere 135 lbs.

Here is the trend of an average weight for every week:

159.4lbs -> 158.3lbs -> 157.2lbs -> 156.7lbs

I can make a very good progress now!

(To be continue)