Snoring > Sleep Apnea > hsCRP > AFIB

If you ask me - sleep studies are way too elaborate and designed to fail (meaning ensure you're categorized as a patient by loading enough monitors and equipment on you to ensure you can't sleep normally).

It's as simple as this - are you hypoxic (O2 < 90) while sleeping? And if so how often and how long.

This device from Amazon (unaffiliated) - Wellue O2Ring Wearable Sleep Monitor - will enable you to capture your O2 data, motion and HR by just wearing a ring on your finger.

I bought one and saw that I was often in the 80s for O2 and then went to WalMart.com and bought a Philips CPAP w/o a prescription. Not a problem at all. Solved my issue in days vs the weeks and sometimes months it takes to go through insurance.

Since then, talking with friends I've learned that snoring or appearance doesn't always equal OSA. I've lent my ring out to others for 3 nights and an overweight friend that snore like a long shoreman has O2 in the mid 90s. While a very fit and thin woman that snored had a O2 in the low 70s most of the night! I lied (said I didn't really need mine) and gave her my CPAP that day and ordered a new one for myself.

I used this same device to see that my AF events were vagal in nature and even capture the vagal dip data to prove that point (this was before I went persistent).

I also use this device nightly because I have set vibration alerts for O2 levels (also does HR) that alert me when I am not using CPAP that I need to.

Some nights I can sleep all night long without CPAP and maintain 93% avg with less that a few minutes total under 90%. Other nights, just rolling from one side to the other ends up generating an alert and on goes the CPAP.

There are exercises you can do to help with OSA. [www.cpap.com]

Do you have OSA? Get one of these devices, Use it 3 nights (2 work nights and one weekend night) and see if you below 90% often enough to warrant getting a CPAP.

If you're borderline on the data, start doing some things that will help you - cooler room, gentle fan that exchanges the stale air around your head when you're asleep, the exercises for your fat lazy tongue yawning smiley, and better sleep positioning, (semi-reclining helps).

If you're hypoxic - realize this is a serious issue - kills brain cells, costs deep sleep and restoration, and raises hsCRP which has AF consequences (among many others). Don't be vain. Get a CPAP and use it and monitor your sleep often.

I might have saved myself some trouble if I took my advice today 3 years earlier when sleep study determined me 'borderline'. Vanity kept me from getting a CPAP. Bad choice.

Learn from my mistakes - good luck.

Good info NLAMA.

I had a home sleep study done last year around this time. I have sleep hypopnea (shallow breathing). So even though I don't stop breathing my shallow breathing has a similar effect. I was borderline as to weather or not I needed CPAP. But with my history it was recommended. I honestly cant say if I really feel any difference. However, the machine says it is helping.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2020 05:42PM by rocketritch.

Rich consider one of these rings if you can swing it. I use it to let me sometimes sleep w/o a cpap as I can set the ring to vibrate and wake me up if I dip low. Some nights I don't need a cpap and some nights I need one right away. The ring helps with that.

I wear a CPAP full face mask. My last study that was monitored showed I stopped breathing 11-13 times a hour. My CPAP is set on 11.5. Something’s I admit I will play “Doctor” but this particular breathing issue is very serious and I believe it should be monitored by Professionals in this field. I firmly believe this was a major reason for my AFIB issues per my pulmonary specialist.
I do not snore anymore and my sleep pattern is so much better. Sometimes We cannot afford from a Health standpoint to make a Mediocre Decision that can put our lives at Jeopardy. When I finally found a full face mask that I could live with, I cannot sleep sound without it.
Just Ge careful in self diagnosing ourselves especially as a layman like myself.
Just be Smart and use good judgment.
LIFE IS GOOD but take each day one at a time.Life is Good but it’s also precious. JUST BE SMART.😊

Hi Smackman - I'm really happy the CPAP is working so well for you. I totally agree with your last statement.
I'm so pleased life has improved so much for you.
Best to you,
Jackie