Hi, Over the last three weeks or so my face has started feeling hot and it look very red and flushed. This can happen at any time during the day or night, although, when I awake through the night and when I get up in the morning I always have a flushed face. I do not have a problem with high body temperature when this is happening. I wondered if anyone else has this problem as I was curious if it has anything to do with my oxygen level; I haven't been to see the doctor about it?
I also have Bronchiectasis (mild) and was wondering if it was related to this.
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Have you had your oxygen levels checked whilst on CPAP June in case it is linked to 02 levels? Also, does your CPAP or BiPAP have data recorded so you can see how your treatment is going? Some people, usually with other lung conditions such as COPD or severe asthma do need oxygen with their CPAP therapy.
Hi Kath, I haven't had it checked since I was at the Respiratory Medicine Dept in April last year - Leeds LGI (is this Oxygen Saturate)? if so it was 93% on room air; I know my bronch although mild has got worse over the last few months. I have an appointment at the sleep clinic on 17 March 2014. My CPAP does have data recording, however, I can't get into that part to see what is happening, they will look at that when I go to the clinic. I wonder if I should try get an earlier appointment. I tried to get in to docs this morning but no appointments left.
Which machine are you using June? Some of them can be checked via the free software which I'll link to when I hear what model you have?
Forget that last question June, as I just checked your profile and it says you're on the Resmed Escape, and unfortunately there's no useful data on that machine - not even for the clinicians! The only information you and they can get are how many hours of usage and pressure It might be worth you investing in a pulse oximeter which records during the night, so you can keep a check of your 02 to check you're not having desats. This is the cheapest place I know in the UK with good aftercare http://www.clinicalguard.com/wristband-pulse-oximeter-cms50f-with-s...
ok are they like the ones that the hospital uses, it looks like the one I had to use to see if I was having apneas? If so would there be an advantage to me having one myself, because if I found out I was having desats, what would I do about it?
It's a matter of choice really June, and wouldn't be necessary if people were given machines that had data, but mostly the NHS don't supply these (my clinic does and every 2-3 months I get a new sd card sent and have to send mine from the machine, as my consultant likes to keep an eye on our therapy). If you found you were having desats then it's a sign your pressure needs adjusting and hopefully the clinic would be interested in seeing your data. Whilst the home pulse oximeters are not as detailed as the very expensive ones the hospital use, I have personally tested it against an expensive Nonin pulse ox and it gave the same readings.
By the way, I'm not encouraging people to become obsessive about their treatment, but it's always wise to have a way to keep tabs on our therapy. After all, if we had diabetes (which many do) then we'd be expected to monitor our BP and glucose levels!!
Thanks Kath I appreciate and value you sharing your knowledge and don't believe you are encouraging me to be obsessive nor do I feel I am getting obsessive. I have just looked at some of the symptoms of low oxygen and believe it or not I have had such bad pains in my legs (during the night is worse) it wakes me up the pain is so intense. I went to the doctors about four weeks ago, she tested me for .... I think something like polymalgia... the test came back ok so she did nothing! What a coincidence.
I'm not obsessive myself either June, but I do keep tabs on my therapy data - not everyday though. Interestingly, if I'm having a really bad day and I do check my data I will find my AHI has increased for whatever reason - sometimes self-inflicted if I've had some wine or eaten too late in the evening. Things can change for many reasons, such as alcohol, hormones, foods eaten, stress, certain medications, illness etc. The thing I don't do is panic if things aren't going as well on odd days.
Unfortunately, some hospitals seem to resent us knowing what's happening to 'our own' bodies, and then you get others that welcome us taking an interest.
Read this old post about leg cramps with low 02 levels http://hope2sleepguide.co.uk/forum/topics/muscle-cramps-bladder-ger... and I know other people who have suffered leg pains due to 02 desats, so it's worth you trying to find out the true cause of your problems. Apart from the fact that if the pain is waking you up then you're still suffering from interrupted sleep .
Thanks once again Kath you have spent so much time helping me today. I am quite a level headed person and don't panic easily, however, I do think a lot I have managed to make an appointment with my doctor for early Wednesday morning. I have also tried to bring my Sleep Clinic appointment forward at St James's but it can't be changed they are too busy/full. They did, however, say that if they have a cancellation they will ring me. They also said when I go to docs if she refers me again they will see me earlier. So at least I'm getting somewhere and I will also think about getting one of those pulse oximeters. I have looked at some other ones (amazon about £30) but I don't think they are as sophisticated as the one you directed me to. xx
You're welcome June and if it's St James' in Leeds they have a very good sleep clinic so am sure will be of help to you if you explain the problems you're having, as well as reminding them of your Bronchiectasis. They may even send you home with a pulse oximeter. The cheaper ones you have seen aren't suitable because they only spot-check your 02 levels whilst you're awake, but it's the ones you need monitoring whilst asleep which has software you can download to check your results. Some hospitals only use pulse oximetry as a sleep study, which is fine if people are having lots of desats, but there are quite a number of people who suffer apnoeas and hypopnoeas without having many desats, so these people get missed a diagnosis
Right Kath that's enough education for today, I'll never sleep tonight ha ha
Take care of yourself and enjoy your weekend xx
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