sleep study test - normal

hello

I had a sleep study in April and I enquired if I might get some feedback in time for my exercise stress echo appointment coming up as felt like a loose end and it would be good to make the cardiology people aware if an issue.

Anyway - subject to getting results and a letter (it’s very kind of the sleep people to try and get something to me aheAd of my appointment) - after consulting doc they told me the result is normal which I’m happy about but more because the focus can now stay on my congenital heart defect.

still getting low blood oxygen readings on Apple Watch (I know not accurate etc etc but I’m saving my money and didn’t get a pulse oximeter in the end) but maybe the upcoming echo will shed some light?

There is the issue of can a one night study pick up something when can vary night to night but they have to set thresholds at some level and I’m assuming I fell below those thresholds and then deemed normal. I did get readings below 95% and one of 89% that night though. But I remember sleeping well (for me) as I’d been in A&E all day then did the test that night so I could have been extra tired. Will never know.

😊

[Tos92]

Hi Hidden

I’m glad to hear your sleep study didn’t show anything worrying.

I’m not sure if this would help, but I’ve attached an image of my blood oxygen readings from my Apple Watch from the beginning of April. I would attach a few more however, it it just to demonstrate that I believe this to be quite normal and if anything was to be of concern, the study most likely would have picked up on it. Try not to focus on it too much unless you are having symptoms related to shortness of breath in your sleep.

Let us know how you get on either way.

Tos

Blood oxygen readings from Apple Watch Series 8

[Hidden in reply to Tos92]

thanks not worried just noting that readings show some lows although test is normal and I’m ok with that.

My sleep is usually broken anyway and properly wake up like clockwork at intervals during night but has been like this for several years which I put down to stress but happens when I’m not stressed too 🤪. I wake up tired, never refreshed.

just have some factors that coupled with low readings GP felt worth investigating.

But then I have asthma and a CHD which may be causes of occasional low oxygen so more likely to be the culprits than sleep.

👍

[Tos92 in reply to Hidden]

I never wake up feeling refreshed either. Oh what I would do for a good nights sleep 😴 !!

That’s a good point. Asthma can cause lower oxygen saturation rates whilst asleep. I wonder if your asthma would need further investigation.

Hopefully the upcoming echo will give you an indication on perhaps, what is going on 🤞🏽

[Hidden in reply to Tos92]

thanks again, good nights sleep - when you get one, send one my way too❤️

[Ethel14]

I have sleep Apnoea I have a CPAP machine for night use , this was diagnosed from a one night sleep test.

[Hidden in reply to Ethel14]

thanks, I’m now more confident with result - if it’s going to show it is likely to show just on one night test. One thing less to worry about! 👍

[Ethel14]

you’re welcome hope you get sorted

[Hidden in reply to Ethel14]

thanks - I loathe the waiting, worst bit about these pesky health issues.

Have good day!

[Smitty1956]

Hi, Fishface101,

I’m very happy to hear that your sleep test was normal! That is good news and a win. 😃

I also use the Blood Oxygen app on my Apple Watch. Sometimes my numbers are in the mid 80s. I do feel that these numbers are accurate as I have checked them with the pulse oximeter that my mother has.

I have only recently started using the sleep tracking app on my Apple Watch. I have noted that I average about 6.5 hours of sleep per night even if I am in bed trying to sleep for over 7.5 hours. I have had a low of about 5 hours of sleep and a high of slightly over 7 hours.

I also noted in the data that I have broken spaces in my sleep—for instance, when I am up to the bathroom. Like you mentioned, I sometimes feel tired after waking up so that can cause worry.

I don’t totally understand respiration rate, but I am generally averaging 17.5 up to 25 breaths per minute while I sleep, but I have no idea if this is good or bad.

I hope that you are able to get everything sorted, and I am happy about your sleep test results. I always think to myself, “That’s one less thing to worry about.” Best wishes! ❤️

[Hidden in reply to Smitty1956]

hello

Thank you for those supportive words, and explaining about the accuracy. My GP relied on the readings enough to refer. I don’t have the sleep monitoring on as it doesn’t track oxygen in the day then but I may not have the settings right.

I would say i get similar amounts of sleep to yourself. I usually get about 1.5 to 2 hours straight (out like a light) then its intermittent waking and sleeping if I’m lucky / dozing.

Just waiting for my echo now. 👍

take care!

[Smitty1956]

You are correct (as far as I can tell) that the Apple Watch does not record respiratory rate during the day time. I wish that it did. 😊

I’m currently waiting on testing for pulmonary artery hypertension. I am having a good bit of problems with breathlessness/breathing. My first instinct is to chalk it up to anxiety disorder, but I worry that it is more than that.

I had a CT scan last week to check on a nodule in my right lung that was first detected when I had my HA in March 2022. Turns out that the nodule is fine—no problems. But the report stated that I had stable cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) and an enlarged diameter pulmonary artery—so my GP is referring me to a pulmonary specialist. Just waiting for an appointment for now.

I wish you the best on your upcoming echo! 😊

[Hidden in reply to Smitty1956]

That’s a lot to contend with, they went in looking at one thing, found another! Tick one thing off stick another thing on the list! I’m sorry you are being presented with one thing after another but the same from me, I too wish you the best for your test. Keep us posted. ❤️