How useful is an average SPO2?

[Westerj]

Is anyone able to see a CT minute by minute SPO2 record over night, or are we all supposed to think average value tell useful information?  I want to confirm my CPAP therapy is working as desired.  It's why I bought this device.

[Z-Nine]

@WesterjMy initial impressions is that this is not a great device for sleep apnea. I also use a CPAP and was hoping for good sleep tracking. While it is good for tracking in terms of your movements and sleep cycles, it doesn't seem to take frequent SPO2 readings. If you had a particular rough night it is evident in terms of your movements, but actual saturation is something to be desired seemingly.

Unless I am missing something, it only seems to take my oxygen once a day.

Edit: After a while of use, I am able to see my spO2 variations at night as well as my average oxygen 

[roads31 · Accepted solution]

Hey Westerj- I got the device for the same reason, to record my sleep data. I figured out how to graph the SPO2 data for your nights sleep, it takes some work but you get a pretty decent graph. You have to export your data, find the "Oxygen Saturation SpO2" folder> open and locate your date stamped .csv file. Open and manipulate it in Excel. I found it easy to insert into an X Y (Scatter) graph. It's not very user friendly that way but this was the only way I could figure out to see the O2 data for the nights sleep. The vertical axis on the left is in % and the horizontal is time which I have yet to figure how to display in actual time, each data point is 1 minute. Hope this helps. 

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[Westerj]

I loved tinkering. But do pay for premium support.

 Why is Fitbit/Google unable to provide this?

Do doctors get insulted by making this available to us?  Is the device not validated or the process not deemed accurate enough?

Thanks for the suggestion.

[roads31]

I agree, it shouldn't be this difficult to get the data that was already collected. They made it easy to send a PDF of the 30 second snapshot of your heart rhythm, why not do the same for all other data? 

[Ben46]

I had an irregular heart rhythm alert in the fall of 22 and saw my doctor.  Other than not feeling my usual perky self I had no symptoms.  After ablation my rhythms returned to "normal" range and in my discharge visit the heart doctor wanted to implant a monitor.  I resisted pointing out Fitbit had done its job.  He resisted until I told him I had felt "off" and he seemed to be more accepting of that than the Fitbit as a monitor.  My GP was more supportive of Fitbit.  Fitbit does not advertise as a medical device, and I would never rely on it for anything but a good indicator of what is going on.   

[Westerj]

I want to know how to keep heart rate and SPO2 in a good place when I chop
wood, or run my rowing machine. Sleep top. CPAP is working?? Check and
balance.

[Ben46]

keeping your numbers in a "good" place is more about you than Fitbit.  If you are wanting Fitbit to post these numbers on a screen you can monitor while being active...well that's another matter.  

Through meditation and training I am aware of what is going on in my body.  Fitbit gives me numbers and indicators to better understand those feelings.

[Westerj]

Will your meditative sessions detect an insidious decline in O2 saturation as was seen in COVID? I am looking to safely work my body ( rowing, chopping wood) by keeping an eye on health metrics. If I have to remain silent/motionless for 30 sec to catch a value, ok.  Just saying, this data is there. It's just not accessible for whatever reason. Why?? FDA? Marketing?

[Ben46]

I do not monitor my numbers that closely, again more focused on the signals my body provides and that data is always accessible.

[Westerj]

Seriously, meditation provides you heart and oxygen performance metrics?  I don't think I would call that data.

[Ben46]

Having reviewed this thread, I suspect the kind of in the moment objective data you seek may not be available in devices not rated as medical equipment.  And yes the data I experience while meditating gives me very useful input on my overall vitality.  I think this is a function of the vagal nerve network and associated with neuroception. 

I also appreciate your dissatisfaction Fitbit did not meet your expectations.   Since selling out to Google I find my Charge 6 less reliable.  Good luck and good sleep.