EOV - what does it all mean (post your graphs here)

[CBV2]

Now that we seem to have a lot of Fitbit users with SpO2 graphs I wondered if we could swap graphs so we could seen the sort of variation users get.  To start things off, here is a screenshot I took of my iPhone Fitbit app just now

[CBV2]

and I should have included a screenshot which shows an entirely different picture

This was from a fortnight ago.

[Kel]

My question is basic: Do upward excursions on the graph indicate a decrease in blood oxygen?  It seems that the graph would be more intuitive if flipped upside down so a lower oxygen level would lower the graph value, not raise it.

[CBV2]

Kel, I agree.  My assumption has been that as upward excursions indicate high variability, and as there seems to be more scope for low O2 than high, a high variability would seem to indicate low O2.

[BTM1010]

I’ve had three readings showing big variations and seventy one readings showing only small variations like your second chart.  Of course I worry about the three variations vs taking comfort in the seventy one!  🙂

[BTM1010]

 This was the biggest of the big three. 

[CBV2]

well you appear to be sleeping much better than I am, BTM.  Your worst day is equivalent to one of my best days!  Though I did have a week with no gold spikes.  

[JillBeckerman]

I bought my sister a Charge 3 because she was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea -- in a sleep study in which they insisted she sleep on her back.  Now she is sleeping on her side and has just started getting the EOV charts.  They all seemed fine (in the green low variation zone) until she did an experiment and tried sleeping on her back again for just an hour in the morning.  Immediately, her charts started showing spikes into the orange high variation zone for the exact time period when she was on her back.  I'd be interested to hear of others' similar experiments in which they try changing one aspect of their sleep like this and look to see if it impacts the charts.  Her results certainly seem to suggest that sleeping on her side makes a difference in the apnea.  This is exactly the kind of personal testing I'd hoped she'd be able to to conduct once the EOV charts became available! 

[CBV2]

What a great result Jill.  Have you, or she, asked her sleep advisors for an interpretation of the charts and of this result?  I would be very interested to hear what they say.

[N0IP]

Since it started, I’ve only had 2-3 instances where there was high variation in oxygen levels. Otherwise unaffected. I don’t think any of my graphs showed as wide variation as yours though. Here is my sleep last night— 

 

And that’s typical. I do think variations, even while under the “low” range, correlate to sleep stages. I’m tired most days still. I’d be curious to know if the graph is applicable to individuals who have sleep apnea from shallow breathing, as opposed to gasping at night. 
 

[GiNnY_b]

I agree- a flipped graph would be more intuitive! I’ve suspected sleep apnea for some time, and while this doesn’t equal a diagnosis, it brings attention to sleep health. Last night I slept on my left side (with a long pillow) but, at 4am I got up and went back to sleep on my right side. You can clearly see the difference in the results! After 4am I had higher variances and less deep & REM sleep. Interesting. Hoping to find a sleep position that keeps my oxygen variations low more consistently. 

[CBV2]

GiNnY_b, did you post a screenshot? Or other pic of your graph?

[Pen0130]

 Mine has never varied up into the amber zone but the last 2 nights this has happened and now I’m convinced I have horrible sleep apnea. 😂 hence finding this thread. Ignorance is bliss or put the proper sensors in Fitbit 

[BTM1010]

I’m with you - I would LOVE to be able to turn this feature off!

[Rinopopo]

I'm usually on orange at the same hour most of nights. (First quarter) makes sense?

 

   

[CBV2]

Rinopopo, that does make sense.  I hadn't thought of checking that.  Must do so.😀

[BTM1010]

Also, I notice that I have high variations when I wake up with a stuffy nose. 

[Harryl57]

my oxygen charts are all below the high line. I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. I have found that doing things to keep my nose from being stuffy is a big help. I discovered I was allergic to dairy. That alone made a big difference. Sleeping with a humidifier in the winter helps. Taking an antihistamine helps too but it disrupts rem sleep and maybe deep sleep too. 

[CBV2]

Great information Harry.  Thanks

[Sparkly]

I can't tell you how relieved I am to see all these posts.  I'm not keen on the feature I find I'm scared to look in the mornings and relieved when I see green, but the days it goes above the line I start worrying about sleep apnea.