Sleep Apnea based on O2 Variations? Worried!!

[sleepy26]

Hey everyone, I've been noticing that my oxygen variation is sometimes high while sleeping. I am 21 years old, 5'2 female about 120 pounds (not overweight). I don't snore unless I'm sick. Sometimes I wake up with a dry mouth, and today I feel very tired but I don't know if that is psychosomatic because I'm crazy worried right now. I'm scared to sleep, as I've read that I will die in my sleep if I have sleep apnea.

Can someone help me analyze these charts? This is the past 4 days. 

[JohnnyRow]

I'm no medical expert, and you should ask your doctor if in doubt, but I think you are over-worrying.  I see only 2 instances of high-variation in 4 days.  Again, no sleep expert, but for sleep apnea I would expect to see several times a night.  Also, I don't think sleep apnea usually makes one die in your sleep.  Your body makes itself wake up to start breathing again if oxygen gets low.  And I think apnea is generally is longer-term problem leading to high blood pressure and other issues, rather than an immediate die-in-your-sleep type of thing.

For dry mouth, you are probably breathing through your mouth at night.  One thing you can try for that is a chin strap, easily found on Amazon.  They are usually used with apnea CPAP machines, but can certainly be used by anyone.  It's an elastic  strap around your chin and over the head to help keep your mouth closed at night.  there are also dry mouth sprays that you can keep bedside in case you wake up with dry mouth during the night.

[sleepy26]

Thank you, this was reassuring to read. I contacted my primary care but due to the pandemic I won't hear back from them for a while. 

I'll have to look for that chin strap sounds like a good idea. I also have a deviated septum, I wonder if that affects my breathing at all? 

Thank you for the response! 🙂

[JohnnyRow]

I am certainly in no position to recommend this, and might not even apply to you, but might be worth asking your doctor.  I used to have stuffy nose every evening that interfered with breathing through nose.  Then I started using Fluticisone (generic Flonase) nasal spray for allergies and it made a big difference in un-stuffing my nose.  It might not even be appropriate for you, and would not start without doctor's consent, but it is now available over-the-counter (in US), though I get it cheaper via prescription.

I also have/had deviated septum and had surgery for it, which did not help at all.

[Miesh11]

I have variations that look like yours.  I have wondered about it but have just been keeping track.  I’d love to hear what your doctor advised if you talked to them.  

[dovemck]

I've started down the sleep apnea track. It is more likely to cause chronic problems rather than dying in your sleep. Deviated septum? Absolutely can be a major contributing factor, it's fixed with septoplasty. Dry mouth (tick) yes another symptom that you're breathing with your mouth open to get more oxygen and over time can cause gums to recede. Lack of sleep and oxygen deprivation can cause an increase in blood pressure and hormones that make it harder to lose weight. Are  you one of those people that when riding in the passenger seat often takes naps in cars - yes, another symptom. Fall asleep watching tv or sitting in front of the computer (tick, tick).

It's worth going to an ear, nose and throat specialist and they can order a sleep test (you can do them at home now) to determine where you are on the scale. Many doctors want to put you right onto CPAP, others may tell you losing weight can help, could be allergies, fixing the deviated septum or it might be you have an obstruction in the back of the throat (tonsils, adenoids, just extra tissue). 

Don't worry, don't panic but DO go get it looked at when you can. 

[JamoC]

I would simply ignore all the data you get from your Fitbit. If you worry, get a sleep study. The data from these is rubbish.