Is it possible to conclude if I have sleep apnea?

[Bartfliet]

Hello,

I was wondering if it's possible to judge if I have sleep apnea or not from the sleep stats, in conjunction with the health metrics such as Breathing Rate (BR), Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and SpO2?

I sleep fairly poorly most nights, around the 5h mark a night. Some nights it's only 3-4h, those are usually followed by a 6h night. 

When I look at BR, HRV and SpO2 on those very poor nights, things get a bit weird. BR tends to go over my personal range, HRV drops fairly significantly and SpO2 can get down to 92%. Even though I've never been a very good sleeper, the past two years, and I feel now with the lockdown even more, my sleep has gotten worse. Is there anything I could conclude from these statistics? 

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @Bartfliet - It sounds like it’s time to gather your data and make an appointment with your family doctor to discuss it. S/he would be better able to look at the data then decide if you should go for a sleep study. As lay folk, we are not qualified to look at your reports and diagnose sleep apnea. But from what you’re reporting, I’d say it’s a possibility and deserves a professional assessment. 

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello @Bartfliet. It's great to see you around! @SunsetRunner Nice to see you and thank you so much for your great input! 

I agree with @SunsetRunner. Fitbit Features and the metrics within these features are not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition and should not be relied on for any medical purposes. It is intended to provide information that can help you manage your well-being. But if you have any concerns about your health, I recommend talking to a healthcare provider. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call emergency services.

For information about the health metrics in the Fitbit App, please check: What should I know about health metrics in the Fitbit app?

See you around. 

[Drduggie]

Brother - go do a sleep test.  I did one and I was AWFUL!  I now use a sleep mask every night but it has made all the difference! 

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello @Drduggie. Welcome to the community forums!

Thank you very much for sharing your input! If you don't mind, can you share which type of mask? I'll be interested to know this and consider this for my next purchase. 

Have a great day! 

[Drduggie]

I have the full face option (F20 resmed) and the machine is use is from Resmed.   

[Bartfliet]

@Drduggie I went to the doctor to see what he had to say. I told him about my situation, and also that it had gotten worse since about a month, month and half. I also told him I quit smoking around that time. Even though mentally that wasn't hard, he does say that it's possible that the physical is what's haunting my sleep. He's prescribed sleeping meds. Told me to take them for a month, and then go off them, see how it goes. 

@WilsonFitbit A sleepmask is something you should talk about with a physician, not something you should buy on a whim, I think? 

[WilsonFitbit]

@Drduggie Thank you so much for the information! 

@Bartfliet Thanks for your input! I agree with you. I was curious about which mask works for him and consider that one for purchase if my doctor agrees, but so far I've heard that the ResMed AirFit F20 is one of the most widely used CPAP masks for sleep apnea.

On a side note, it's great to hear that you have already consulted with your doctor about your situation. I hope the recommendations help and thanks for sharing the tips. 

Have a wonderful day! 

[Bartfliet]

@WilsonFitbit Yeah, let's hope it's just the quiting smoking, and not sleep apnea, those masks look really uncomfortable to sleep with 😬

[SunsetRunner]

I use the ResMed AirFit F20 with a full face mask. I tried the one that goes under the nose but it did not work for me. This one is comfortable and effective ... at least for me. My Fitbit sleep reports verify the effectiveness. On a side note, my insurance will not pay for extras of these and the ones they provide do not always last me the 90 days they say it should. But Amazon sells just this piece for a fraction of what I would pay if I ordered it directly from my normal supplier (Binsons) 

[WilsonFitbit]

@Bartfliet. I know. 😂 To be honest with you, I wouldn't like to be wearing one either but if I have to, I'll be looking for tips about how to adjust it and wear it in a comfortable way 😅

Nice to see you around, @SunsetRunner. Wow 😮, nice input and thanks for sharing! I'll take this into consideration.  

See you around. 

[johnlsummey04]

Bro - go do a sleep examination. I did one and I was AWFUL! I now utilize a sleep mask every night yet it has made all the difference!

[Suzeekew]

I have had 2 sleep tests done. One several years ago that concluded I did not have apnea but I did have a condition called REM Behavioral Sleep Disorder (RBD). I recently wanted to delve further into my RBD and took another sleep test that concluded I DO have apnea and they want me to wear a mask, which I cannot do because it makes me feel claustrophobic and start hyperventilating. I believe the test showed these results not so much because I actually have apnea, but because of the way I have been sleeping recently. I have started using a sleep app and I wear ear buds. I found the best way to sleep to make sure the buds don't come out was to sleep flat on my back with a neck roll which then tips my head back. I can see that this could lead to causing some obstruction, so I have decided to sleep on a wedge to elevate my head instead. I am hoping my Fitbit will record a difference in my sleep patterns and I can prove to the docs that apnea is not a serious issue for me and that my sleep problems are definitely related more to the RBD and not apnea. So, we will see what a few weeks shows.