Hypoxia and Medicine

How can I sleep on oxygen therapy?

My dr just put me on oxygen therapy at night because my oxygen saturation levels were dropping to about 82% at night (according to a sleep study). They brought the concentrator out Monday and I'm supposed to sleep with it on.....but, I can't sleep with it on. The last 2 nights I have lain there awake for 2 hours and finally had to turn it off so I could get any sleep at all. It kind of makes me feel funny....maybe it's just anxiety but it feels like my heart is doing flip flops/palpitations in my chest. I can doze off for a second and then awake in a panic with my heart racing. Plus, it's loud but I can't put it in the hall because we have dogs and cats in & out & I'm afraid one of them would chew up the tubing. And, I don't like anything on my face. Does anyone have any suggestions? Are there any possible negative side effects to using oxygen? I think I'm only on 2 lpm, that's not much is it? I think I'm just nervous about it.....can anyone put my mind at ease? Thanks.

Public Comments

1. I've been on oxygen at night for years. 2 lpm. I assume you're using the canula (tube) and not a face mask type. It may take a little getting used to but it is beneficial. Among other benefits it gives your heart and lungs a chance to recover from daily activities. On oxygen your heart and lungs don't have to work as hard to process oxygen. How about turning your radio on to drown out the noise or buy a tape of "white noise" to play at night. Perhaps a tape of ocean waves, gentle breeze, rain, etc. Perhaps you can put the unit in another room and run the tube along the wall so the pets won't chew it.
2. This sounds like a Cpap mask that one has to wear while sleeping so they won't have low sats and quit breathing. Most sleep apnea persons dont' enter REM sleep either. I would suggest that you talk to the person probably a pulmonary doc about this. You may need some sedative med to take to get you through this. Are you claustophobic? I would contact the doctor.