Sob and sats of 94

[Emzcat41]

Hello

My asthma settled recently however for the last 3 days I’ve been becoming increasingly SOB and have needed ventolin alongside the fostair (I use fostair 4x a day)

I did my sats out of interest (tho I know these aren’t often helpful with asthma) as I feel quite ‘weird’ and they are dipping to around 94 before coming up to 96.

Has anyone else experienced this and is this to be expected or a cause for concern? I’m usually 99% with sats.

Thank you

[twinkly29]

Yes definitely. And docs always say it's in range. So unhelpful!! Not my normal though.

I would maybe call GP tomorrow (say it's urgent even if you feel it's not, of difficult to get "seen") and discuss symptoms etc. Peak flow too including pre ventolin and 15 mins post.

Unless you're concerned now in which case phone 111.

[Emzcat41 in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you - I’ll definitely be phoning them I’m struggling with stairs today. It’s very odd how I’ve suddenly declined again. Desperate to stay away from the pred

Thank you x

[Dogruff]

It could be worth getting a covid test just incase.

[Emzcat41 in reply to Dogruff]

That’s a good point actually thank you

[Willow7733]

I was on another message board for asthma (on Facebook) and was saying the other day, during an endoscopy, my sats were (before the endoscopy) 94, (during it) 87,and then (after) 92....and everyone told me that was perfectly normal.

[twinkly29 in reply to Willow7733]

I would hope that either they meant during the procedure or that they don't have a clue about asthma! Below 94 in asthma (not necessarily as a one off reading that might be wrong, but ongoing or in a flare) is not ok! But in your procedure they'll have been monitoring and stuff.

[Willow7733 in reply to twinkly29]

They were and the nurse said something to the doctor, so that is why I looked and saw the number on the monitor. I was given oxygen.

[twinkly29 in reply to Willow7733]

That's good. I wouldn't completely trust what others on Facebook were saying as they probably don't know your whole context.

[Willow7733 in reply to twinkly29]

I was thinking the responses were off because ai took care of my father until he died of pulmonary fibrosis, and he had to check his stats all the time. They told him anything under 95 is worrisome. I have pulmonary embolisms and am scared of an asthma flair on top. I have a hard enough time catching g my breath with these blockages.

[twinkly29 in reply to Willow7733]

Some people think they know things but don't (as I'm sure we all are at times 😅) and others know something for themselves and think it applies to everyone. Tricky sometimes to decipher it.

Hope your procedure went well though?

[Willow7733 in reply to twinkly29]

Yes it did! They found that I have no internal bleeding and my anemia isn’t from that but from lupus as their first thought. At least it isn’t cancer (which they were sure at first that was what it was). So I am good with that. Some good news at last!

[twinkly29 in reply to Willow7733]

Great news!

[LDloveslattecoffe]

Hi Emzcat41, always worth speaking to dr's and ask to have bloods checked i.e. haemoglobin is done as the full blood count and indicates the oxygen through the blood if this is low they can check if anaemic i.e. iron or B12 or folates .

Anaemia causes shortness of breath and oxygen levels.

[Emzcat41 in reply to LDloveslattecoffe]

Thank you that’s good advice - the consultant wrote to the GP asking for bloods to be done about 3 weeks ago and you’ve just reminded me to chase it up x