i understand that receiving oxygen can be a very complex situation, i now find there are different criteria for this depending on where you stay? , in scotland where i am, we are nhs 24,
can anyone tell me how complex this is? [probably a big question]
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Hi
The procedure will be the same no matter where you are.
For long term oxygen therapy , LTOT
You take a Aterial blood gas test. ABG
This wil indicate if, you are suitable for or require oxygen and the flow rate required measured in litres per minute. LPM.
For Ambultory oxygen you take a six minute walk test, checking your sats every minute with a oximeter, you will be given oxygen at 1 liter or less then increase, until they are satisfied you have reached the acceptable levels of oxygen saturation.
Between 88/92 is commonly regarded as acceptable levels.
Oxygen is only prescribed to maintain you oxygen level to safeguard your vital organs.
There will be little impact on your breathing.
many thanks for your answer stone, i understand this completely.
, right now my levels are varying from 89 to 90, my heart rate is 107, both whilst resting. temp, 36.2,,,, all reasonable.
the strange thing is ,very lately, on rising in the morning and often waking up in the night, i find my oxygen levels are sometimes about 84 or even less, [81 being the lowest] and again strangely my heart rate during these times have dropped to 34.[being the lowest] these recoup fairly quick, with rescue med and nebuliser
i know these levels are usually lower while sleeping
now of an evening, during a short walk my oxygen levels fall to approx 85 -89, but my heart rate sometimes goes way up to 137,
is this common ?
i often worry as i had left ventricle failure about a year and a half ago, i get ramipril and water tablets for this,
on the basis of these sats, could i be damaging my vital organs , i.e.heart etc.
i have to say, i have, [hopefully] have the remnants of an infection, being treated with antibiotics and steroids.that i ventured out for the first time, yesterday having to take my 91 year old mother to hosp for a routine check up, on a knee op.i was away for about 3 hours. when i got home i was feeling shaky and very cold, i didnt feel right at all, my temp. was 34.9, but after a few hours a meal and a warm up, felt better my temp although still slightly low, improved , but this took some time
am i worrying needlessly ? my resp nurse says i dont need oxygen, but she only sees the levels i first mentioned. i.e 89,
i must say i do have faith in her, she is visiting me on monday.
Hi
I would not worry to much, share your concerns with your respitory nurse.
I was first assessed by my respitory nurse, after she noticed my low level sats, walking short distance I was 83!
I was given 2 lpm later confirmed when I had a full assessment with, the oxygen team a local hospital. 6 minute walk test.
Hi jimmyw123
A couple of months ago my doc told me to keep a record of my sats. I did this for a month.
I recorded my night sats every time I woke up and first thing in the morning before getting out of bed. I then recorded my sats at lunchtime, in the evening, and before I went to bed.
Night sats once went as low as 72% but were generally 82%-87%. Because of this coupled with crushing headaches and breathlessness I am now on oxygen 15 hours per day.
You may not need oxygen and find you are worrying unnecessarily. We all do it because fear of our illness is a dammed good reason to feel sick and scared. Can't think of anyone who has anything good to say about it!!!
hi butterfly , many thanks for your kind reply, you could be right , i think when your feeling bad you tend to worry more.
but what your doctor done seems to be a good idea, i have a feeling [i could be well wrong] but my resp nurse could be doing something similar, she has called almost every day this week,phoned couple times each day, phoned 4 times frid., each time took my oxygen level, and asked over the phone at different times, what it was in the morning,and how long it took to get back up to 89. i just wonder if shes maybe just thinking about this,she asked me about the headaches you described ,[which i get,, bad] and off course saw my breathlessness., shes calling back monday, this is really what prompted this first post, i had the feeling she was "testing the ground" as it were.
one strange thing was whilst just sitting in the living room one afternoon, when she called , i asked her if she was taking my oxygen level, she said "no" its 88- 89, i asked how she knew that? she then smiled put the oximeter on , she was bang on!!!. i asked how did she new that, she said" ive been a resp nurse for a long time now lol," so now you will see why i have faith in her.
anyway, whatever butterfly, she is certainly giving me the best of attention, so im very grateful for that, and to yourself and the other members of the forum.
i do hope your feeling ok, now, it sounds as though you have had a rough time ....jw
hi all, i cant seem to get to grips with this oxygen situation? i had my lovely resp nurse call today, oxygen level 96 [she told me to take another 8 steroids, when i took these i kinda choked a bit ,she says the coughing would make it rise like that] she tested me and said there is still slight signs of infection, but i am a lot better, my doctor is to call friday, to give me pnumonia jab and flu jab, resp nurse now wants me to give the doc a sputum sample.
but at 4 am this morning woke up breathless and wheazing, my oxygen level was 84, it took quite some time, an hour or more [to rise to 91-92 which it normally is, when at my best. i had bought a small fan at her request, and she asked if i used it, i did use it after a few mins it went up to 86 then dropped back to 84 while the fan was still on., she was writing a lot down, ,,,looking back i should have asked her what she was noting down as she is rally easy to speak to.
probably me worrying needless once again, but it certainly wasnt good at that time in the morning, [i have been up since] sorry to go on about it, but any thoughts?
Hi
A chest infection will give a misleading reading, compared with your normal sats level
I seem to rember there as to be a 3/4 week period of a clear chest?
You may have to wait for your infection to clear, before deciding further course of action.
Don't worry to much and concentrate or clearing your infection.
ah many thanks stone, again i can now understand this, i have been on steroids anti-biotics a week past monday, my doctor is calling this friday, i should now, thanks to you, understand why this is so, i would assume this would be the 3/4 week as you say, as the doctor would not give me the pnumonia jab flu jab and i think an a bg test , if she thought i still had signs of infection. i am much better today, so will not worry, and just see what the doc, says friday, i think i worry too much, but once again you have given me a sensible answer, many thanks ,,,,jw
Hi jimmyw123, I am Scottish, now living in England but interested in knowing how oxygen provision works in Scotland as I am visiting soon.
As stone says the assessment proceedure should be the same. I checked it out on the Health Facilities Scotland website and the proceedure appears to be the same as I had. The actual equipment offered might be slightly different as it depends on your NHS' chosen supplier. In Scotland it is Dolby Vivasol and the equipment provided is listed on the website. As I found out when I was assessed, not all the equpment available was suitable for my assessed usage so I can only have a condenser for at home and cylinders for ambulatory. The portable machines weren't high flow enough for me.
The 'Prescribing Guidance' on the HFS website gives a full explanation of how oxygen need is assessed in Scotland. This proceedure is the same as we have here in England. Each SNHS board area does its own assessing as they are responsible for paying.
Hi
If you intend visiting, outside of your supply's area.
I would speak to them sooner rather than later, to ensure you have adequate supply for you needs and duration.
Thanks stone, have already spoken to my supplier who will make all the arangements with HFS. Will come back with success/failure of scheme.
hi happyfeet, looks like stone is correct, but i must have look at the "prescribing guidance" on the HFS website,,,, best regards hp,,, jw
hi all , think i put my post in the wrong place, [just like me lol]
its about 5 posts up from this headed
"cant get to grips with this oxygen situation" wonder if anyone could advise,
i have been reading through the posts etc, what a great site, quite amazing what you pick up by just browsing through, i hope peeg is feeling better , and off course that goes for any members feeling under the weather.
my infection seems to be clearing lot better now,,, jw
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