Oxygen level

[Photolady]

I think my oxygen is low for me but I have heard all numbers for when I should be concerned about my oxygen level. Can anyone tell me what normal levels are? Today mine has been running anywhere from 88 - 91. I am 53 years old and just been diagnosted with restrictive lung disease.

[Hidden]

Oxygen levels in normal person with out lung disease is 97 ... 88 91 is low but we are all cope differently.

I assume your doc is keeping a eye on your levels .. the take lots into account like is that at rest or is that active .. And do you levels rise at rest

Hope that helps clear few things up for you ... If not give BLF a call or Email

[Photolady in reply to Hidden]

Actually my oxygen goes up when I walk around. When I am sitting it drops. It doesn't make since. Since I also have back issues I can't walk around for long until I am in pain. I sit all day with my job so my oxygen stays low.

[Gillsboy]

Good morning sorry to hear your new. I too have a restrictive lung disease I am 54, my oxygen levels at rest is 97, when exercising it can drop to 88-90 but does recover quick. Are your levels at Rest, what disease have you been diagnosed with I was diagnosed with IPF last April. Hope helps

[Hidden]

Hi Photolady, I have COPD and my pulmonary nurse says anything between 88 and 92 is fine, it does'nt matter if it goes lower as long as it comes back up at rest. Hope this helps a little bit. Xx

[O2Trees in reply to Hidden]

Sheila, i think your statement needs more context. As you say 88-92 is fine for people with copd, in fact if you are on oxygen that is the safe range to keep your levels at as higher levels can risk CO2 retention which is nasty.

Photolady has been diagnosed with restrictive lung disease, not obstructive like us, i also have copd) and oxygen requirements may be different; i don't know as I'm not a medic.

When you say it doesn't matter if it goes lower than 88 that would depend how much lower, and how fast it comes back up again to 88 or over.

E.g. going down to 86 or 87 might be fine if your sats come up within a minute. If you were out walking for half an hour and your sats were at e.g. 83, that would not be ok, even if normal levels were restored soon after you stopped walking. You will find different opinions being expressed by the medical community and when you're talking about sats which are below normal, what may apply to you may not be right for someone else.

[Hidden in reply to O2Trees]

Whoops sorry 02 point taken. Xx

[O2Trees in reply to Hidden]

[victoria38]

Hi, my name is Ian, I'm 72 and have long term COPD. I was tested for oxygen levels just a few days ago by my C0PD nurse and my level was 98 , she said that level did not require me to have a.oxygen canister! She said any level below 92 should be on oxygen! For best results I would recommend you to have a word with your GP. All the very best Ian

[Offcut]

I also have RLD and my O2 can be 88 to 95 at rest and drop to 78 on mild exercise but I recover quickly so do not need O2 in a tin. If anything is going blue or you are feeling unwell all the time then it needs to be looked at more deeply. We are all so different and they way we recover is the main factor to look at.

Be Well

[Brecksfield in reply to Offcut]

I would say that if your sats drop to 78 during mild exercise, then you probably do need ambulatory oxygen. My sats are fine at rest, and do recover quickly, but if I am active for an hour in the garden, I do not want my oxygen levels being low for an hour, so I now use the oxygen when I am active. I have IPF, and have just started using oxygen after an assessment by the respiratory nurse.

Enjoy your day

[Offcut in reply to Brecksfield]

I cannot even mow my lawn without at least 3 sit downs and it is very small.

[johnjaykatieabi]

You really need to get it checked because I put on nebuliser mine were 89 so best get it checked out I'm 58 now was 57 at time

[Sooki]

Sounds like you have IPF (restrictive) as opposed to COPD (obstructive), I do not need oxygen sitting down,stay at about 94.i am on oxygen when ambulatory as I drop to 88 or below,I use 4lmp to keep me above 88, I was also told I need oxygen to fly after recent flight test,we need to keep oxygen levels above 88 as below that it's starts affecting your heart .I hope you are being checked regularly,I have 6 mwt and lfts every three months.Sooki.

[Plumbob]

After reading all the comments - Can I say that o2 levels will fluctuate and panic shouldn't set in if its low for a short duration. It can depend on your activity (or non activity!) and recovery rate. We all have lung conditions (restrictive or obstructive -Mines restrictive with asbestosis & fibrosis). But the important thing is we all react differently down to our medications, age medical history etc. Generally 92% and above allows the oxygen too travel around and be released without issue and disperse the CO2. My oxygen levels when I awake is around 82% and is never above 93% on a good day, and parts of my lungs are dying off , but I'm not on oxygen (yet), my problem is the transfer of oxygen into my body I'm only managing 50%. Everybody dips and peaks regularly, so just going by % o2 is not necessarily an issue, unless its continuous or there are other symptoms. If so see your doctor .

Keep sucking it in folks and keep on smiling

Plumbob

[Photolady in reply to Plumbob]

Thx!

[jenss]

Hi Photolady, I suggest you don't stress over it for now. Home oxymeters may actually be "out" by quite a few units and the good news is that your values seem to only vary by 3 units all day. When you see your specialist in a week or so take it with you and check its reading against theirs to see if it is out. Don't jump to any conclusions until you see your specialist and possibly until after you have been to an ILD centre.. Take carexxx

[Photolady in reply to jenss]

Thanks!

[punkyb]

I went to my doctor yesterday and asked him that question. I asked if 87 would cause heart damage and he said when it drops to 87 and comes back up it won't kill you. he did indicate that below 87 is not desirable.

[Jamesd12345]

88 to 92 is fine for some one with c.o.p.d