I was just told my oxygen is at 80 after walking for 6 min,, how dangerous is this?
Need some advice: I was just told my... - Lung Conditions C...
Need some advice
it depends how quickly your levels go back up. I wouldn't worry too much . Love Berny XXX 😊
Hi
Under what circumstances did you do a six minute walk test.
For oxygen desaturation when exercising or walking your sats are normal taken every minute.
if your oxygen levels regularly drop below 88% you may be a candidate for supplementary Ambulitory oxygen
Chrissy, obviously it's not good. I think 89/88 is as low as you should go on exertion. But how 'bad' it is depends on a lot of things. Are you always this breathless or is there some reason why your 02 is low at the moment ? For example, do you have a chest infection or feel more poorly then usual ? Are you taking the right meds/inhalers for your condition ? What did your doctor or nurse say about this result ?
I'm asking these questions because in 2014, I did a 6-min walk and de-satted to 82 in the first minute and to 78 after 6 minutes. Two months later after a severe chest infection had been cleared up, I did the walk again and this time didn't drop below 89.
So sometimes your 02 can drop and sometimes it doesn't. If it's always in the low 80s then you'll need to do something about it but if it's just a one-off then maybe you can repeat the test when you're feeling better. Obviously, you need to discuss this with your doctor.
Good clear post BJ
All I did was a 6 min walk but it went down to 80 after 4 min, he said I'm not holding oxygen in my reserve, can this be something that can be fixed?
Hi
Strange terminology, ORI, oxygen reserve index is normal used in a gym to gauge oxygen use during extreme excise,
Normally with people who are otherwise fit and with no lung conditions,
It's a lot to do with gender height and general fitness.
I don't think there is an actual reserve that you can draw on,
It's about getting the best from the available oxygen, you can improve by exercise,but I doubt there would a great improvement, on the bases that your oxygen desaturation is the result of a lung condition .
From my own experience, I started on 2lpm tested every six months by six minute walk test, on one such test when my sats dropped below 88%, I was tried on 4lpm which resolved the issue. I am now on 4lpm.
On my six minute walk test I start at 96% after walking to a point when I am to breathless to continue i stop. My sats at this time are 92% with a recovery time of one minute thirty seconds.
Last time I saw the respiratory nurse she put the thing on my finger and my oxygen level was 84% The year before it was 70% Nothing was said about having oxygen, I have Ventolin to take twice daily and Avamys for post nasal drip. My heart is OK according to ECG's.