Oxygen is high

[Pugs4love]

Hi I have copd and very often find my self struggling to breathe but my oxygen level is always around 97 it baffles me I feel like a fake saying I can’t breathe and that’s so high

[charlottemack03]

I have asthma and it’s the same with me I get sent to hospital with an asthma attack and you can clearly see I’m finding it hard to breathe and I’m coughing etc but I don’t wheeze and my oxygen levels are always above 90 so the doctors won’t give me anything to help my breathing and it kinda just makes me wanna scream x

[knitter]

I know the feeling, my O2 levels can be fine even though I find breathing difficult. I can be really struggling , but because my SATS are ok I sometimes think I am not taken seriously .

I have asked in the past why my oxygen levels seem reasonable even though my chest is tight.

But last time I was in hospital I was given Salbutamol through oxygen ,then my oxygen levels fell right down ...the alarm kept on being triggered on their oximeter.

[Roessner541 in reply to knitter]

I was taken to hospital because I couldn't breathe but SATs were 97 and 98 I am glad I went I ended up in ICU in a coma for the days. Turned out I had a nasty staff infection I was in hospital for weeks and then a care facility for weeks so it can happen.

[PollyP]

There is really not often a link between 02 sats and levels of breathlessness.

The physiology of breathing is rather complex, and one I don't completely understand.

If you are concerned then do get yourself checked out.

There are as I understand only a few factors which help us and they are exercise, eating well, good use of medication and good self care.

I wish you well.

Pp

[Hacienda in reply to PollyP]

Absolutely PollyP xx

[Hidden]

There are other criteria for breathlessness..maybe you should get your respiratory functions tested, do the 6 mn walking test etc..physiotherapy and learning breathing exercises help as well.

[Ergendl]

One thing to remember is to be cautious about the amount of pickles and vinegar you eat. If a person's blood becomes too acidic, their body blows off the acidity when breathing out, but people with lung problems can struggle to do that. I once made a sweet sour sauce by taste rather than measurement, and accidentally put so much vinegar and fruit juice in that my then husband who had severe COPD was left gasping for some hours.

[Parvati in reply to Ergendl]

I would never have thought of that in a million years! Always glad to learn something new

[PollyP in reply to Parvati]

Hahaaaaaaa 😂 x

[mrblue12]

Unless you have severe COPD, your respiratory drive, (the sensation of needing to breathe) is driven by CO2 rather than a lack of oxygen. This would explain how you can have normal 02 levels and still be out of breath.

[Parvati]

The shortness of breath - the defining feature of COPD - has nothing to do with your oxygen levels. Only about 10% of us will ever need oxygen and when we do get it it isn't to make you less short of breath but to correct your failing oxygen levels. The day I got my oxygen I was no less breathless than the day before. What has made me less and less breathless over the years has been gradually doing more and more activity - mostly just walking. Also check that you are taking your inhalers in the correct way and getting 100% from them. If you haven't been on pulmonary rehab yet then ask your GP to refer you as soon as possible. If you are overweight try and lose a few pounds or if you are underweight tray and gain a few pounds. I know it's a miserable disease but we have to come back fighting each time it knocks us down. Hope you feel a bit more in charge of it soon and can breathe a bit easier xx

[skischool in reply to Parvati]

Am i the only person with copd/emphysema whose is tired of the same old mantra that is pumped out by both professionals within the medical fraternity and well read laypersons that O2 will do nothing for our sob?Poppycock say i,sob is one of the symptoms of our dreaded disease and O2 will help relieve that symptom by increasing blood/gas oxygen levels to a level where breathing becomes less of an effort and of course help maintain a healthy supply to our other organs.Admittedly some of us will never require oxygen which is indeed a very fine thing but to suggest that O2 will not reduce sob in my opinion is like saying water will never re hydrate you.....................skis 2lpm as required helps my sob and a healthy cat xx

[Parvati in reply to skischool]

It may help if you already have low O2 levels - but if you have relatively normal O2 levels it will make absolutely no difference except possibly psychologically. My fit and healthy never smoking son has sat's typically at 95% but doesn't get sob - someone with COPD can have sats just as high or higher and still get extremely sob. Pugs4love's sats are always around 97% so even if they had O2 it would make no difference.

[shadow4me in reply to skischool]

That's the UK like we aren't aloud a nebuliser until we are on our last legs lol x

[PollyP in reply to Parvati]

Rock on Parvati- you are so right x

[Nottobad]

My stats are always 96 and above and I am still very breathless. I asked a nurse ones why I was so breathless and my 02 was high wish I could remember what she said. Some of it was people have the wrong idea about high sats and being breathless. When when I had pneumonia last year my stats never dropped below 94 and I was very breathless.

[bobbyfloyd]

i have the same problem, my lung capacity is just over 20% yet my oxygen is 97, my specialist cannot fathom it out, i struggle all day and night but carry on and only do what i can do, i think it is down to the individual, some have low % some have high, it is not down to % it is down to lung capacity and how it effects a person that counts, hope this helps, good luck,

[Pugs4love in reply to bobbyfloyd]

Thank you for your advice it makes sense I’m not sure of my capacity but I find everything a task at the moment I hope it gets better as I’m just getting over a bad flare up and it takes me a lot longer to get over than it used to

[Pugs4love in reply to Pugs4love]

Thank you everyone x

[Hidden]

It's so frustrating there one is in front of Dr wheezing and we'll maybe not struggling for breath but bordering on struggling '' I'll pop this on your finger,95! That's not too bad'' ... maddening because illness is downplayed SOMETIMES but I have a component and supportive Dr just think there an over reliance on finger stat measuring gismo and it's just an indicator

[Pinky2017]

I find that if U turn the shower up to the hottest and shut the door. And wait 20min n than go into the bathroom. It's like a steam room n helps open up your breathing. Same thing they do for children with croup. And when. U yawn it doesn't mean you are tired . It's your lungs trying to get more air in. I found that interesting when. I did research

[Hacienda]

I have always said Oxygen and Breathing do not go hand in hand, I have said this to my Consultant and Transplant Doctor, They Nod. I have to do my Sats every day, Oxy is normally 93,(can fall to 87), some days I can be gasping for air and other 's I'm ok. I have had 2 very bad Exasabations where I was rushed to Hospital. We are all Different, We must do things slower and do Breathing Exercises. At this moment I am Oxygen Free for an hour or two after having my evening Inhalers.. I am having a Lung Function Test and Blood gases done on the 27th November. Although I am on the Transplant List (16 months), My Consultant wants to try and test me for lung Reduction, though she is not to Optimistic about it. Hope you are ok now Pugs4love and Breathing better. Carolina XXX

[Hidden]

Have you tried salt therapy? There are several places called The Salt Cave up and down the country.