Oxygen sats

[43hippychic]

Hi guys, I'm a 47 year old with copd. Constantly tired and muscles aching. Lungs are 50%. 3 exacerbations in last 3 months. Whenever they check my o2 sats they are always brilliant... 98. I bought my own oxymeter to check, 98 while sitting but 90when lying down and 85 on waking up. Could this be causing the fatigue? Also does this mean I could potentially need oxygen when I'm sleeping? Be grateful for any advice

[Caspiana]

Hello 43hippychic .

Welcome to the forum. It's lovely to have you.

Have you done any tests at the hospital like a lung function test and a six minute walk test? Do your O2 levels drop when you are moving about , walking for example?

If your O2 levels are 85 when you wake up, they could be even lower when you are fast asleep. It would be best to consult your doctor and perhaps get an appointment for a sleep study. Having low oxygen levels are dangerous for your organs, like your heart. Having low oxygen levels when you sleep could definitely make you feel fatigued and generally unwell.

Do keep us updated if you'd like to.

Best wishes,

Cas xx 🍀

[43hippychic in reply to Caspiana]

Hiya, I've had spirometry test a few times, was diagnosed about 7 years ago, also type 2 diabetes and have low thyroid. Have only been to gp not been referred to hospital. Walking up one flight of stairs leaves me breathless but o2 is excellent then but heart rate shoots up to 130. I'm a home carer so I do get some exercise. Think I will do a diary with o2 levels and then go back to gp with it. On my 3rd lot of steroids in 3 months now. Keep getting niggles in chest and back too and tightness, had an ecg a couple of months ago and everything showed fine although I do get slight ankle and shin swelling.

Cheers for replying Cas xx

[Caspiana in reply to 43hippychic]

Hi there.

I think your idea of keeping a diary is excellent. 👏 Also, the fact that your O2 keeps up during exertion. Do watch your heart rate though because over taxing your heart can cause all sorts of problems down the line.

If you can, it might be good to try and push for a referral to a pulmonologist to help manage your condition better.

Hoping you have a lovely day. xx 🌿🙋🐾

[megshafer]

Caspiana gave you really great advice. The only other thing I can think of is sleep apnea...I am small, don't snore, but have hypneas....(you stop breathing in your sleep, many times a night). They are finding it affects your oxygen levels...and of course your heart, and you get tired and fatigued, too.

Take good care.

Meg

[Hidden]

Hi I was almost ditto saw Dr, well locom she said I had cracking in lungs but was ''loath to give anything for it" ??? Sent me to their in house respiratory nurse who pleased with stats on day yet 2wks earlier showed 0.71 and predicted 25% lung on annual copd test I also have bronchiectasis and asbestos in lungs at least they did a blood test and came back white blood cells were crazy high no wonder fatigue ect.Now there drs nurse ect aren't bad people just got it wrong on that day so you go back please and get checked again and best of luck with you health..Ger

[Hidden]

Hi I would try not to over think your o2 levels as I made the mistake of taking my heart rate and o2 levels constantly.. my heart rate was 130 at rest at one time but medication was causing alot of my symptoms .. your heart will obviously beat faster during any form of movement and at one point I used to check my poor partners heart rate to see if his changed much as he did different things and it made me feel better to know that him being a fit well 56 year old also had a heart rate of 125 from walking upstairs so knew this was normal as he was obviously moving around ... the problem was I wasn't moving around and it was 130 .. to cut a long story short I would say your ECG came back ok just like mine and your oxygen levels sound perfect except when u wake but oxygen does drop during the night... it is worth mentioning to your gp but I would say they seem pretty relaxed regarding your health.. in general and believe me the ECG would show anything untoward..the ankle and shin swelling again is in part to do with your copd and your body not getting oxygen round your body correctly so maybe that could be checked but you can also get swelling due to medication.. medical conditions or too many hours stood on your feet ha ..there are so many factors to take into account but think keeping a diary would benefit you but also stress and anxiety can be a major trigger for heart rate.my oxygen was always lower in a morning and obviously on movement ... yours sounds perfect at 98 on movement so it is tricky to say .. my only advice would be that you know your body better than anyone and be persistent if you feel there is a problem oh and go easy on the oxometer it can send you crazy if you do what I did and obsessed.. now I check it very rarely .. only when I feel bit blurry and unfocused .. by the way I'm on 24/7 oxygen as my o2 was 88 b4 any type of exertion ..It can drop very low if I leave it off for a little bit but my body lets me know as like I say I get very blurry and can't focus .. good luck and please keep us posted x

[BSA-3 in reply to Hidden]

Great reply !

[macnsyl]

I agree with the previous comments, you definitely need a sleep study

[43hippychic]

Thank you all for replying. Im trying to learn all that I can about copd, though I did care for my dad who died from it. Work can be a real struggle at times especially with the extreme fatigue and sob. My boyfriend has suggested sleep apnoea... Not that he's noticed anything but he has cpap mask himself and can't understand why I get so tired and get muscle aches.. Probably a combination of everything. Hope everyone is wrapped up warm on this cold windy day!

[Lizzric3]

I have copd. And have to wear a Niv.mask all night and occasionally during the day to stop a build up of carbon dioxide get yourself checked especially as you get breathless the mask is similar to what you would wear for sleep anapeo