Should I be worried about my night time oxygen levels?

[Wavinghello]

Hello my newbie here.

During the summer I was admitted to hospital with covid and pneumonia, I'm recovering slowly.

I bought an oximeter that records and every night my oxygen drops, last night it was 80%. It is only low for a minute or two, most times less than a minute.

Should I be worried? Thanks

[peege]

Hi Wavinghello, welcome to the British Lung Foundation patient's forum. I have found that with some deep diaphragm breathing (demo on youtube) I can bring up my O2 levels- mind you, mine never gets down to 80. That is concerning and I think you should seek advice. It may have dropped due to another infection so best to get checked.

Wishing you all the best. P

[macnsyl in reply to peege]

It seems to me that you should find out if you have sleep APNEA. If fit is a one time occurrence I would continue monitoring to see if it continues. Usually APNEA occurs several times an hour.

[skischool]

Sorry apart from your references to covid you haven't even advised if you have a medically diagnosed lung condition so any advice without a reference to your baseline oxygen stats would be pointless.I wouldn't worry too much unless those stats are related to uncontrolable breathlessness and if as you say they return to what would be normaly be around the 95% or more then you don't seem to have a problem.

For people with moderate to severe lung conditions the safe level is 88-92 % o2 sats but even our sats decline below that level whilst sleeping without problems,

Best wishes Ski's and Scruff's

[judg69]

Hi Wavinghello, I am on Oxygen 24/7, but do take it off for a few hours each day if I am just sitting quietly watching tv or on my iPad as my O2 will normally then settle in the low 90’s. I live in Florida and am almost always in airconditioning year round which helps . With any activity or shallow breathing ( ie when asleep ) my levels almost immediately drop to at least the mid 80’s or lower, so I always have my oxygen in place when sleeping or up and about . In the US if your O2 levels are 88% or below you will be prescribed oxygen as levels below that will not fully provide all your organs the oxygen required to maintain health. Cutting to the chase, I am not a Doctor but if your oxygen is repeatedly falling into the low 80’s you need to see a pulmonologist/respiratory specialist and request 1) evaluation while walking /lifting and otherwise exerting yourself, and importantly also 2) an overnight sleep study where your O2 is continuously monitored overnight.

Lastly, if you do in fact require oxygen, please do not resist , as I can assure you that you will feel much, much better and your quality of life will markedly improve. Best Wishes, judg69

[Tykelady in reply to judg69]

Me too. I'm a bit guilty of checking my levels too often but know that without oxygen they drop rapidly even with the slightest activity. Sensible breathing brings them back as soon as I hook up again.

[Ian1967]

Hi Wavinghello, I would contact your GP or if you are still under the hospital for your Covid and Pneumonia contact them, everyone’s SATS drops at bedtime, but 80 is low.

I was diagnosed with Type II Respiratory Failure in 2017 and was put on oxygen 24/7, but I was also told I would probably need to also have to use BiPAP at bedtime for the rest of my life for Co2 Retention, but when I was sent home from hospital I was only put on oxygen.

Later on in the year I woke in the middle of the night and discovered my oxygen cannula had come out, I took my SATS and they were in the mid seventies, I contacted the hospital the next day and they arranged a Sleep Study at home and it was discovered my SATS would drop dangerously low, I was then put on BiPAP and oxygen at bedtime, since then my SATS and Co2 Retention have been controlled excellently.

The hospital might suggest a Sleep Study for you, but please contact them, a Sleep Study is just a more advanced version of your Pulse Oximeter and nothing at all to worry about.

I hope I have been some help.

Ian.

[Lfcpremier]

Sometimes my oximeter goes up the wall, can't take it serious. Hope Dr sorts you out. 😊

[CDPO16]

Hi and welcome. I think it best to let your doctor know about your sats dropping. 80% is very low. Keep in touch and let us know how you go on

[Hellodolly]

Hi thereAs Ian says, you could ask your GP for a sleep study, which measures your oxygen saturation at night. If you have obstructive sleep apnoea for instance, your oxygen saturation levels can drop rapidly at night.

My respiratory doctor noted high haemocrit levels in my blood tests, which shows the body is desperate for oxygen. They did a sleep test, discovered that my oxygen at night was dipping constantly by 30% and therefore put me on a cpap mask at night.

So do go back to the doctor and discuss if you are concerned.

Good luck!

[johnderby]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I won't advise you as you have already been given good advice by others. Please let us know how you get on. John

[Wavinghello]

Great advice from everyone, thanks very much.

Just to point out in reply to a post, before I caught covid I had no issues with my lungs, in fact I have no underlying health conditions and I was double jabbed.

I'm going to ring the respiratory clinic to see if I can have a chat with my consultant. I had a chest X-ray last week so hopefully he'll have the results.

It's great to talk to people who understand.

Wishing everyone well

[knitter in reply to Wavinghello]

Hi and welcome ….are you oxygen levels OK now ….above 92 ? When you contact your clinic let them know your present level as well as nighttime .

My daughter , double jabbed, has Covid now and I sent her an oximeter to keep a check on levels .

Two more people I know have contracted Covid this week.

Sending best wishes .

[Bevvy in reply to Wavinghello]

It is doubtful unless you have a current infection that X-ray will show much. It may show some residual scarring from Covid but that’s normal after any severe infection.I am doubtful that oxygen sats that only drop for a minute or so when asleep are anything to worry about but speak to you consultant about it. They may arrange a sleep study if concerned but we are not doctors so is important you get professional opinion.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi and welcome to the site always good to welcome ew members. If I were I would seek medical advice and see what they say, then you may feel a lot better. Have a lovely day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[HollyBoyd]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Some very good advice from the members who are always there for you. Hope you get some answers from your consultant. Take caRE XXX

[Patk1]

I dont think theres concern at such a rapid recovery + short time being low but worth mentioning at nxt appointment

[Alberta56]

hello and welcome.