low blood oxygen in day while awake (81%)

hello does anyone else get low oxygen levels in the day time when awake?

I know I was definitely awake but sitting watching telly and I noted later i had got a reading of 81% (subject to any inaccuracies in Apple Watch). I can get between 90% and 95% most days. Night time is being investigated via sleep study awaiting results.

have posted on Sleep Matters but a perspective from hearties would be good. Night time lows is being investigated via sleep study - awaiting results.

Googling (I know) indicates should call an ambulance but wonder if that’s if such levels are continuous? Also I found this advice for when people have the virus that cannot be named so not sure applies at other times.

As Apple Watch takes intermittent readings wonder if I should get a pulse oximeter (think that’s what they are called) and keep it on continuously for a couple of hours so can see if just a blip or actually a trend. But then checks in Hospital are one offs not continuous unless you’re an inpatient?

thanks in advance for any advice / suggestions.

[Cheryl2710]

Hi! Do you have any respiratory conditions or do you smoke? What position were you in?

I would perhaps make a GP appointment (like gold dust I know!) And run it past them.

Is it persistently low?

I know my nighttime Sat's can drop into the low 80s.

[Hidden in reply to Cheryl2710]

hello I do have asthma (well controlled) but a recently confirmed congenital heart defect that restricts blood flow so I am suspecting that’s it, never smoked.

I was sitting in armchair with legs up on a footstool.

This is the thing I can’t tell if it’s low for a period i.e, few hours or it’s a one off reading at that time but the pattern has happened before persistently i.e. happened on other days but not every day. It will go back up to a normal level just can’t tell if it stays low for a while beforehand. Hope makes sense.

I’m awaiting results from a sleep study after GP referral and I made aware then.

Someone over on Sleep Matters has advised a pulse oximeter is more reliable so may get one.

Thanks

[Tos92]

I have similar readings taken by my Apple Watch in the day time sometimes. I have noticed the oximeter can be more accurate than the Apple Watch and shows a higher oxygen saturation level. I would buy one from eBay or Amazon as a level of reassurance for yourself but also to gain perhaps, a more realistic reading.

[Hidden in reply to Tos92]

thanks I think I will!

[Yumz199725]

I have oximeter I was advised by my GP to by one was 12 pound off amazon it's very accurate. 😉. I noticed you said about being diagnosed with a congenital defect recently whats the defect? I have congenital heart disease and that comes with a whole bunch of symptoms but stable for now. Anway please keep us upto date and please get an oximeter. I use mine last thing at night and first thing in the morning so hopefully it is accurate 🙈👌😅

[Hidden in reply to Yumz199725]

hello

The defect is a myocardial bridge where part of my LAD tunnelled through the heart muscle rather than staying on the surface so it gets compressed each time my heart beats causing blood flow restriction. So this probably contributes to lack of oxygenated blood being pumped round enough to meet the demands I put on my heart. I get angina pretty much soon after going from sitting to walking and increases in intensity dependent on what I then do (simple daily stuff). It only relieves when I sit or lying down. Level 5/6 out of 10 pain level is my standard daily experience.

I think it’s time to get a oximeter!

[Wingnutty in reply to Hidden]

Declaration: I have no medical qualifications, but I think I understand quite a bit about heart and circulation. I doubt that the myocardial bridge is the problem because the purpose of the LAD is to supply blood to parts of the myocardium, not the whole body and your apple watch is taking a reading from your wrist. I think the bridge would only cause a low sat reading at the wrist if it was causing the whole heart to function poorly through low ejection fraction or arrhythmia or some other problem.

[Hidden in reply to Wingnutty]

thanks I did say “probably” not definitely as I don’t have medical qualifications either. I await results of sleep study hoping that will shed some light. 👍

[Visigoth]

My Apple Watch sometimes gives me a really low oxygen reading but if I use my pulse oximeter immediately afterwards it’s fine, so I don’t trust the Apple Watch readings! Sometimes I also take another reading on the watch pressing it down more on my wrist and it’s fine then too.

[Qualipop]

My pulse oximeter only does a one off reading; it doesn't stay on

[Hidden]

Oh yes living with low oxygen levels seems to be how I have existed. I don't know what to say because I go to hospital and mine went to the dizzy heights of 86%. Then later on it went from 71% slowly up to 81% . But mine is due to the congenital heart issue. It does frustrate me. But for me they are not too concerned because as my cardiologist said in February you look well, don't want to see me for a year. But it can be concerning. However due to the low oxygen my hemoglobin is high, to compensate. But if it is concerning you then it is worth getting it checked out.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

thanks, my problem is I’m not well no matter how positive I try and be. I’m going to get a oximeter to compare then call GP albeit I anticipate he’ll say await sleep test result. Which is fair. Thanks for sharing your experience. 👍

[Hidden]

Yes it is hard to be positive. Especially when we have problems we where born with. I find it hard to come to terms with it, now I know. But it is what it is and it does seem to be so unfair. Any way the photo is my oxygen reading just now. Not bad me, but iam laying down and very still. I do have three that I play about with but I prefer this blue one. It seems to read higher than the others, so it gives me confidence. But like I said when I went to accident and emergency she had a reading of 86% and then when it was done about an hour later. On a different machine, different department it went up from 71% to 81%. You keep strong.

Oxygen reading

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

thank you for the encouragement and understanding over and above the advice on oxygen stuff ❤️ it is hard to come to terms with the congenital thing.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It is hard. I just keep wanting it to go away but it is not going to go away. Even though my cardiologist is happy and does not want to see me for a year. I still carnt except it as a positive. Possibly me being selfish. Possibly me trying to understand how I can learn to live with it again. But I suppose I have just got to be a bit more careful. But one thing the pandemic didn't help. Wearing masks at work and the injections. The worry and stress of it all. But i will never prove it. Because it could have been found 20 years ago. Today it would be picked up at birth, But its that horrible feeling of why me. But we are in a club that no one wants to be in. Any way enough of me. Yes the oxygen meters can be easily purchased. They do make them with blue tooth on them so it can then send signal to your phone, and with the right app will produce a graph. Might be my next toy. Take care.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I completely understand, I’ve just had my letter after appointment with surgeon and the answer is no to surgery, as they can’t do with any real assurance like they have in other cases. meds haven’t worked and my cardiologist said they have no alternatives. I’m such a freak 😂.

So a bit stuffed if you pardon my French!

And I too will need to learn to live with this.

I only found out I had a congenital defect Feb 2022 and I do wonder why me, too.

But see you and I are not alone, that helps. ❤️ and it’s very early days.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Strange my congenital issue was found February 22. Bad year. Yes it has been a roller coaster. They did discuss me at a meeting at Barts in London and my vavle is not any good to have a cone procedure. The reason I have low oxygen levels especially on exertion as the right ventrical is not pushing enough blood out to the lungs. Plus the tricuspid vavle is leaky. I could try and explain more but it does start to get complexed. Could have a small septal defect. But it is not very pronounced. That might be one reason to get my blood pressure down to try and reduce excessive blood pressure which then causes the right atrium to be a higher pressure than the left atrium. See I start to waffle and it starts to blow my mind. My cardiologist might have to look at a heart transplant in the future. Unless there are other things that can be done but nothing more has been discussed. My congenital heart nurse has said that it is stable. What ever that means? But you and I are in the same boat. Completely different congenital issues but similar mental anguish. Then there is the elephant in the room open heart surgery. To fix something I didn't ask for. It's a horrible situation. I am glad that we both understand our individual predicaments. But it is now a new journey, one I did not buy a ticket for. Take care.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

oh no need for a ticket, this one is a free ride just no perks! I think it good to learn as much as you can as it does help to understand what the meds talk about and they recognise when they’re talking to someone who knows a “little”.

Understanding is really important, being in the dark / not knowing what’s wrong but still feel something is not right is hell for our mental health.

yes horrible, but someone said I need to grieve for the life I thought I’d have but work on creating a new one!

Cheers! Take care too.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I am definitely grieving. I think the hard bit I find is that if you look at me I look well. But underneath. God I am screaming.

[Dollcollector]

I have heart failure. My oxygen is in the 80s sometimes 70s. I do get very breathless. My lungs are clear and l don't smoke.

[Hidden in reply to Dollcollector]

I’m not sure what to say really but I am sorry to hear that. So I could panic but I don’t believe I have heart failure. I’m hoping it’s the sleep issue.

Do you have to have treatment for the low oxygen?

[Dollcollector in reply to Hidden]

The doctors don't appear to be concerned. They don't think l need extra oxygen as l haven't got c.o.p.d. lf your oxygen goes up to 95% l don't think you have anything to worry about. Watches an oximeters aren't completely accurate and can vary up to 4 points.

[Hidden in reply to Dollcollector]

thanks yes it does go back up so I’ll take reassurance from that ❤️

[Dollcollector in reply to Dollcollector]

The doctors don't appear to be concerned. They don't think it is necessary for me to have extra oxygen as l don't have c.o.p.d.