Low oxygen level

[B0xermad]

Hi my oxygen level was 81 today how low is that generally speaking as mine is normally 97.I have asthma and bronchiectasis. Copd also

[Nanaeal]

That is every low if you usual is 97.1 I would check it if it's the same call 111. Thinking of you Ann

[B0xermad in reply to Nanaeal]

Just had it checked at drs surgery it went 87 then 81 she advised phoning pulmonary for an oximeter telemedicine kit to monitor at home but nothing else by nurse practitioner was mentioned .I have left a message with respiratory dept

[Badbessie]

Please check your pulse oximeter. Are the batteries ok etc. Next question how do you feel? Do your symptoms match your very low reading? If you are not feeling unwell then I would tend to thing it is a machine fault. However best advice would be to ring 111 for advice.

[B0xermad in reply to Badbessie]

I do not have an oximeter yet

[B0xermad in reply to B0xermad]

But very chesty cough nurse says it's ok

[knitter in reply to B0xermad]

Hi Boxermad, did the nurse give you any medication for your chesty cough? Or any advice as to what to do if your symptoms worsened?

[B0xermad in reply to knitter]

Yes I have rescue meds at home if gets worse but seems more like the cough going around instead of chest infection so she said don't take any yet as I had a course mid December

[knitter in reply to B0xermad]

Ok, it might be an idea to keep a check on your symptoms .....if you are worried ring 111.

I check if my oximeter is working by testing it on other people.....my OH and daughter both registered 99% , but not me. Very annoying.

[O2Trees]

If I were you I would get an oximeter asap - you can get them online. 97 down to 81 is significant drop and 81 is not ok. Any reading below 88 (some would say 90) puts your major organs at risk of damage.

What can happen if you have mucus on your chest is that it can block the alveoli meaning that gas exchange is compromised. My respiratory nurse would be immediately putting me on supplemental oxygen if my resting sats were so low.

And "coughs going round" are a very different matter for us, than for healthy individuals. If you have bronchiectasis Im surprised at how casual they are being - it's usually considered important to treat any possibility of infection aggressively. Wait and see isn't necessarily a good policy if you have those three conditions. The protocol for treating bronchiectasis infections is two weeks ABs, not one, due to possibility of colonisation with bugs.

[B0xermad]

Thank you O2 trees I feel ok just a bit mucusy if that's a word, I question whether the meter was faulty at all, but will get one Monday or Tuesday next week and keep indoors until I have a better result and recover more