Oxygen for low Sats ?

If your sats are that low you need tests done e.g oximeter, blood gases To be honest if they are 85 when resting what are they further dropping down to when you are up and about? I know if mine are down to 85 I wouldn't be moving around very much Val

The nebuliser used in the hospital also had oxygen in it which was what made my Sats normal. As soon as it was stopped, after 10 minutes, the Sats went back down again to where they are now and most of the time which is 84%. Alas, I can't return to normal readings without oxygen. They told me to have a word with my doctor about it. Just got in from the shops and read it straight away before resting and it was 79% which went up fairly quick to 84% which it will now settle at.

Yes do mention it to your doc or consultant get it checked out Val

Your Sats should not drop below 88 on a regular basis. You are damaging your heart, brain and other organs by doing so. I don't understand how a hospital could send you home without a prescription for oxygen with those numbers. No wonder so many die from COPD. It's the lack of care that's killing people more than the disease itself. More COPD patients die from Congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension than from their COPD.

this is the problem, i've just got him a doctor's appointment for this morning and said he had been in hospital with low sats etc, the receptionist told me it was the hospital who should refer for oxygen, but when he left hospital the doctor there told him to talk to his gp about oxygen.

so i'm none the wiser,will see what gp says anyway.

What a difference ! The GP said he'd refer me to a lung specialist to determine whether I need supplementary oxygen or not. He is also going to arrange about pulmonary rehab for me. 10 minutes with the new GP compared with months with the other one who got nothing done unless I asked. Even then I'd be lucky if he took any notice.

the new gp also allowed me in and answered several questions i had, which i have not had an answer to since this started over a year ago, so i'm happy as well, and it looks like he is being referred where he needs to be now and so things are looking better.I just can't believe he's been left so long without help or answers though.

i'm trying to think what else the gp did - he also went through his medicine and checked we knew what each did, then prescribed another medication to try to relieve the build up of mucus, he checked his chest with a stethoscope.he said there was a little infection left but didn't think at the moment another course of antibiotics was needed as he hasn't finished the doxycycline.

he was very thorough and adressed everything we asked, and explained everything he was saying.

just like a doctor should do!!!!!!!!!!!!..

Yes, redshoes and stitch, it is very good news.To be honest, I think some of the depression and anger (frustration) he has been feeling, and to some extent my own "depression" at the situation was down to the feeling that we couldn't get any answers.Even very basic questions such as what does such and such a medication do?We've had to feel our way and look online, its only now we are beginning to understand better, i would definately say to anyone, change doctor if you can't get answers.although i appreciate easier said than done which is why we held on so long as well.

It really is so frustrating knowing that low sats are doing us harm, and yet we are not referred for oxygen. I have had the same problem. Exercise, out walking for example and my sats will drop rapidly to about 84%. I have seen them during my exercise routine drop to 79%. Yet I have never been referred. It was only a question to our respiratory nurse at Breathe easy asking if I was getting dangerously low sats, that enabled me to get referred for oxygen when I am exercising. I have not yet had the appointment, but I know it is coming. From my understanding anything lower than 88% should set off alarm bells. It seems that in many cases we may have to insist on getting proper assessment. And if like me you get low sats in the mid 80's and below. It may in the end save your life. Of interest is that in the usa, if your sats are lower than 90 you are given O2.

I enjoyed the walk yesterday evening and was totally surprised !! I got to the corner of our road, about 100 yards, and still felt ok. The only reason we stopped was to buy our takeaway ! Why and how I walked that far without too much of a problem ( A bit puffy but that was all ) I do not understand as two days before I couldn't walk more than 3 or 4 steps without having to stop and gasp for some air. Here's hoping it don't go back to the way it's been...

Hi im sorry I dont have any response to the above but Im wondering what sats are and if the medical provider always gives a test for it? If so wat is the test as ive never heard this mentioned before.