Re saturation Levels.

[patricia7]

Good afternoon, Patricia7 here. Hello everybody. i have been reading regarding peoples' lives. I would appreciate your help. When i was in hospital re my breathing difficulties I was told by a nurse that saturations of 90 were perfectly normal for someone with copd; one of the nurses was a student and she was teaching him. I did not know what my saturations were at this point. Another nurse told me saturations of 82 were life- threatening ;at what point do the saturations levels become ''critical' if you understand me please ?I have read in peoples posts that they were in a coma, what does that mean in relation to copd, for which I was diagnosed December 2015. I look forward to hearing from you Thank you very much. Patricia7.

[cschene]

My Pulmonologist says anything 88% or above is therapeutic (OK). I am at stage 4 COPD with FEV 26%.

My normal resting saturation as measured on my finger is 95-96% but what happens to me is when I am having problems I desaturate very quickly under even low levels of exertion to the low 80%. I have found that I get light headed and even fainted once my Sat gets below 80%.

I hope my response is helpful

[Madonnalee]

Hello patrica7, I can't answer all your questions but I do know Medicare will pay for oxygen when level gets to 88. I do pretty good if mine is 90. Resting mine is about 93, when I am busy or exercising I use oxygen, usually on 2. I went to sleep management, while sleeping my levels drop to around 84, that is not good. I would say a level of 82 ,you better get some oxygen. As for being in a coma, that has not happened to me. I try to keep as busy as I can, exercise 5 days a week, with oxygen, try to eat healthy, use my inhalers daily and if I feel like I am getting sick, I go to the doc , don't wait & see .COPD for sure is not fun but one can live with it, some days better than others. To bad you didn't get your questions answered while you were in the hospital. Good luck and God Bless.

[glredw in reply to Madonnalee]

My level is usually 95 and with exertion 93 but use o3 at night and inhalers only use portable o2 when level is below 90 I go to pulmonary rehab and it helps also quit oking in may

[Babchi]

I have had COPD for 16 years

My sitting on 2 is a high 95

However when I walk on 3 it goes down as low as 81-86 what I worry about at this time is my heart rate that goes to 110

Babchi

[Hidden]

What counts is not what individuals are experiencing. My pulmonologist, and the NIH website both say that muscles begin to deteriorate when your number goes below 92, and since the heart is your most important muscle, you shorten your life. It sounds like too many of the people on this forum do not get sufficient information from their doctors. If anyone with any form of COPD is not seeing a specialist (pulmonologist), they are gambling on a shorter life and poorer quality of life. I see my GP as necessary, and currently see the pulmonologist every six months. When I see ANY doctor, I take 2 copies of a written list of questions with me and hand them a copy, and then we go over the list together. When I have questions between appointments, I call the office and the doctor returns my call within a couple days, sooner if the question/answer is critical.

[patricia7 in reply to Hidden]

Dear Jim-R, Good afternoon, Patricia7 here. I wanted to say thank you very much for your post, I did what you said, write down a list of questions x2, one for the pulmonologist and for myself. I had an appt. last week and it went well. The Dr. advised an injection against pneumonia, gave me time to speak, was very nice/ v.helpful , answered all my questions , made a massive difference . I am fine . Sending Best Wishes to everybody on the site. Thinking of you all. Thank you again Jim-M from Patricia7.

[LORBIC]

Hi Patricia 7, you need to have your pulmonary doctor do a walk test, this will show what saturation you are at when you walk. I was told not to go below 88 as I would go into hypoxia. I usually run around 95 without my oxygen just sitting still. Whenever I go for my walk or do errands in town the oxygen goes with me. If I'm in a flare up I will use the oxygen at home.

[Dgtheel]

What I've been told was anything below 89 is bad and that's when they start oxygen, mine run about 94 at rest but drop it has exertion so I'm on oxygen when active 2 liters