Low O2

[grandmagigitovivi]

CAPS survivor here. Lately my O2 has been consistently between 87% -93% resting and walking. A trip to the ER the other day showed no PE and clear lungs. They want to follow up with pulmonologist but I think it's my blood flow. My lungs feel fine! I'm on warfarin. Anybody else going through this?

[MaryF Administrator]

No, not had this, I think it is a good idea you have been referred, at least you can raise that point and maybe get some further advice to help you. A bit wordy, but may be helpful to read before the appointment - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... MaryF

[grandmagigitovivi in reply to MaryF]

Awesome info, thank you!

[Madmumma]

Hi, I wear an I watch, which monitors my oxygen sats. I too have low levels. They vary between 80-100%. When i suddenly feel terrible or when I wake up in the night suddenly I check my watch and usually the O2 levels have dropped - to as low as 80 recently. I open the window and concentrate on breathing deeply but it makes no odds. I think a clot is jamming somewhere and moves on in its own sweet time. I’ve been on Warfarin for a couple of years.

Told doc. Got sent for tests with respiratory team. My lungs are in fantastic shape and larger than normal, so definitely not them. The next test to have is a heart scan to check the blood supply to it.

[grandmagigitovivi in reply to Madmumma]

Yeah I'm convinced it's cardiovascular in my case. My lungs are good too. Good luck!

[Greenmil3]

I got rushed to hospital this week under blue lights due to hypoxia and high cardiac rate and almost passed out. Mine is a combination lungs and heart so if your lungs are ok then probably heart so I wish you good luck in getting your answers.

[jamesroybuck]

Hello , I've been on warfarin for around 30 years due to PE and then later being diagnosed with APS. At the beginning of my warfarin journey I had many problems ; three DVT's from INR being too low and melaena / haematuria from INR being too high. At this stage I was relying on the three month clinic check ; which I now believe is not sufficient for anyone whose INR has shown to be volatile. In desperation I purchased a Coaguchek INR meter and started testing myself twice per week alongside the three month clinic check. Touching wood I have not had a problem in twenty years. When I see a movement trend in my INR I make minor adjustments to my Warfarin dose , reduce or increase accordingly.

I would say that if you can afford it , buying your own meter would give the best control and peace of mind than anything else and with a bit of luck your practice would supply the test strips. They are expensive.

It's fairly easy to establish what the common things are that affect Warfarin but what the books don't tell you is that your personal metabulism dictates the degree of the effect. Perhaps the most difficult thing to control is combining . Different combinations of food ; drinks; vitamins and medicines can have a major effect on your INR , hence the reason for testing more frequntly.

Good luck

[Wittycjt]

i wish you luck i hope they find you answers rapidly