Low oxygen levels

[Caro2132]

I’m freaking out right now because our caregiver’s morning routine shows Mike has low oxygen levels. He’s definitely not ‘with it’ - the vase nurse is bringing an oxygen tank. Is this normal for PSP?

Caroline

[Kevin_1]

Hi Caro

Oxygen levels can become poor if breathing is slowed by weakness, or compromised by a lung infection, or other lung disorder. Bloods can be an issue too.

There are many conditions which can cause low oxygen levels.

As far as I know low oxygen levels per se are not normally quoted as a symptom of PSP.

Simple things to do are to take his temperature. Rules out a chest infection. Though I am sure the Nurse would have done that.

What is the nurses opinion?

Your question is really one for a doctor who will at least be able to consider his medical history and his current signs and symptoms.

Sorry not to have been able to help.

Wishing you both the best.

Kevin

[Caro2132]

Thank you Kevin. He has no fever and the case nurse is examining him as I write.

Again, thanks for the quick reply.

[Kevin_1 in reply to Caro2132]

Good luck!

I do hope you get a decent answer.

[racinlady]

My husband who had PSP had low oxygen levels, but he also had congestive heart failure so I always figured that was what caused the low oxygen. We used oxygen for him as needed for the last six months or so. He was in hospice so I'm not sure that they ever tried to figure out what caused the low oxygen, they just treated any symptoms as they came up. I'm not sure there is such a thing as 'normal' for PSP.

Pat

[Caro2132 in reply to racinlady]

Mike is on hospice so the nurse ordered oxygen and we will use as needed. Thank you for the response. I guess it’s just another step in the path.

[Hiking13]

This happened to Steve towards the end of his journey and it was a fine line between giving him too much oxygen as he then wasn’t able to expel enough Carbon Dioxide, it became a real balancing act and if we levelled his oxygen saturation somewhere between 89-92 % then we were ok. This made me realise what a difficult path he was treading as I know from trekking up to altitude how awful it is when your oxygen saturation drops but for Steve 89-92 was his new normal and sometimes it was lower. I hope you get good medical help with this as it’s very difficult

Sending you lots of hugs

Love Sarahxxx

[Caro2132 in reply to Hiking13]

Thank you - just something else to deal with.