Low oxygen levels

[Clm1978]

Hi all I have secondary Raynauds and at a visit to a GP because I was struggling with my breathing, my sats were tested but the oxygen levels in both of my index finger were really low 84 in my right and 86 in my left. The doctor said this was due to the raynauds although i wasnt suffering an attack at that time. Has anyone else had similar problems?

[LucyJean]

Hi there, I always have terrible problems getting a reading out of one of those pulse oximeters which test your sats levels. Most of the time I appear to be clinically dead If they get a reading it is likely to be inaccurate. Occasionally in the hospital they have an ear probe and that usually picks it up. I have done all sorts to try and breathe life into my fingers to get a reading. Sat on them, stuck them under my armpits, or up my jumper...sometimes it works. However, if you weren't having an attack and your fingers had a good supply of blood then it should have been accurate. 100% is fully perfused with oxygen so it wasn't a massive drop below normal. I hope that your GP checked out other aspects of your lung function or is getting further investigations to check out your shortness of breath given that he didn't think that he was getting an accurate reading.

All my best

Lucy x

[Clm1978 in reply to LucyJean]

Hey Lucy, he was not my own GP and there are many other symptoms I have going on. But they seem to be struggling to piece them all together! I am terrified than I have scleroderma as my fingers often swell and become difficult to move, I have difficulty with reflux and heartburn and also my Raynauds has become so much worse than when i was first diagnosed in late 2014. My ANA was negative from early 2015 when first tested but turned to positive in 2016 with a nucleolar ANA pattern 1:160 and this has remained the same.

Cara xx

[Clm1978 in reply to Clm1978]

P.S I am assuming that you have scleroderma, how were you diagnosed and what was your blood work up please?

Cara xx

[Clm1978 in reply to LucyJean]

He did get a reading of 97 when he tried my thumb, but what i need to know is, is this unusual for Raynauds where no other connective tissue disease has been diagnosed yet or is it likely that there is something now manifesting or underlying.

[LucyJean in reply to Clm1978]

Hi there, it sounds as if there are a few things that needed further investigation. Do you have a Rheumatologist, because if not I would suggest that you have a referral to one. Some of the things you describe are features of scleroderma, but without having a proper consultation and blood work then it would be impossible to say for definite. Just because you have Raynauds does not mean that you will automatically develop Scleroderma. However, reflux, raynauds, swelling of fingers, shortness of breath are starting to build more of a pattern associated with scleroderma so you do need to see someone about this. Please, don't start getting stressed out about it, just get it investigated. The fact that you have had a positive ANA would indicate there might be something autoimmune going on, but on its own it does not mean you have the condition.

In answer to your other question, yes, I have scleroderma. Limited form. Diagnosed 2004. First symptoms very obvious swelling of fingers, ulcers developed on all my fingers, calcinosis, thickening of skin on hands, severe raynauds, telangiectasia (face and hands), slow transit of food in my oesophagus and throughout my bowel...etc etc I also have some features of sjogrens, lupus and inflammatory arthritis for good measure

Get yourself a good Rheumatologist so you know where you stand. Being in limbo and not knowing either way is pretty challenging.

Take care

Lucy xxxx

[Rp321]

I struggle to get a sats reading some times, I have primary raynauds.

[treesie]

I usually wear handwarmers when they check my o2 levels bc my hands are always cold from Raynauds. I have fibrosis in my lungs so I have a lot of shortness of breath. I wear oxygen at night. You may need a lung function test to check your o2 levels.