Help

[Suzy6]

For the last few days my stats have been jumping up to 98 and 99. Normally from 94 to 97. Feel a little strange. Is it CO2 retention.

[stilltruckin]

Having too much CO2 does not affect pulse oximeter readings.

Symptoms of a mild excess of CO2, if any, may include headache, inability to think straight, drowsiness/sleepiness.

[Suzy6 in reply to stilltruckin]

Thanks you stillruckin. I have never known what the symptoms were. You have helped greatly.

[O2Trees]

Have you done more exercise than usual Suzy? I ask as i have been working hard at exercises and did some hill climbing recently (up and down the same stretch x3 with rests in between) and from 93/4% at rest normally, my sats at the top of the hill had gone down to 88%, then within a minute were up at 99%. Didn't stay of course but made me happy. I had another time recently at home when i suddenly felt dizzy and weird (i was sitting down) and used my pulse-ox expecting that the sat would have gone down and it was at 98%.

I think the brain does feel odd suddenly getting more oxygen but why its happening to you of course I've no idea. I'd be very pleased if i was you.

(In case you're wondering if your pulse-ox is wrong, i was told by respiratory nurses that when they go wrong they generally record lower levels, not higher. And your "odd" feeling does suggest that the reading is correct).

You could try the helpline (click balloon top right of page) and talk to the nurses.

[Suzy6]

Ah O2Trees, think you have cracked it. I have been faithfully doing my exercises 10 times each one every day for two weeks. I was sitting down too I went dizzy, felt the weirdest I have ever felt in my life my sats 99%. Stood up and thought I was going to fall over. I think panic set in then. Took a while to feel better. I have to see my Doctor next week will ask her. Thanks for info on pulse-ox going wrong. Take care xx