oxygen

Hi Robert,

Sounds like you may need supplementary oxygen at night, levels dropping to 88 sound a bit dangerous to me. Is it your GP or Consultant that has told you you don't need it? Really it is the Consultant who prescribes oxygen based on your blood oxygen levels which are more accurately determine by arterial blood gas.

I don't feel it is so much different health authorities as different Consultants viewpoint if their patient needs oxygen. A friend of mine was told not required by one consultant and yes it is by another consultant, both consultant's in the same hospital!!

I would try and get to see your consultant asap, maybe phone the hospital and ask about this. Failing that you can communicate these levels to the respiratory team when you go on your pulmonary rehabilitation course, oxygen levels are checked by the nurses but only using a oximeter whilst you are exercising, have you noticed your levels dropping when you exercise?

Do you know how to do diaphragmatic breathing Robert? this helps brings levels back up if you sit up straight or lie down to do the diaphragm breathing.

I'm not sure what else to advise Robert. There is a page on patient uk about Prescribing Oxygen, thats:

https://patient.info/doctor/Prescribing-Oxygen.htm

Hope that has been of some help.

Take care

V

Good Morning Robert,

So sorry I forgot to mention a vital bit of information, this is something that the docs may want to do before further testing....

The 24 oxi pulse meter that patients are fitted with to monitor, pulse / heart rate and oxygen saturation levels for a constant duration of 24 hours. This is a device the hospital has to fit to and remove from the patient, it gives more accurate readings about what is happening...

Your GP should be able to refer you for this 24 monitoring, it may be something you may wish to discuss further with the doc.

I think oxygen saturations below 90% are considered low.

[i:0da86b86d3]I am not an oxygen user Robert, this is just information I have learnt over the years, mixing with patients who have COPD, those who use oxygen, and from professional speakers / oxygen suppliers on said subject. [/i:0da86b86d3]

Wikipedia have a page on blood oxygen if you want to look it up and hopefully the oxygen user's will be able to give you some input too.

I'm really sorry you are experiencing drops and feeling ill with it, if you are experiencing this regularly Robert I would definitely go back to your doc (or get 2nd opinion) as I honestly think you should at least be fitted with the 24 hour oxi pulse meter, to be more precise about what is happening and also I feel this will put your own mind at rest too.

Keep well

V

You may want to keep a record of your own readings for a while too (maybe with date and time each day for a week or two) I'm sure this will be useful information for you and the medics.

Have a good day Robert and keep warm

V