RE: Oxygen Sats

[Guest guest]

Phyllis,

That's a difficult question to answer. "Normal" oxygen saturations are above 90. Some doctors specify over 88, others say over 92 or 93 but generally anything over 90 is considred "normal" and safe.

Pulmonary fibrosis decreases your bodies ablility to get enough oxygen into your lungs and your lungs ability to transfer that oxygen to the bloodstream. If your sats consistently fall below 90 most doctors will prescribe oxygen.

Most ILD's that cause fibrosis are progressive. Someone will go from having relatively normal saturations most of the time with only mild shortness of breath on exertion to eventually needing oxygen all the time, 24/7 in order to keep your sats above 90.

There isn't really "normal sat for someone with mild pf". Everyone is different and everyone's body reacts individually to lung scarring.

Is there something that's happening with you that is concerning to you? If you have a specific question about something that's going on with your situation we might be able to be of more help.

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Mon, November 2, 2009 8:47:53 PMSubject: Oxygen Sats

What would be normal Oxygen Sat while moving and at rest for a person with mild PF?

[Guest guest]

I don’t think there is an easy answer. See http://www.aacn.org/WD/Practice/Docs/ch_14_PO.pdf

for a discussion. I suggest you discuss this with your

pulmonologist for information on your particular case. It depends on your

age, weight, whether you are standing up or lying down, your hemoglobin level, altitude,

etc.

In my wife’s case the doc is not concerned about her

saturation during the day. But he ran a 24 hour test and was somewhat

concerned about her level while she was sleeping. It made her heart work

a bit harder and over a period of time could cause stress on the heart muscle.

So she is now on oxygen but only while she is sleeping.

Personally, I would not self-medicate with this number. I

would talk to my pulmonologist about what was normal FOR ME.

My opinion.

Jack McVickers, sdale

From:

Breathe-Support [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On

Behalf Of Phyllis Gilmore

Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 6:48 PM

To: Breathe-Support

Subject: Oxygen Sats

What would be normal Oxygen Sat while moving and at

rest for a person with mild PF?

[Guest guest]

Jack

But everyone does need an oximeter to check under all conditions so you

can advise your doctor. The doctor can't witness all those conditions.

Keep a log. Also a good procedure is to have a doctor ordered 24 hour

oximeter reading and to do as many different things as possible during

that day.

>

> I don't think there is an easy answer. See

> http://www.aacn.org/WD/Practice/Docs/ch_14_PO.pdf

>

> for a discussion. I suggest you discuss this with your pulmonologist

for

> information on your particular case. It depends on your age, weight,

> whether you are standing up or lying down, your hemoglobin level,

altitude,

> etc.

>

>

>

> In my wife's case the doc is not concerned about her saturation during

the

> day. But he ran a 24 hour test and was somewhat concerned about her

level

> while she was sleeping. It made her heart work a bit harder and over

a

> period of time could cause stress on the heart muscle. So she is now

on

> oxygen but only while she is sleeping.

>

>

>

> Personally, I would not self-medicate with this number. I would talk

to my

> pulmonologist about what was normal FOR ME.

>

>

>

> My opinion.

>

>

>

> Jack McVickers, sdale

>

>

>

> From: Breathe-Support

> [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On Behalf Of Phyllis Gilmore

> Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 6:48 PM

> To: Breathe-Support

> Subject: Oxygen Sats

>

>

>

>

>

> What would be normal Oxygen Sat while moving and at rest for a person

with

> mild PF?

>