Are you on oxygen?

Not particularly "normal", but a wide variety of factors can be involved within different degrees depending on the progress of your emphysema.

If not on oxygen and can only sustain a SpO2 above 92% with 'controlled breathing' (it is MHO) you need to contact your pulmonologist.

Also monitor your heart rate.

tried oxygen ,it gae me a terrible headace,my heart rate is alwas 65 to 70

Method in my madness in I have copied and pasted from another comment of mine yesterday....

I was just chatting to Anne who did her Oxygen Assessment today.....I had one done 2 weeks ago by my New Pulmo who was confused also that my Readings High 90%'s in spite of all their tests did not support someone with my lung function.@ 18%...So now it is a concern as I have 2 more Spirometry tests plus a Gas Effusion Capacity one in June....Before that an Endo in 2 weeks for Pulmonary Hypertension, as he now ''thinks'' my heart will go as my lung function further declines....HA.

So I researched Heart instead of Lungs.....

http://heartfailuresolutions.com/2658/oxygen/low-oxygen-level-do-you-suck-at-holding-onto-oxygen.

buck- perhaps when you are resting you breath shallower and that lowers your 02....just a thought.

You have mentioned before that you got a headache when you used supplemental 02;
have you ever discussed that with your Dr? if so what did he say?

I set my LPM to what my tests show that I need & the tests seem to be accurate on what my body requires.
(besides PFT, I have sleep test & 6 minute walk test done every year or 2)
I try to keep my 02 in the high 90's (i have 2 oximeters & have never seen it go above 98%, so i try to stay between 94-96% average.....It's when my 02 drops that i get all sorts of bad symptoms.

gwapo- WOW! your link is good, but that guy is hard to follow; i've watched & read it 3 times trying to "get it" LOL

@Gwapo: That is an excellent summary. It has the advantage of being straightforward with NO pussy-footing around, which has not always been the case with many articles.

Us old timers (for me almost 15 years), we can remember endless articles and various arguments/debates over Oxygen Therapy. Without getting into details, basically there was a time when a SpO2 of 90-88% or less was considered bad, and if you could stay above 89% one was considered OK, and whatever liters per minute you were prescribed was chiseled in stone. Like all medical sea changes there have been published doubts for years, but it takes a while before anything becomes widely understood and accepted.

Today - The new bare minimum number is 92%. The old number of 88% (which is still used by MediCare and many Insurance Companies) came about because it is normally at or below this point anybody will begin to demonstrate obvious symptoms of distress. This made the results of a 6MWT easier to observed and record (quantify using a Borg scale) by less-qualified medical personnel.

@BuickOreo: If you have been prescribed oxygen start using it NOW! Under NO circumstances should you stop without consulting with your pulmonologist. If you are having headaches contact your doctor. There are several reasons this may be happening (drying out, morning headaches, incorrectly adjusted oxygen flow rate), and obviously a range of possible solutions are available. Headaches, are easier to manage with OTC meds or nasal sprays, and preferable to cell damage.

Yes Gnott..straight to the point specially for me who has never been on oxygen so rarely thought of it till my last consultation with my new pulmo, concerned that my recent drop of 4% in one hit, left, me dangling dangerously on 18%...and of course progression is down more than up if not stabilised but how can one do that....

So when they could not justify oxygen therapy he went the Adult Transthoracic Echo for Pulmonary Hypertension. >>> Basically with Lung function not capable of transporting or removing oxygen and Carbon Dioxide, then my HEART would pack it in due to over work.

Jarca..besides the E-Book Selling, the explanation is perfect re Blood Transfer and Oxygen Carrying Capacity. I think I am one of a Few Genuine Retainers not just having a Gas Transfer Issue....That is why at 18% and not on Oxygen I can still have such a High Activity Level, which does not conform to the Text Book....in other words the thing that will bury me is Cardiac Problems not COPD per se...

Now I might go have dinner and watch a movie....If you ever want to watch a great ''Feel Good Movie'' I suggest ''Last Cab to Darwin'' I just sent it to a friend in a bad situation who is at the point of giving up with her COPD......Here is it to watch if anyone has a Laptop....Just go to Full Screen...on the right is a Ad Box...Click the X to get rid of it...

http://xuka.tv/tv/by-genre/comedy/last-cab-to-darwin-2015-12236.html

Hope it pastes here ..if not I will FB it to you......

qwapo= the heart info makes me curious;
Does/is your heart rate compensating for your good 02 numbers?
i ask because;
There was one point when i was still using 2lpm when i was doing things and my 02 was staying in mid 90's.
However, my sitting heart rate (normally 58-68] i've always had "low resting heartrate) skyrocketed to 90's & 100's just sitting.
& I also would wake up lethargic & horrid headaches when it happened.

that is when (after home sleep test) my dr upped my 02 to 3LPM at night as the 2LPM my 02 was only 66% in the deep sleep stage.
a 6 minute walk test showed i needed 3-4LPM when active
......
that was a couple of years ago & last year my needs went up again.
always, my oximeter shows an increase in my heart rate.
ps. now days my sitting pulse is 68-78 bpm which is more normal, but obviously my heart is working harder (active i'm around 120 & very uncomfortable huffing & puffing when it gets that high)

I was told years ago that oximeters have both 02 & pulse because it is a "balancing act" to keep our 02 & pulse in proper range....

I do not know Rachel...It is all new to me as every time I had my Heart Tests done they said in their own words ''Strong as an Ox''

But going on numbers via Oxymetre if I am stressed my Oxygen rarely changes but Pulse Rate can zoom to 150.....and remain in the 105 mark for quite a period after.

If I am relaxed whether outside or sitting around inside it hovers between 60 - 80 with Oxygen unchanged.

Guess it is Mind over Matter in that I do not think about my illness too much and the fact I have made PLB so natural, I can get rid of the CO2 much easier to compensate...

I assume further Lung Damage and that could easily happen anytime,
could prove very costly in as far as the getting rid of the excessive build up of CO2 and the pressure on heart to perform...

Peter- solution, don't stress ;)

my dr told me that i function far better than i should= that works for me LOL
whatever we are doing we must be doing right---or maybe we are just stubborn rebels :)