That is perfectly normal. Any respiratory infection (cold, flu ) is likely to affect SpO2.

It obviously depends on your over-all health and how far YOUR COPD has progressed, but light exercise never hurts Except when and if it leads to a worsening of your COPD symptoms - Which unfortunately can happen quickly for those of us with COPD.

Personally Im an old turtle (as noted before) too hot, too cold, too miserable, too anything I just crawl into the mud and wait for something better. So when I get a cold, I bundle up and catch up on my reading or TV shows, thoroughly enjoying my misery.

buickoreo, that reading is not bad. And as Gnott says, any congestion will change your stats, in fact, several things can. Worry if they drop below 88 and stay there.

Exercising when very congested may not be a good idea, as it is going to make your heart work even harder . If you can loosen the phlegm, and cough some up, it would be better for you.

Then again, if you feel like it, a small round of light exercises may make you feel better. I have scheduled my exercises to every other day in order to let my old muscles rest.

If you are very ill, of course see a doctor, take your meds, and drink lots of non caffeinated fluids. It is not going to hurt a thing to lay off exercising a day or two.

I hope you get to feeling better. Be careful this does not go into an infection. I know you can not cure a cold, but un fortunately, there are treatments for pneumonia, so take are of your self.

I agree that it could be an infection..may be you need some antibiotics. However, I know any thing below 90% could cause organ failure, how ever, my doctor has told me that even when your O2 levels drop even 2 levels lower it could cause you to feel bad or some thing could be going on. Probably should see your Dr. hope you feel better soon!

what are you doing for your cold so it doesn't get worse?
i would think rest & lots of fluids would be better than more exercise.
i also take extra vitamin C & zinc in the winter to help boost my immune system.
my 02% can go up & down alot just in a normal day so i don't worry about it unless i am having a hard time breathing or it feels like something is settling in my chest.
i don't think anyone holds a constant 02%,,,it's rather normal to go up & down as we do different things isn't it?
even the weather can affect readings.
if you are worried maybe you should give your pcp a call & get checked.

I'm glad that BJ said that we should worry if it went to 88 and stayed there. Mine went to 82 the other day and I mentioned it to the nurse when she did the INR reading. She said that I should have gone to ER at once but it was fine a few hours later. What is one to believe? I've used up my ER time , in my opinion, between the leg swelling issue; the fall that led to much bleeding, the original pulmonary bilateral embolisms, on and on.

buickoreo...if it drops more when you move around then worry about it. It's probably the cold like everyone said.

But Cindy, sitting at 82 for hours is tsk tsk tsk. You shouldn't have done that :( Remember what Dennis said about your brain cells below 88. Not yelling at you dear lady, but, please, I know you are still on the rebound from your fall....don't do that again..please? We love seeing you here. Hugs~

Sorry for the takeover buick...

Promises is right Cindy. Don't do that. Get to the ER right away. Is dangerous to be below 90.

And buickoreo is normal to drop when ill. Just be careful and as I said don't go below 90 for too long. I would take it easy for a bit bud!

Best wishes all...

I sure wasn't clear about my oximeter reading - I was reacting to BJ saying that a drop below 88 is bad if it stays there but my reading of 82 changed within a minute or two and finally worked its way up to the 90's again.

However, I am not feeling well lately and I don't know if it is the disease progressing or if it is anxiety attacks that I often get before the holidays. Or both.

I am not exercising as much since - don't laugh- my exercise equipment is in the garage which is fine most of the year but not right now.

I'm so glad to have this board of people who can look at both sides of issues and make me feel that I am always helped here.

Hugs, Cindy

Listen, Cindy, we're going to have to call off holidays if you're going to insist on getting anxious about them. Unless you want to be responsible for that you're going to have to chill out. Think if the worst case scenario then let it go with all the what ifs. Make any preparations you need to and let the rest just happen. You really can't control everything anyway so give it up. Sit back and enjoy whatever happens good. O