Pete - the body has built in regulation. It's only going to move as much blood as your tissues need. If your SPO2 dropped below optimum or less, you would be gulping in air, trying to get it back up to a higher level. Your heart rate would also increase as the tissues called for more O2.
95 is a good SPO2. If it stays that way or most of the time, that is a good thing...

Pete,
I would not worry about it at all. As DennyGene said, your body self regulates to compensate for O2 need. You have a decent FEV1 compared to many.

My FEV1 six years was 36 and I'm sure its gotten worse over time.
My O2 sat varies from 90-92 during heavy workouts, to 94-96 just hanging around to 97/98 if I diaphram breath. My hanging around breathing rate is about 8 to 9 per minute. I get it down to 3.5/min
during my lung erercises. I've got great BP but a high heart rate
when I'm on my meds.

I think you are in pretty good shape.

best

Dale(tinster)

thanks for that Denny and Dale, I understand a little better now

Pete, my last trip to A and E was in the New Year. I was having an exacerbation on top of a chest infection. I couldnt catch my breath at all. When i got to the hospital they took my sats and it was 98%. At that time my fev1 was 59% and it was before I gave up smoking. Hence I didnt need added oxygen. Weird.

yeah, if there's one definite thing about this illness it's that no one is the same and really the numbers stats and sats, don't amount to a hill of beans

I find it very interesting how your numbers and others are different and not on oxygen? I wonder why I am on oxygen then? With simular numbers? Must be another reason doctors decide to put people on oxygen do you think?
But I do know that I get sob very fast if I even walk up the stairs or down the stairs where I live. I also get sob walking, maybe my oxygen goes down and it is not check at those times?
Just thinking it out.....thanks for you asking questions...it does help understand or not.
Ruthie

hi Ruthie , yeah that's what puzzled me , it just dosent seem to make sense does it , I pretty much never get sob , maybe just a bit in the morning if I have a cold ,
I think the bottom line is how you feel and NOT the stats

Pete- I think you hit the O2 stats smack on the head.
It's how you feel not how the oximeter on your finger says
you feel.

I've felt great since I fired my Lung Doc 6 years ago and only
recently bought an oximeter. Curious how the O2% changes
during the day and goes up and down depending upon what
I am doing. I still feel great with or without it. It does not dictate
my life.

Mine is 97 when I wake up (no meds) and 94 when I go to bed
full of meds. So being tired is also in the equation. Don't be afraid
to exercize.

Cheers,

dale(tinster)

hi Tinster , I am of the mind that the more exercise I do now whilst I can ,the longer I will stave off the effects of this disease

Hi All,
I came to this group a year ago when the Copd was effecting my life and I could not find anyone who understands it.
I have always been active and busy, as I sure many of have. Well it is harder and harder to do things even my housework is awful. I think I have been in denial. Have a problem admitting I am ill,or getting worse , but I am.
A few months ago I was put on the oxygen, not there's a pain in the butt. That hose really ticks me off.
I have came to this group off and on to read it and see what you discuss,but haven't responded for a year.
This is a great group with a lot to give one another,so much I could learn from you all.
When my Cobra ran out ,I could no longer health ins. My husband to a big pay cut 2 yrs ago, my health care comes from a Family health center here. They did get me the oxygen , but I hear you all talk about excercies you do and some of you are rehab programs
Maybe someone there could help me with that.
Wow , thinking about what I just wrote , sure seems like a poor me, boo-hoo entry .I am a happy person with a nice husband ,but nobody gets this Copd......No body wants to hear about, they all have their own issues.
This is my angry day, so any of you who read this and respond I will be very grateful to
You may hear from more because , I need someone who gets it
,and show me how to make the best of it.
Thank you all for being there for each other.

Man oh man ,I did not think I would get a response so quick
But there you were..feel better
I have a question, I do not have a oximeter and they cost quite a bit, so I would like to know ,how they benefit you and help you.
Should I have one and how would I use it in my daily life?

I don't have an oximeter and nor do I want one , my body is the only measure of wellness I need .. i would be worried about it sending me into a depression

That is one to think about it, depression is always nearby and we sure don't need to go there
thanks

Hi Krinkles-welcome
Afternoon Pete

Just back back from a nice 1 hour workout at the gym and ate a tastey
COPD healthy lunch with the Mrs.

To both of you- 6 years ago I could not walk up the stairs to our bedroom without stopping on the landing to catch my breath.
FEV1 of 37 six years ago. Probably worse now. I don't get tested.

I think my heart specialist motivated me the most to exercise. He wanted me at a minimum walk of 1/2 hr every day. Ha!! I couldn't walk 30 feet to get the mail.

Dr. James looked at me and said "Fine, walk to the mailbox and back. That's 60 feet and that's a start. Get the mail as many times as needed to complete 1/2 hour. Take as many rest periods as you need"

And THAT's how you begin exercise. A little bit, rest. A little bit, rest.
It doesn't have to be walking. Dr James told me exercise daily is cumulative. 5 small gigs at 6 times a day-ya got yer 30 minutes.

While yer watchin TV- hold a full soda can in each hand. Do arm curls or lift the cans above your head. Or hold both cans out straight for ten seconds. Repeat as often as you can. 15 times for each exercise is called a rep. You are burning calories.

Sitting in a chair listening to music? Lift one leg off the floor and point it straight out for ten seconds. Put that leg down and repeat with the other leg. 15 times and you've got a rep. You are burning calories.

Going upstairs for something? Go up the first 3 steps, walk back down and NOW walk to the top. Ya just did and exercise and burned some calories.

Long story short Krinkle and Pete- In less than 3 months I went from 30 feet breathless to 3 miles at a time, never short of breath. Now I'm doing heavy daily workouts in the hopes of being able to fly on a Jet using only my own lungs. Krinkles- real important to wear a dust mask doing house works.

People with COPD have been know to exercise and get off O2 24/7
as a result of getting their muscles in shape.

Doc Jimmy is a cool dude. "Exercise or die."

Dale the exercize/eat healthy harpie!!

Feline fine today.

A hour workout !!!!
I can hardly walk from one end of the house to the other.
The doc at the family health center said if I push myself I could end up with a stroke or heart attack.. But he never talks about the COPD
other than use you o2 and take this med.
My home has suffered terribly the last year, so I have just started the commercial exercise...tee-hee
You work during a commercial then rest till the next one At the end of the commercial I am huffing but feel that it makes me move.
Think that could lead to a whole hour of movement ?