If you are like some of us, you may not have enough working lungs left to diffuse the O2 and CO2. So our "peak" is now something less than optimum. Athough all people are different, if your saturation is running 94-95 at rest then it most likely will stay above 88 with mild temporary exertion.
Using oxygen to supplement this is problematic, as you can develop CO2 retention and possible hypercapnia if LPM is too high : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CO%E2%82%82_retention
My "normal" is 92-93 at rest with 3.5 LPM O2.

Take care,
Dennis

I don.t understand it either dogman. My normal sat, at rest is 98-99, and with exercise it goes down tom 90 or above. I use 1.5 lpm 24/7. I asked my lung doctor if I was retaining more co2 because of the high number and he said no, my co2 was 30, and I am getting such a high reading because I am on the oxygen all the time. I am in severe copd end stage, and reading some of the other folks comments, I would think mine would be in the 90's. So I guess I am ok as long as I do not retain anymore co2, and my sat can not go up much higher. They want my o2 to be on 2lpm when I walk or exercise, but I forget to change it and seem to be ok. It might be my oxmeter is messed up also...He is the profesional, so he says I am ok, it just does not make sense.

I don't understand the oxygen thing at all but I do know that high elevation greatly affect my oxygen levels. You live way way up there Dogman, could that be a contributor.

It's the CO2 buildup. If your oximeter is higher than usual or you have a normal reading & you feel dizzy, weak & SOB, you could have a CO2 build up & need to do the pursed lipped breathing. I've found that breathing out on a harmonica is helpful, but pretending you're doing a PFT, when they tell you to keep blowing until you swear to yourself "there is nothing else coming out & I 'm going to keel? That helps!!!!

Debbie...

I hear blowing up balloons also helps - 'course what you do with them once they are all blown could be another matter entirely! :o)

I couldn't no more blow a balloon up that travel to the moon:(:(

I am on o2 only at night right now (unless I drop real low during day)...........my o2 is rarely in the 90's....using running 85-87............I take it almost every hour.

Some days I am real SOB, other days, not so bad...........just never know...and can change during the course of the day:(

I wish I could understand the Wiki link better.......but its all gobbly-goop to me:(:(

One dumb Bear here:(

Deb -
Unless your doctor saysotherwise, your O2 saturation should never drop to 88 or below. That level of O2 saturation causes organ degeneration and damage. It's strongly recommended that your O2 remain at 90 or above all the time. Here are two links, one being the levels and their meanings, the second being more technical:
http://www.amperordirect.com/pc/help-pulse-oximeter/z-interpreting-results.html
http://www.copd-alert.com/OximetryPG.pdf
Either way, I'd be seeing my pulomonolgist ASAP for an explanation as to the SPO2 levels you are seeing. For most, they are considered dangerous...


Dennis

Dennis.............I WISH I could see a pulomonolgist.........but with no insurance they won't even let me in the door for under $350:(:(

Last try to I tried to see one.........little guy from India..............all he did was keep asking me......"How you gonna pay how you gonna pay".........I was so humiliated I cried (literally)......he went on to tell me I needed some test and HE said I couldn't pay for them (how would HE know this? ).....................well I paid him his $350 and cried and cussed all the way out of his office................never to return!!........Yes I made a scene!!!

(Live in a real small town - not too many doc's available:(

I do know that my levels are not good...........even my regular doc (who is just a NP) is concerned........as I am................and I do get on my concentrator during the day when it gets real low:(

Deb -
I'm sorry you can't see a pulmonologist. You may want ti ask your NP the next time about oxygen 24/7. It may keep yor SPO2 at 90 or above so you can keep your body as oxygenated as possible.

Dennis

Thanks again Dennis.............I saw my NP last Thursday and I didn't have to ask him..............LOL......when my o2 was 84 in his office and my "deep breaths" only brought it up to 88 he recommended I use my oxygen during the day...........he also suggest that I go back on the steroids..........but gave me a sample of the Advair instead, cause I have such a hard time on the side effects of the steroids.....for me, they are so much worse than the COPD:(:(:(

Problem is the cost of the Advair:(

Just seems I am caught in the donut hole of life...........but sumptin will give here soon.................I'm sure of it:):)