My husbands pulse ox jumps around

So, do you feel you can relax a bit now? Remember, there is no "one size fits all" but home medical devices (and even pulse oximeters in many doctors' offices) are made that way. So people use them and get very worried... This used to be a big problem with home blood pressure monitors too - they sold the same size for a person weighing 100 pounds, and one weighing 300 - no way you would get an accurate fit for both of them! No most have more adjustabilty.
Sue

I just went to the doctor Monday the 6th of may
All of my blood work I reference to my blood cells that are about oxygen are within the good range and overall on most everything else now my oxygen level was 93 I was pretty shocked as it’s normally a lot higher in the past however the doctor never said a word about it and said I was stable overall and made no changes so then I go home and checked my oxygen till I’m crazy from it and it’s been bouncing from low 90s to mid 90s and depending on how I sit it does rise till around 96 sometimes, so although I’m concerned I’m obviously ok or they would of had me to go to the ER or etc, and the doctor is in a facility with many tools like mri and mini operation facility so I figure they wouldn’t let me out if they were thinking I’m in distress . I am slightly congested at Times from allergy’s so that could be a factor but who knows , also I have walked as much as 6 miles in a day within the last
6 weeks and it didn’t phase me. Hope that is some comfort.

There are so many things that can effect the Pulse Ox's..they're very temperamental....activity, cold hands, if you just walked from the Dr waiting room to the exam room. The Key number is 88%....do no want to be in the 88-89 range for any period of time. If you don't feel in distress, your color is good and you are breathing with ease, just slow down and take some deep slow breaths until it comes back up. If you can walk 6 miles in a day with little discomfort that is Great! I can just clear my throat and my O2 Sats will come up by 2 points. As we use to say in the ICU, yes, look at the numbers, but look at the patient too!

@goldfinger58 ,
Pulse oximeter readings will vary as others have mentioned. When the reading drop below 90%, doctors are concerned. I have heart failure, AFib, valve regurgitation, and pulmonary hypertension. My resting pulse oximeter reading is 95-97%, but it can drop with exertion or exercise to the mid 80's. My Cardiologist, EP, Pulmonologist, and Sleep Medicine doctors all tell me to keep it over 90%. Cardiology encourages me to keep exercising because exercise is good for the heart.

When I walk 3-5 miles my oxygen level averages 91%, but it can drop to the mid 80's. I have to adjust my activity level, and focus on correct breathing to bring it back up.

I developed heart issues in 2020-2021 and hypoxia after Covid. I was put on home oxygen. My heart issues and oxygen levels have improved thanks to my dedication to exercise.

I use the Lookee Tech Sleep Pro oximeter to monitor my oxygen levels because it is a continuous oximeter that graphs values over time, and it will vibrate or buzz when my oxygen drops below 90%.

So I am having issues that began with shortness of breath, low 02 fluctuating 84-92; then continued to get worse where I had to be put on O2 24/7 . One day I went without for 2 minutes and my o2 dropped to 69 and heart rate to 37 just kept dropping until I was able to get back on o2. Heart tests; lung tests, ct's mri etc show everything is fine. A few weeks later my sugar dropped to 57 and I was hospitalized a couple days why they worked at stabilizing it. Heart rate would drop into 40's out of the blue or skyrocket to 150 etc. Two months later and I no longer have to be on o2 24/7. But my o2 still fluctuates from 87 to 98 every 6 minutes or so day and night (less at night when lying down). Very fatigued most days with fogging brain. Cardiologist indicates all this is normal. (never was normal for me before) Pulmonologist is still searching for answers. My body seems to be adjusting to this being the norm. Any suggestions?? I am going to try some of the breathing exercises some have tried.

Yes, oximeters are "temperamental" and there is a difference between one and another for accuracy.
My O2 is great when I am sitting on my sofa, but drops with exertion, and during sleep so I have O2 prescription for sleep and exercise.
Finding an oximeter that provides accurate O2 levels when exercising is a challenge. I need one to be able to judge if my pulse dose portable oxygen is providing sufficient O2 to keep me in the safe range and at what setting since pulse dose setting and continuous flow settings are not the same.
I wonder if anyone has found a good oximeter for when one is moving. Manufacturers say one should be still to get an accurate reading. But if I stop my O2 starts coming up, so I can't judge the portable O2 as well as I would want.

With all due respect to your Cardiologist/Pulmonologist, you need to seek medical evaluation and treatment elsewhere. What you are describing is not normal! I would keep logs of your O2 Saturations and include the activity you're engaged in when you take the reading. When looking at the reading, give the pulse oximeter up to 30-40 seconds then record the reading. Do you have any lung issues or are you on inhalers?

He should go see a pulmonologist.

Ask your Pulmonologist if you need a SNFF test. Mine found that I had Paralysis of the right hemidiaphragm. Idiopathic and no real cure so I’m on O2 most of the time now.

Sorry, that’s SNIFF test.