Wildly fluctuating O2 levels

That is weird. Possible air trapping or dynamic hyperinflation?

Hey Nmac, hope you are as well as you can be today, I have a Mitochondrial Myopathy and M.A.D.D., and know that any of my muscles whether skeletal or organs can be affected, my problem is my heart rate being high, even with meds, and just sitting I am at 100 BPM which is okay as it used to go up to between 140 and 150, so I get E.C.H.O.'s every one or two years to keep an eye on that heart muscle as it can't be a good thing for it to be so high all the time. But I too worry as to O2 and I hope you get to the bottom of this as it must be awful to deal with (and tiring which is already a challenge for Mito patients, but if your blood isn't being oxygenated enough I expect that can lead the body to become very sluggish, I may be wrong, but it sounds very tiring). So I hope you find out soon what is causing this problem and you can get the help you need for this, my O2 levels do get lower when I am ill but not to the depth you and others are dealing with, sending you hope.

Wow! This is interesting because I also deal with my heartrate getting super high, but oddly I go between bradycardia and tachycardia. Dr put me on beta blocker to see if it helps and so far my HR hasn't gotten abo e 117, but now Im dropping to 43. Just had another echo recently and wor holter monitor again prior to meds. During the times that I pushed the buttons it showed tachycardia with artifact, but I know its not artifact...its whatever is happening to my heart when I get these weird arrhythmia. Im finally being referred to neurologist and have an appointment in October. Hoping that the puzzle can find ally be put together. Im so tired....High HR feels like I've run a marathon, slow HR just makes me want to sleep. I desperately just want to feel good again and live life to the fullest. It has really been affecting my mental health at this point. Tired of Doctors saying "sorry, there's no cure and nothing more we can do".

I get the whole needing to know what's wrong and having an acknowledgement by a doctor that yes there is something going on. And sometimes the answers come and sometimes we don't.

With MiTo there as so many co morbid with so many symptoms that can match different things. I sleep a lot and am always exhausted, my sleep is rarely fulfilling, and I also have exercise intolerance (which now with hindsight makes so much sense as no matter what sport or exercise I wanted to do, I was just a complete failure at it, so now I know why). If I do anything I am literally asleep for days after and if I know I have an appointment coming up, I have to spread out my preparation and take it easy beforehand or otherwise I am exhausted before I even start.

That is quite the conundrum with your heart rates, while yes it is good that the tachycardia has bettered but the bradycardia is a little unsettling especially if you are veering from one to the other. I hope your neurologist is of help, mine isn't particularly good, but I just think she doesn't know what to do with me, but my metabolic consultant is very good, it's just I have to travel over 200kms from my home in County Cork to Dublin (which is a small trip if you are American but annoying for us), I am by the sea so am at a very southernly part of both the county and country.

Please reply to this any time and please let me know how you get on with your neurologist, I will be thinking of you. My name is Michelle by the way.

Sharing my Research! After the findings of hypoxia in May, I have been researching potential LOGICAL reasons. I was tested for Nocturnal hypoxia, but only had the 6 minute walking test for the day! How ridiculous is this? I purchased an O2 ring and it shows hypoxic episodes during the day! Watches are not medical grade but the O2 ring is considered medical grade. The medical community found that I have a PFO, but the surgeon suggests it is something else. After finding this PFO, the Pulmonologists basically stopped believing there COULD be something else! So... I researched alternatives.
Potential logical reasons are:
Parasites which I am requesting to be tested for, Chronic inflammation affects oxygen levels
Impairs oxygen absorption: Inflammation can damage lung tissue, including the small, delicate air sacs (alveoli) where gas exchange occurs. When these tissues become inflamed, scarred, or filled with fluid, it becomes harder for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream.
Poor circulation: Reduced circulation in the extremities where an oximeter is placed can affect its readings. If you are more active during the day.
Differing breathing patterns and lung function:
Diaphragm movement: Some people experience a slight decrease in oxygen saturation when lying down, as it can put pressure on the lungs. You might be getting the opposite effect. For example, sitting or moving around during the day could be affecting your diaphragm and breathing mechanics in a way that causes repeated drops, which then resolves when you are resting in a different position at night.
Electrolyte imbalances, especially with sodium and calcium, can affect the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. A poorly functioning heart can't deliver oxygenated blood efficiently to the body's tissues, leading to hypoxia.
After researching the Parasite issue, I will come back to this thread and let you all know if that was my reason.

I’ve been having readings of blood oxygen levels that are swing between 88 and 97 within a short time.
No one seems to be alarmed but me…right this very moment it’s 93%.
We’ll see what it is in a minute.
I’m using both my Apple Watch and a pulse oximeter.

Now, 2 min later, without moving it’s at 96%.

I’m concerned about the 88% reading…

@SusanEllen66
I am having trouble with my Apple watch oxygen reader. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you

I have wild swings at times. There can be many causes from cold or moist fingers to poor pulse oximeters. I sprung for a high grade pulse oximeter from Oxiline and seem to get more consistent readings.

@SusanEllen66 I have been having very erratic fluctuations in my sPO2 for almost a year. I have had it drop to 72 once and 79. Most of the time it fluctuates between 86 to 97. I’ve noticed it is affected by my position a lot. For example laying back on the couch, laying flat or even sometimes bending down or twisting to one side. I have had 6 emergency room visits, a 4 day hospital stay and seen numerous doctors. No one seems to be able to diagnose me. One doctor said maybe long haul Covid, one says I have atelectasis in my lungs that may contribute, at one point they said I had a possible lung clot, that now is not there…no definitive answers. I have sleep apnea and have been using oxygen therapy at night or when I lay down.
I am constantly fatigued and sometimes feel dizzy.
I am no further closer to a diagnosis than I was a year ago and still have the same symptoms, although I can function better now. Maybe since I’ve had the 02 supplementation…idk.

@wasserja thank you for the tip.
Make? Model? Does it download to your computer?
BTW following another comment today, the person running my pulmonary rehab program said (her opinion) Apple watches had the worst oximeters.