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Wildly fluctuating O2 levels

Lung Health | Last Active: Jan 27 8:24pm | Replies (196)

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@kudzu Did you ever find out what is causing the O2 levels to drop? I have the exact same thing happening and I also have severe sleep apnea. My doctors don’t believe me about the oxygen levels. Years ago I went to the Heart Hospital because of shortness of breath and they found nothing. Recently they did a sleep study and said it was very bad. One doctor told me to check my O2 levels regularly, so I did. I woke up with a terrible headache, which is common for me, and my O2 level was in the 50s. I got my phone and recorded it from 66 to 90s. I was told to go to urgent care which I did and they didn’t believe me and said my machine was not accurate. I explained that the sleep clinic recorded very low levels too and she told me their machines were not accurate either. She told me that if my levels were that low I would die, which is my fear and why I don’t sleep. The emergency room nurse said I was a hypochondriac and sent me home. I got an appointment with my doctor and he agreed with her and canceled an overnight Oxygen study he had previously ordered which really sucks because now he doesn’t want to do anymore testing. I have a lot of issues and probably all related to no sleep and fluctuating O2 levels. I have lots of photos of low oxygen levels but that only confirmed to them that I am a hypochondriac, lol. My head hurts so bad at times that I can’t think straight and I suffer from confusion at times. Lots of problems sleeping even though I am extremely exhausted. I often worry that I will not wake up when I do sleep for a few minutes. I quit drinking because they said it could be the cause of my problems but I have not had a drop of alcohol for over 6-8 months and still have the exact same problems. I take blood pressure medicine but wonder if it was high because of the oxygen levels being off. I also have night terrors and often wake up to the sounds of explosions, gunshots inside my bedroom, bullets hitting my house, doors being smashed in and once my house broke in half, which was probably the most terrifying, lol. If I don’t wake up to an explosion it is usually to bring choked to death in my dream or me choking someone to death, but death is almost always the end result as I wake. I would really appreciate any insight you might have because I think all of my issues are related to a medical issue, I just don’t know what. I am not afraid of dying but would like to outlive my mother who needs me to survive.

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Replies to "@kudzu Did you ever find out what is causing the O2 levels to drop? I have..."

@jking11
Wow! I can relate to your fear and anxiety!
I too would get very scared when my readings would drop. I took a lot of pictures on my phone too.
Just like you though, the drs and staff would say the readings weren’t accurate.
I finally sought help from Mayo Clinic in Rochester Mn.
They did an overnight o2 study while I was using my CPAP and got reassuring levels, mostly in the 90’s.
I also did a VO2 max stress test there, and apparently the o2 levels under stress were alright. They measured at my forehead.
I finally decided that if I could exercise and exert, and Mayo didn’t find anything dire, that I was simply going to stop checking it for my own mental health.
I think the feeling was that it had something to do with the circulation in my fingers. Where are you measuring when you see the low levels?
If you are not already, try using a CPAP to see if that makes a difference. It did with me.
I’d also reach out immediately to a dr and get something to calm you down. I take Xanax as needed and it really helps me sleep. Sleeping pills did nothing. I was out for two hours then wide awake the rest of the night.
You wrote that your sleep study results were very bad. Was that the number of apnea events, the o2 levels, or both? They should have ordered some sort of treatment for you.
Also, do you exercise? That might tell you a lot. I found being able to work out not only reassuring but it helped my mood immensely.
I commend you for taking care of your mom. Also take care of yourself. Let us know what happens please.