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I have severe hypoxemia which can fluctuate during the day and night. As far as I understand it, an oximeter is not an accurate measuring device for this condition. My lungs are badly scarred and my DLCO was 39% when I had my last breathing test. The reason is that although it shows how much oxygen is carried in your blood cells, it does not mean that that is the amount of oxygen that is utilized by your lungs. You might want to ask your doctor about this and to see if you are retaining C02.
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Following our correspondence earlier this year, while my pulmonary function tests improved when on Prednizone, after when I went off it they declined and stayed down (moderate restriction with severe gas exchange abnormality). I am now on 2L oxygen for exertion and sleep. Diagnosis is pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hyprtension and multifocal lung cancer.
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Thanks for your reply. Are you on oxygen? I have been working on understanding my Pulmonary function tests. My DLCO was 55% in April and 52% in December after my 6 weeks on Prednisone for pneumonitis. Mayo is treating my lung cancer, and heart issues, working on determining etiology as that impacts my lung cancer treatments.
I found following on Internet to be able to judge my values:
• Normal DLCO: Between 75% and 140% of the predicted value.
• Mildly reduced DLCO: 60% to 75% or the lower limit of normal (LLN) predicted value.
• Severely reduced DLCO: Less than 40% of the predicted value.