Low saturation level?

davidwattsjr · Sep 2, 2003

Many thanks for all the helpful answers you all provide.

I have moderately severe aortic insufficiency. Diagnosed about 5 months ago. Currently with a cardiologist who's following things for me. We have a six month echo scheduled in about a month.

I probably have some symptoms as I am sometimes short of breath and occasionally light-headed.

I told my cardiologist (via his nurse) about the following. He didn't think it was much of an issue. I'm not sure I agree - but thought I'd see if any of you have dealt with this.

My family and I were at a little science and health museum in Houston last week. They had two pulse-oximeters that you could check your O2 saturation levels with. Informative for kids I guess.

My wife and kids tended to get readings in the mid to upper nineties.

My readings were mid to upper 80's.

Hmmmm.... I tried it several times and never really got above 90.

Cardiologist said probably nothing - maybe your capillaries (which are used in determing O2 saturation by the pulse-oximeters) don't refill as fast as normal.

Anybody else have insight?

Many thanks in advance.

David Watts Jr.

Ross · Sep 2, 2003

Anything below 92 is unacceptable. I deal with this everyday. I'm on oxygen 24/7 and when I even so much as walk around, my sats drop to around 84. Let me sit in a chair for a couple of minutes and I pop back up to 93-94. I think I'd be checking with a Pulmonologist about what you've discovered. Grant you, some of it is from the regurg, but there may be more going on then meets the eye.

Nancy · Sep 2, 2003

Hi David-

Before you panic too much, consider the fact that the pulse-ox might not have been in the best shape in the first place. It isn't really for medical use, just for general interest. There are all kinds of people and lots of kids using it. Makes me wonder if the thing was calibrated.

With your current heart problems, it's probably to be expected that from time to time, you would have low sats. If your heart isn't functioning well, then it can't pump the oxygen rich blood fast enough. And you were probably walking around the museum quite a bit.

Just take it a little easy until your echo next month. I wouldn't worry too much about it, your doc isn't. Just be careful. Don't run any 4 minute miles.

Best wishes,

bvdr · Sep 2, 2003

Another thing that can cause a faulty reading is a cold finger.

At Duke they had pulse oximetry machines periodically stationed in the hallways so we could check our 02 sats when we felt short of breath. When I would start feeling short of breathe I was usually 88-90. Walking a bit further and I'd be mid-eighties. Pausing for just a minute was all I needed to be back in the low 90's. I found it interesting.

I doubt that you will easily be dissuaded that there isn't a connection to your heart problem. Just tuck that information away and at the right time it might be helpful in dating when symptoms started occuring.

Ross · Sep 2, 2003

Another reason why your doc isn't to worried is that he probably expects that it's going to be off until you get fixed. I wouldn't worry about it, but I'd darn sure mention it to my PCP on the next visit. Maybe he could have you walk around with one of his machines and see if the results are similiar.

MelissaM · Sep 2, 2003

It seems like many doctor's office's, ERs, etc, have about a zillion of those little machines sitting around. Why don't you walk yourself into somewhere that looks nice and ask to stick your finger in one of the machines? Seems like it might just be out of the ordinary enough to catch someone off-guard and have them let you do it. I know that dropping by my local doctor's office unannounced has often paid dividends. Sure beats not knowing & waiting. ..

Melissa