Posted by saturn on April 27, 2006, at 19:12:36
In reply to Re: pulse oximetry » saturn, posted by Glydin on April 26, 2006, at 22:41:21
> Sometimes.
>
> The compensatory higher HCT (more "trucks") can cause a more O2 rich blood flow thus a higher reading. COPD of any duration usually causes a lower than within normal limts pulse ox. There are a lot of variables and while a noninvasive method of measuring is great, an arterial blood gas in room air would be the real way to tell what's going on.Thanks Glydin,
My sleep doc is also a pulmonologist...so I'm going to ask him about some testing next week, though he's never suspected any lung problems. Might you happen to know if it would be sufficient to just request a PFT...would this give a definitive answer about my lung health...or would an ABG also be good to get? Anything else?
My pulse ox runs 97-99%, and my Hct is 48%. However a year ago it was only 42% and I wonder if this could be due to compensation for decreased lung function.
I'm probably being paranoid as I have good exercise tolerance, yet sometimes I feel a bit short of breath. I've had my heart checked and it's fine and I don't have any symptoms of asthma...so I've always been worried that my 7 years of heavy smoking--cigarretes and marijuana--may have caused some permanent damage. I guess I've got lots of guilt about that...but I've quit all smoking years ago and so HOPEFULLY everything is OK.
Thanks again for your feedback.
poster:saturn
thread:635960
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20060330/msgs/637602.html