Annz11, have you had a walk test to see if you need supplementary O2? Your theory is correct in that if your O2 saturation levels are low, your heart will work harder (beat faster) to try to get the O2 to your blood stream and muscles quicker. The problem with having chronically lo2 O2 sats is that eventually you do damage to the right heart area and develop pulmonary hypertension and you have brain damage because of O2 deprivation. You really don't want either of those things, so if you haven't had the walk test for O2, please ask your doc to do one quickly! Slowing down may not be the answer, but more O2 might be!

@A MyCOPDTeam Member I do not think your feelings are out of place as we worry and as such thoughts of seeing people swimming and under water has had a similar affect on me. Please make a effort to hydrate drink some water it is very important ! I have to be very mindful when I chew food swallow liquids as it could well get into the windpipe and that is a bad thing indeed. We entertain some things and they can alarm us best to face them head on ! Hugs!

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Annz11,
Please try to get an appointment with a pulmonologist as soon as you can … She / He will be your best doctor for COPD. Please try soon … Be at rest and be Peaceful.

You, quite possible. It all has to do with gas exchange. Those alveoli in your lungs are supposed to exchange CO2 for O2, and with emphysema, they lose their elasticity and can't do the job as well any more. What happens is that as you do something, you build up CO2 in your system because you don't blow it off.as you exhale. Your O2 sats stay right up there because you have plenty of O2, you just can't add any more to what you already have. It's sometimes called air stacking. The fix is to either continue what you're doing for as long as you can because you're not going to do any harm, even though you might think you're going to die. The other thing you can do is to slow down or stop and do your PLB to blow off the CO2 and then you can go again. A better way is to start doing PLB before you begin the activity and when you get SOB, slow down, continue to PLB and you should be fine. As for how accurate oximeters are, it depends. Some of the less expensive ones don't register changes very well and are hard to use if you're moving. I use a Nonin Go 2 Achieve, which is more expensive, but it is medically calibrated, registers changes quickly and accurately and can be used while you're moving. Normal range for people who don't have lung disease is 95 - 99.

@A MyCOPDTeam Member yes it is possible to have good sat readings and be SOB it has alot to do with co2 retention the o2 can not reach where it can be used !

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