Mostly my oxygen drops to the low seventies when I get up to walk ,however talking to my oxy nurse this often happens ,tip 1 before you start to get up take a few deep breaths and if you have a finger oxy reader wait until it picks up to at least mid 80s , and the same in the morning I sit on the edge of the bed and a few deep breaths in through my nose and breathing out through my mouth until I can see it’s in the mid 80s , I hope this helps you my friend.

Jayphoebe, why is your O2 so low in the mornings? If it's that low, your doc needs to know, and if you're on O2 for sleep, you quite likely need to be on significantly more. If you're not on O2 for sleep, you undoubtedly need it! Get a sleep test or at least an overnight oximetery test. Chronically low O2 saturation levels often leads to right heart failure and brain damage. Sleeping with chronically low O2 sats could be a real problem!

Yes when I walk any distance my oxygen level drops to about 81 from walking just 10 feet

Your body needs O2 to move, so any time you actually get up and move, it will require more O2 than if you're just sitting. If you use O2, whether you use it while seated or not, you need to put the O2 on or increase the flow when you get up to move. That will give you the additional O2 you need when you move about. You do need to check you O2 sats with your oximeter.

If you're feeling short of breath and your sats are good, don't do anything because more O2 won't make any difference. Slow down or stop what you're doing and do pursed lip breathing. That will help the sob. If you're sob and your sats are too low, turn the O2 up for the activity.

When you are tested for O2, the person doing the testing should determine whether you need O2 while sitting, when strolling and when really working hard, and at what liter flow for each of those activities. If you don't get direction regarding O2 usage for those three activities, and if the liter flow recommended for each of them isn't different (higher flow for greater exertion), call your doc. If your doc is not a pulmonologist, get a pulmonologist. Pulmonologists often don't know anything about home O2 equipment, but at least they understand that you need more O2 for greater activity.

DebbiBill, current research demonstrates that people with CO2 retention can keep their O2 sats significantly higher than 92 as long as they know where they are. The problems with CO2 retention and too much O2 have only been observed in the ER and not with home equipment or in the home. Just FYI

I agree with Jael. Call the Dr and let he or she know. It’s not good to go below 88. Call ASAP. Take care.