Blood oxygen levels of 90 - is the NHS being crap here?

Have just relayed this to GP husband who is astounded that you were sent home. There is nothing that a GP could do to help in this situation as it is so severe - you need to be in hospital. He would categorise this as a failed discharge and complain to the hospital if you were to appear in his surgery. That said, he’s had everything from a heart attack to a broken shoulder batted back to him from our local A&E recently, so God knows what’s happening out there.

It can't hide objective observations. There is an inherent bias towards 'white health' - medical guides talk about going pale, which isn't necessarily a given. Nobody thought that Sats probes might be inaccurate for people with different skin tones, etc. However, somebody sick will be objectively sick.

I nursed plenty of people in HDU who were chatty and friendly, reading newspapers, chatting to friends on the phone. They were still very sick, objectively.

You can sit there and engage with health staff, smile etc, it doesnt mean that no one is going to see you as ill if your bp, heart rate, breathing, other tests are not right.

Not sure I entirely agree. It is a matter of how ill and whether deteriorating, which putting a brave face on may disguise. The results may be the clinically same but as they do not know your behavioural norm in comparison.

Its not down playing, as another poster sets out there are a number of involuntary reactions and presentations that will be part of assessment.

OP could have sat there as I said with 'dressing gown of doom' presentation, but her results wouldnt have been different, unless people are suggesting she started faking the breathing, or started faking gasping etc etc

You can sit there and engage with health staff, smile etc, it doesnt mean that no one is going to see you as ill if your bp, heart rate, breathing, other tests are not right.

I think it’s really unfair to blame the NHS and then say you were “masking”. They made a clinical judgement that you were ok, how were they to know you were “masking”? You were happy enough to take yourself to A&E so I’m confused as to why once there you’d downplay your symptoms?

Maybe try some breathing exercises to increase your blood oxygen level, get a home monitor. If there is no underlying problem breathing better may help.

I think this isn't about masking. It's about the overall picture. The nurses and doctors will have been observing your respiratory rate, your rhythm of breathing, depth of breathing, whether your chest expanded evenly, your colour, whether you could speak in full sentences, whether you could breathe in a relaxed posture or needed to splint your chest, or sit forward, etc.

They would have checked your blood pressure, your heart rate, your temperature.

All of those things combined has reassured them that despite a low SPO2 reading, you were otherwise well.

If you don't feel well, and are worried, you should return.

Gosh MrsA well done for advocating and yes surprised he wasn't taken more seriously with that presentation. It's all crazy in hospitals at the moment isn't it. I had an all night sit in a and E recently and I think unless people have seen it it is hard to believe.

Well I wasn't sure of the diagnosis but I knew he was really ill as he was breathing very fast and shallow, looked blue, had a heart rate that was sky high and was sweaty but didn't have a temperature. And he said that he felt like he was dying which I thought was something of a red flag as he's not normally over dramatic. He'd had covid some weeks before but recovered well and then very suddenly got worse again and I knew that fitted with a possible blood clot.

Bless you OP, it’s very scary when you have something that you know to be dangerous and 999 worthy and yet you’re discharged from hospital?

Do you suffer with healthy anxiety? Not saying that from a judgmental place, just it is easier to disbelieve medical professionals in that case. + having a life limiting illness like cirrhosis may be making you more health anxious.

Are you feeling very unwell in yourself? It sounds as if you are. Maybe call 111 and explain if it would help you feel reassured?

Wishing you all the best & WELL DONE for your sobriety, huge accomplishment.

I don't know what area you are in OP but it does seem tough at the moment. I have a bad sinus infection that was causing severe pain in my face, couldn't see a Dr 2 days in a row, then given appointment with nurse who couldn't do anything. Then sent to the pharmacy who can now apparently prescribe, except no appointments available this week. Told I can go to another pharmacy but when you don't drive and are in pain that isn't very easy!

I wish I had insisted it was urgent when the receptionist did the whole 'we are only seeing urgent ailments', mental note to be more forceful in the future.

I’m aware she may be changing the details slightly. I was just explaining to the poster I quoted why the pp thought OP has liver cancer.

She could just be changing details slightly to avoid being identified

Can you take someone with you who can help you advocate OP? If you go again?

OP posted she had liver cancer then edited the post to say she had liver disease. Then in a later post said cirrhosis.

first job many years ago after graduating as an engineer was as a design engineer for a manufacturer of medical instruments, my area of expertise was sphygmomanometers - blood pressure meters (in fact I have my name on a couple of patents on aspects of them).

Just like pulse oximeters they are plagued with accuracy by the way they make an imperfect external "connection" to the patient.

With a sphygmomanometer, even with the right cuff, perfectly fitted you can be +/- 2 to 5 mmHg each end depending on the patients physiology and operator skill.

Pulse oximeters likewise can be influenced by skin tone / density and so are not 100% accurate.

90% is not emergency territory, it might warrant further investigation if the physician suspects a sinister cause, into the 80's of concern, 70's immediately very worrying etc...

@MrsAvocet Gosh I'm so pleased you didn't give up.

What made you sure it wasn't a chest infection? I was misdiagnosed as having a PE last year and told it was a chest infection and now each time my asthma "goes to my chest" or I have a sore leg I am so anxious it could be a PE and is missed. I have several risk factors but they always.seem to assume I'm fine due to age 🙄.

I see what you meant by masking in later posts OP

But you can present your symptoms in a manner which is ok, its then for them to see what the symptoms are by testing and taking note of what they are

Theres no need for a dressing gown of doom presentation to say you're ill, that would be performative.

The guidelines say to seek advice, you did seek advice and they have reviewed you and sent you home, it now needs follow up by the GP with referrals presumably to the right departments, presumably about this possible lung issue.

But A+E as others have said is for accident and emergency, so they're not going to keep you there, or admit you to another ward if theres no medical need for it.

not a doctor but I am a mum to a NICU baby who had breathing issues, and it was quite common for her to be in the 90s. When she had a chest infection recently it was back in the 90s and we were sent home with antibiotics. When the o2 sat level was in the 80s they were concerned. I hope you are feeling better/getting the help you need.

But you weren’t ’faking being ok’. You had taken yourself to A+E. Where I assume they did some tests, the results of which can’t be faked.

Sorry OP this sounds awful

Could you purchase a small Sats probe for occasional checking over the weekend ?

Get some rest , eat a little and sleep as you need to

When you feel up to it - please take the time to write down your exact symptoms and sats results , in full - exactly how you feel and what you've been going through

Take that to GP Monday and let them read it

Seems like you need a full assessment, not just snap shot recordings which are quite inaccurate at best

And as you obviously know your own body well - if things are not good , you feel worse , have any chest pain , shortness of breath , pain /redness /swelling in calf or anything else troubling please call 111 or go back to AE

Good luck OP💐

Hey OP

I think you should keep on seeking help. The whole way you’ve written your posts is apologetic and I understand why but you need and deserve proper medical attention.