what level oxygen sats is BAAAD?

[notknowledgeable]

I've been ill for over a week, and use an oxygen monitor, Sats are going up and down a bit, but overall, the dips are getting lower. I know if I ring the NHS they will say go to A and E, but the queue at the moment is well over 20 hours.... a local friend stuck her head in for me and asked.

So what levels can I ignore? What levels need an eye kept on them? What levels are considered an emergency?

I am immunocompromised, and generally come out of A and E with more infections than I go in with....

I am hoping I'll be ok to stay home until the GP opens again on Monday, but not sure.

I am reluctant to give the actual figures, because I will inevitably get people saying I am making a fuss about nothing, and that I am 20 minutes from deaths door! So just wondered as a ball park figure, what oxygen SATs level you would just go to bed, and what level would you be calling an ambulance?

Thank you

Below 90. 88 at a push

I have COPD and my normal range is 88-92. Much below that is not good, and my GP insisted on a hospital visit when it was hanging around 84.

Assuming you don’t have any lung disease or other issues I’d say if you go beneath 95 get seen .

Below 92 call an ambulance

When DC has struggled, we've been told below 95 you monitor and below 90 you seek help at the hospital.

Ok thank you. Thats helpful

When I had Covid, I was told to call 111 if my NHS24 went below 90 - and when they did go below 90, they sent an ambulance, and I was admitted to hospital.

I start to worry/check more often if it goes below 96 but wouldn't go to a and e at that stage, maybe 92 but depends on other symptoms.

I was told similar. But that was with covid which is known to cause low SATs. Without a diagnosis I’d think it’s sensible to seek advice under 95?

I took dh in below 92. But always take the highest reading. Which I couldn't get my head around.

BTS guidelines 96-98% in healthy adult. This will reduce in elderly 93% +acceptable. COPD target 88-92%

If you’re worried at least phone 111 and seek advice.

do you have inhalers etc to help things before seeking more help?

I had similar advice about seeking urgent help if they go under 90 when I had covid.

It's not immediately dangerous at that level (IIRC) but once it starts hovering low it can fall to dangerously low quite quickly. 85 or under needs urgent attention

111 told me that it depends on your normal score, but for a normal of 98+ then 92 is go to a&e and 93/94 is tolerate and watch.

It is critical to take the sats whilst sitting, not lying down, and to take it a few times and ignore lowest readings.

When df was in hospital they monitored closely when it was 95 and below, and gave oxygen when it fell below 90 to 92.

The wait in A&E is long but they still triage & treat emergencies promptly. If you're being starved of oxygen, then you're an emergency.

Oops wrong thread for a Mom of a heart kiss who's sats sit at 85

Op even if this thread has made you feel like you're ok, I be conscious that there's a downward trend and you have complex health needs already.
Are you home alone? Is there someone around who'd notice of you passed out of got too poorly to seem help?

Ds and I are asthmatic. I always work on 90-94, emergency GP. Under 90, A&E.

They normally take you straight through for breathing difficulties.

Are there any other local hospitals with less of a queue?

As above, below 95 is abnormal for a normal person with no long term lung/heart issues. I would go to A&E if your sats are below that at rest. Also if you are breathless and unable to talk in sentences without taking a breath in the middle I would go to A&E also regardless of what the sats machine says.

88-92 is where to seek help, and importantly if it is staying consistent.

Depends on person, their medical history and the current presentation. The "COPD means 88-92% is fine" are wrong. It depends on the COPD. But hey it's only real people who read the internet so let's give out advice willy nilly.

What's caused you to check your sats, @notknowledgeable ?

I have been unwell for a week, and am immunocompromised, so always need monitoring if I am unwell. Some flu type virus, not sure if I have actual flu, but maybe

It sounds like you know you need to seek medical help, only you know if it’s straight to A and E or trying to get OOH appointment.

but don’t take the risk when it comes to breathing.

Thanks for all your advice - just so you are not worrying about me, I have called a friend to come and take me to hospital. Hes still on shift at the moment, and will come as soon as he can, but I've told him not to leave his work unfinished. If I stop responding it is likely he has arrived and we have gone