low oximeter readings

[Tony6560]

I am kind of new to all of this and I hope someone can answer my questions. First of I am a 100% disabled Vietnam era veteran and in a electric wheel chair. I am a right leg amputee with a list of medical problems that seems to be a mile long. Here are some of those problems: diabetic on insulin, hepatitis B, Sarcoid diagnosed in 1973 by lung biopsy, factor 5 Leiden gene mutation, lose of use left leg due to diabetic neuropathy and atherosclerosis fibromyalgi with multiple ulcers that drain beyond belief, two heart attacks loss of sternum due to infection after heart surgery, depression, anxiety, PTSD, multiple blood clots in both legs, green field stint, fractures of my right femur x2 impact damage to right knee due to landing on the end of my stump, oh i forgot I also had a dual pectoral flaps to help close the area that was left by the removal of my sternum, I also have COPD with pneumonia in both lungs, sarcoid emphysema  and there is more but back to my main question I know have a flux between my oximeter readings of 83 to 90% I don't know when to put my oxygen on because this just know happening for the past 4 or 5 days my heart doctor told me to were my oxygen at night. when I check my meter I think it is going to be around 90% or so but it scares me know because it pops up with 80 to 84% I put my oxygen on for a bit and then it will read 85 to 87% and might hit 90 but just for a second or so and then back down. I don't know when I should were the oxygen or not could someone explain this meter to me so that I have a better understanding the doc seem to leave me in the dark oh I forgot I also have congestive heart failure. I don't know how to explain how I feel when this is going on I so know something hits me that something is not right ask me how I felt with the congestive heart failure and i can tell you this much I don't want to ever go through that again. I have been through that twice  and I think I would rather die than do that again because that is not being able to breath and what I am having now is like the veryveryveryvery beginning of the heart failure. I have actually coughed up just clear fluid going through the failure the paramedics that came to get me in the crash wagon said it was fluid in my lungs that i was coughing up. somebody help me with this understanding or what I should or should not do I use 2 liters of oxygen when breathing through the nasal cannula

[allmymarbles]

Given the readings on your oximeter you should be on oxygen at all times. The general rule is that any reading lower than 89% requires oxygen. You probably should raise the liters of oxygen high enough to achieve consistent readings of 90. Talk to your doctor about this.

I also have COPD. Although my condition is not as serious as yours, I am on oxygen at the present time, but am being weaned off it. My pulmonologist has given me a very interesting medication which may be responsible for the improvement. It is used for altitude sickness (acetazolamide). Ask about that too.

[Apollo1971]

Hi Tony, sorry to hear about your health issues i can understand how you feel. My mother has copd amongst other lung problems.
If you have pneumonia now, then being in hospital is certainly the best place to ensure you get the right medication to prevent lung scaring.
As for the oxygen, well my mom will wear it at night more so if she has picked up any infections because as you know, its a dam sight harder to breath. So rather than stress your heart more use the oxygen.
As for stats, well its never good to go below 90% for to long and when your a sleep your stats do fall hence the night time use. But if your losing oxygen from doing nothing then keep the oxygen on.
As you have a lot going on, i really think a doctor  should be looking at you a lot closer. Im sure or certainly and hope you have all the medication including nebs and inhaulers to help you breath??
A chest X-ray is also required to keep check of the fluid as that again is certainly somthing that will create a huge issue for you.
Sorry i cant help further,