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Old 09-27-2010, 12:15 AM
AnnieB3 AnnieB3 is offline
Grand Magnate
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,306
15 yr Member
AnnieB3 AnnieB3 is offline
Grand Magnate
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,306
15 yr Member
Question O2 Saturation at night

Yeah, its me asking a question.

When I get up at night to go to the bathroom, my O2 saturation plummets. It has gone down as low as 87% but last night it went down to 85% and I could not breathe well. Even had a little chest pressure. It goes back up to 96% - 98% after a few minutes but sometimes it takes longer - like last night. Yes, I'll bring it up to a doctor at some point, although they already know about it and haven't done a damn thing yet (been a few years of that going on). Though they don't know about the 85% yet.

Has this happened to anyone else? Or, should I put it another way, has it happened to anyone who has an oximeter and then noticed it? It may be happening to some of you without you knowing about it. But do you ever get short of breath getting up at night? I know that muscles are weaker while we sleep. I simply cannot get a sufficient explanation from any of my doctors. Well, actually, no one has come up with even one explanation.

I've had a couple of overnight oximetry tests that showed nothing lower than 88%. My pulmy has declared 88% to be the magical cutoff for hypoxia or getting help. When it's 85% when you are awake, even if it's after getting up to pee, you'd think they might be concerned. I was. Supposedly my heart and lungs are fine. And since my neurologist didn't even bother with a clinical exam this last time, I "suppose" that my MG is fine. Wow, did you know that neuros are so smart that they can now tell how your MG is by simply looking at you? If they can, why can't they diagnose MG that way?

My suspicion is that it is somehow related to a circulatory issue. If you fill a "inflexible glass tube" with water and then "see saw" it back and forth, the water runs freely, right? But if you have a "flexible tube" artery that is not all the way open and go from a horizontal to a vertical position, wouldn't that affect the blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen? Sounds logical to me.

I'm super tired of doctoring and almost don't want to go through feeling like a ping-pong ball again, with doctors in charge of the mallets. I'd be grateful for any ideas you might have. Thanks!

Annie

Last edited by AnnieB3; 09-27-2010 at 08:24 AM.
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