“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
I'm so sorry Que, I don't know what it means medically but just want to offer hugs.
When C had RSV a few years ago they were worried when his O2 was below 97. I wonder if the flu turned into a secondary infection for your friend, maybe pneumonia?
If her 02 SATs were in the 70s that's pretty bad. It means her body isn't getting enough oxygen. Normal O2 SATs are the 90-100 range.
I'm sorry for your friend. Will say a prayer for her tonight.
So what does this mean, like is it bad in the sense that she's going to be there for awhile or bad that she'll be forever altered.
I've seen an 02 sat in the 70s while walking with a COPD patient but only for a brief moment. I am not an MD and can't say for sure what satting in the 70s for an extended period of time would do to a person.
I'm sure they got oxygen on her fast though. I'd try not to focus on those numbers because I'm sure they've stabilized her oxygen by now. I know it's hard but just try and wait to find out more.
Post by feistypants on Nov 9, 2014 22:50:29 GMT -5
There's a good chance that she'll be fine. When someone's oxygen levels are below 90, it's usually easily fixed with some supplementary oxygen. They can do that with either the little oxygen in her nose, with a mask if she needs more, or if they're really worried, a breathing tube down her throat temporarily until she's a little stronger.
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"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
Sats in the 70s aren't good. It means that she isn't able to take in enough oxygen and circulate it. The good news is that a hospital can help get that number back up to where it should be using a number of different methods.
If it makes you feel any better, my oxygen level was in the 60's when I had pneumonia and pleurisy, and it all came out okay in the end. Low oxygen levels can be due to a severe respiratory illness. I stayed in the hospital for four nights, with 30 minute checks by a nurse, hooked up to an IV, until I was well enough to go home.
That's why I'm here. I don't want to text anyone IRL or anything, I'd rather hash it out with my Internet strangers.
Depending on the medical history of the patient we like to see O2 sats above 90-95.
Unfortunately rates in the 70s are not good BUT if they were like this for a short time period there is a good chance that she will come out fit with no lasting effects. (I have had patients come out of rates in the low 60s/high 50s be ok as long as treatment was not delayed too long.
If there is anything that you need hun let me know. Your not that far from me, and if you need to get your friend anything if she's in the area I can get it to her too.
When K was in the hospital the first time, his SAT levels dropped into the 70s. They were usually in the 80s overnight without oxygen, but were staying in the low 90s with. The 70s was WITH oxygen, so we freaked.
They needed him to cough, so they did pulmonary massage and once he coughed, his numbers came back up. Those were the scariest few minutes of my life.
They're talking about the percent of hemoglobin that has oxygen molecules attached to it. Normal arterial blood saturation is above 90; venous blood has a saturation of 75%. So I am sorry to say that yes, your friends oxygen saturation level was very low.
It doesn't necessarily mean she's had any damage from it; how long she was this way and her hemoglobin level will determine that. Children with cyanotic congenital heart defects are often walking around with saturations in the 70's every day.