How much oxygen percentage do we need in our bodies to stay alive

[sanlou26]

I know this is a strange question but my mum is really poorly and needs to go into hospital, which for her own reasons she has decided she doesn't want to do.  She was seen by the doctor today and only has a blood oxygen level of 60% which only rises slightly when she takes oxygen.  If her levels continue to drop as they have been doing when will her body not have enough? any ideas?

[Scarlett]

I was in hospital recently with pleurisy, which stopped me from breathing properly. My oxygen level was taken every hour or so. When it got up to the 90s I was considered okay. 60% does seem very low. She should go to hospital where she can be monitored properly, and have access to oxygen as and when she needs it.

[Impret-Sir]

In my work in a hospital operating theatre, I monitor patients undergoing surgery, and their oxygen saturation is one of the things we watch most closely. A saturation of anything below about 85%will set the alarms ringing on the machine, and we would start to worry (and take prompt action) at 80%.

[sanlou26]

Thanks for your thoughts.  Mum has end stages of lung disease and we are trying to care for her at home.  She refuses to go into hospital as she believes she will never come out.  Which I know is probably true but it doesn't make caring for her very easy!  She will not have any tests and she only reluctantly has the doctor to visit and we know she must feel pretty awful when she asks for him to come.  Her worst times are at night and she doesn't like being left on her own.  I hate the fact that she is so weak and keeps falling to sleep all the time when you are talking to her, even during eating.  She keeps telling me it's the oxygen that is making her fall to sleep so she is reluctant to take it.  I don't know where she gets her ideas from but she does make me laugh with them, altough i get frustrated that she always knows best.

[Scarlett]

Oh dear, this must be very distressing for you- and her. I can see totally why she doesn't want to go into hospital. But I don't think that oxygen makes you sleepy! At least, it never did me. Is she getting confused with gas, as you have to wear a mask to take it? Sounds like she just wants to have her own way, without too much fuss and medical intervention. Would she refuse the help of a health visitor or nurse?

You are doing a grand job anyway- all respect to you.

[Golem]

sanlou26, my sympathies for what must be a difficult time for you all.

Your second submission explains the 60% oxygen saturation level. It's measuring how much oxygen is attached to the blood cells in the circulatory system. So typically there can be something wrong with the respiratory system e.g. lungs or the circulatory system e.g. heart, that prevents oxygen being carried to the tissues. In emergency health care we give oxygen routinely to anyone with a saturation level less than 92% and anything less than 90% is considered serious. The lowest recording I've seen is 37% on an elderly lady, also with lung problems. At that point you see 'central cyanosis' - this is where not only the extremities suffer from lack of oxygen and begin to turn pale or bluish in colour, but so does the abdomen and chest. Take a look at your mother's fingertips and you might see what I mean. The brain also needs oxygen of course, and the falling asleep you see is a direct result of it not getting enough. Quite the opposite reason from the one your mother thinks! Has your doctor suggested oxygen through a nasal cannula? This isn't a mask, but a small two pronged tube that hooks over the ears and sits just below the nostrils on the upper lip. Typically it's used for patients with COPD (brochitis, emphysema) who need continuous oxygen at maybe 2 - 3 litres per minute and connects via a very lengthy tube so that the person can still move about the house.

[Golem]

Your comment that your mother is in 'end stages' of lung disease suggests that you realise that things are not likely to improve. Perhaps another talk with your doctor about the best ways to provide care and comfort for your mother at this time would be timely. The thought of leaving a place of familiarity and comfort is extremely distressing for someone in your mother's situation, but now is the time to try and have a frank and open discussion about what she wants when various difficulties arise because there will come a time when she won't be able to express herself so easily.

My answer to your query about 'when will her body not have enough' is - now. Hence the falling asleep I mentioned. But it is both a chronic (long-standing) and acute (immediate) situation; gradually parts of the body deal with decreasing oxygen levels, over years in many cases, but at some point they stop working altogether and this point is variable, we can't say that when the saturation level reaches 40% the heart stops, but it can't gone on forever with falling supplies.

I commend you in asking about a very difficult situation and wish you all the best in facing up to problems that are not easy to deal with.

[sanlou26]

Thanks for your support.  Events have overtaken us and after I last post my reply I had to make an emergency dash to my mum, who was taken unconscious into hospital.  There has been a little improvement but she has less than fifty percent chance of survival.  Needless to say we are spending as much time with her as we can and have just come home from the hospital after my night watch.  I'm supposed to be trying to sleep but can't. Thank you all for your advice. Sandra