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Blood Oxygen Levels

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n1cxo320(at)salidaco.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

I have lived at about 7,500-ft for over 20-years  now so I am probably a bit more adapted to low levels of Ox then 'flat-landers'  but I thought to add one more data point to your discussion regarding oxygen  use.

  

 Tomorrow I will leave home airport, and climb  steadily until 13,500 to cross the continental divide in Colorado....after  crossing at Monarch Pass I will descend to 12,500 to cruise altitude for  another 45-minutes to my destination.

  

 Enroute at various altitudes I will use my rather  expensive blood oxygen meter to see what levels of ox I have in my system. At  home I usually see 86-89 % saturation. 

  

 I do have oxygen but will not be using it  tomorrow...I've made this trips many times so there's nothing new going on here.  I'll post results just to add to the discussion.

  

 John

   [quote][b]

Barry Chapman

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Posts: 11
Location: Lone Wolf, OK

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

John,



Us flat landers in the medical community would be ordering you home oxygen and likely portable oxygen if your pulse oximetry showed that low.  Normal for most adults is 92% or better.  If you are indeed that low on oxygen (adapted or not) think of what your brain is deprived of?  Oxygen!!  Low oxygen equates to decreased level of consciousness, slowed brain function, and even possible damage to the brain cells.  BTW, this low of pulse ox is usually seen in those with emphysema or COPD.   Also, don't let your AME know this, he'll ground you in a heartbeat.  Just my half of a nickels worth of input.



Barry Chapman, Family Nurse Practitioner

RV-9A wings in progress



Do not archive

---

_________________
Barry Chapman
RV-9A in progress
Tail complete, Wings here, Engine needs rebuilt

Gary.A.Sobek

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 217
Location: SoCAL USA

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

John:



Someone like me that lives near sea level C I would be falling asleep at that low of O2 level.  I have O2 and one of the old expensive blood oxygen meters.  I need O2 when flying for more than 2 hours above 9 C500.



Gary A. Sobek 

"My Sanity" RV-6 N157GS O-320 Hartzell C  

2 C159 + Flying Hours So. CA C USA 



From: n1cxo320(at)salidaco.com

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

Date: Tue C 16 Sep 2008 18:07:49 -0600



          I have lived at about 7 C500-ft for over 20-years  now so I am probably a bit more adapted to low levels of Ox then 'flat-landers'  but I thought to add one more data point to your discussion regarding oxygen  use.

  

 Tomorrow I will leave home airport C and climb  steadily until 13 C500 to cross the continental divide in Colorado....after  crossing at Monarch Pass I will descend to 12 C500 to cruise altitude for  another 45-minutes to my destination.

  

 Enroute at various altitudes I will use my rather  expensive blood oxygen meter to see what levels of ox I have in my system. At  home I usually see 86-89 % saturation. 

  

 I do have oxygen but will not be using it  tomorrow...I've made this trips many times so there's nothing new going on here.  I'll post results just to add to the discussion.

  

 John

    	  Quote: 	
		  http://www.matronics.com/Namatronics.com/contribution" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/cont================ 	
See how Windows Mobile brings your life together—at home C workmrt/direct/01/' target='_new'>See Now  [quote][b]

n395v

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 450

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:23 am Post subject: Re: Blood Oxygen Levels

 	  Barry Chapman wrote: 	
		  John,



Us flat landers in the medical community would be ordering you home oxygen and likely portable oxygen if your pulse oximetry showed that low.  Normal for most adults is 92% or better.  If you are indeed that low on oxygen (adapted or not) think of what your brain is deprived of?  Oxygen!!  Low oxygen equates to decreased level of consciousness, slowed brain function, and even possible damage to the brain cells.  BTW, this low of pulse ox is usually seen in those with emphysema or COPD.   Also, don't let your AME know this, he'll ground you in a heartbeat.  Just my half of a nickels worth of input.



Barry Chapman, Family Nurse Practitioner

RV-9A wings in progress



Do not archive

--- 	




Barry,



By now he has significantly elevated levels of 3DPG



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate



This allows his blood at lower Sats to oxygenate his tissue at the same rate you and I do in th 90+% range.



I would guess he would do fine at 15-16000' without O2.

_________________
Milt

Barry Chapman

Joined: 16 Apr 2008
Posts: 11
Location: Lone Wolf, OK

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:16 am Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

Agreed



 

 ---

_________________
Barry Chapman
RV-9A in progress
Tail complete, Wings here, Engine needs rebuilt

n395v

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 450

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:42 am Post subject: Re: Blood Oxygen Levels

As a flatlander when making extended trips in the mountains I will usually spend one or 2 nites at a 4000 ft elevation then one or 2 at 7000 feet and this helps immensely.



In the past I have tried taking acetazolamide for 2 weeks before the trip as it is supposed to enhance endogenous production of 3 dpg but I never really noticed any benefit.



After about 2 weeks you at altitude you have probably started increasing your supply of red blood cells which also helps.



I have never been a big fan of O2 sat monitors. I think it better for us low altitude types to either just use O2 above 10,000 or go through some process of acclimatization if we have the time to do so. Even then I wouldn't spend a lot of time above 12,000 without O2.



Maybe we have a Pulmonologist on the list who can chime in and shed a little more light on this.

_________________
Milt

sportav8r(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:36 am Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

John- what Barry said!



If you are fully-functional at a chronic arterial O2 sat of 80-anything, you're One Adapted Dude.  I suspect a faulty pulse ox.  Get yourself checked on a known-good medical-grade unit.  If that 86-89% value is real, you've got trouble under the hood, my friend.

 

Bill B



On Tue, Sep 16, 2008 at 9:21 PM, b e <bcrnfnp(at)sbcglobal.net (bcrnfnp(at)sbcglobal.net)> wrote:

[quote] 

 John,



Us flat landers in the medical community would be ordering you home oxygen and likely portable oxygen if your pulse oximetry showed that low.  Normal for most adults is 92% or better.  If you are indeed that low on oxygen (adapted or not) think of what your brain is deprived of?  Oxygen!!  Low oxygen equates to decreased level of consciousness, slowed brain function, and even possible damage to the brain cells.  BTW, this low of pulse ox is usually seen in those with emphysema or COPD.   Also, don't let your AME know this, he'll ground you in a heartbeat.  Just my half of a nickels worth of input.



Barry Chapman, Family Nurse Practitioner

RV-9A wings in progress



Do not archive

 

---

n1cxo320(at)salidaco.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:25 am Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

I made the flight I mentioned. Here's what I saw re  ox levels.

  

 On ground before starting...airport 7523 msl OX  level 90% saturadtion

  

 Climbing through 11,000 -ft msl OX level 84%  saturation.

  

 At 13,.500 crossing the continental divide near  Monarch Pass 79% saturation

  

 Level off at 12,500 to cruise westbound, OX level  80%

  

 After cruising 30 minutes at 12,500 OX level at  82%

  

 No adverse effect, no tiredness, mental confusion,  or any other abnormalties

  

 I might mention I am 78-years old.

  

 It was just a very nice flight.

  

 FWIW  

  

 John

   [quote][b]

sportav8r(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:10 am Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

Only one way to know for sure: Ol' John has to get an ABG drawn.  Maybe one at home elevation and one in an altitude chamber.



BB



On Wed, Sep 17, 2008 at 9:15 AM, b e <bcrnfnp(at)sbcglobal.net (bcrnfnp(at)sbcglobal.net)> wrote:

 [quote]Agreed

 

 

 ---

sportav8r(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

Speculating here, John, but even with a high hemoglobin level (which affects tissue delivery, but not partial pressure) and a right-shifted dissociation curve, you're not likely above 55 Torr PaO2 at that 79% pulse ox reading (if it's accurate), and that's hypoxemic impairment territory, IMO.  Why not don the oxygen cannula at 13,500 and increase your chances of being a Flying Octagenarian, one day?

 

Hope I can do at 78 what you are.  Will know in another 26 years.



Bill B



On Wed, Sep 17, 2008 at 2:19 PM, John Fasching <n1cxo320(at)salidaco.com (n1cxo320(at)salidaco.com)> wrote:

 [quote]       I made the flight I mentioned. Here's what I saw re  ox levels.

  

 On ground before starting...airport 7523 msl OX  level 90% saturadtion

  

 Climbing through 11,000 -ft msl OX level 84%  saturation.

  

 At 13,.500 crossing the continental divide near  Monarch Pass 79% saturation

  

 Level off at 12,500 to cruise westbound, OX level  80%

  

 After cruising 30 minutes at 12,500 OX level at  82%

  

 No adverse effect, no tiredness, mental confusion,  or any other abnormalties

  

 I might mention I am 78-years old.

  

 It was just a very nice flight.

  

 FWIW  

  

 John

    	  Quote: 	
		  

	


[b]

robertrv607(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:20 am Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

John: tha is wondefull, but  try this,  next time you are at or above 8,000 try using

 some  Oxigen.... you would not believe how really good you feel...

  

 is like this,  you have your Head sets" you have used for years you like them etc..

 now try a pair of the expense ones, not the $900,  but some where in between,

 the active cancellation type.... you can not believe, how you lived with out them..

 the difference is unbelieavable... I know I just bit the bullet, and got a pair...really

 something.... the same with Oxigen..

  

 bert



--- On Wed, 9/17/08, John Fasching <n1cxo320(at)salidaco.com> wrote:



  	  Quote: 	
		  From: John Fasching <n1cxo320(at)salidaco.com>

Subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 2:19 PM



    I made the flight I mentioned. Here's what I saw re ox levels.

  

 On ground before starting...airport 7523 msl OX level 90% saturadtion

  

 Climbing through 11,000 -ft msl OX level 84% saturation.

  

 At 13,.500 crossing the continental divide near Monarch Pass 79% saturation

  

 Level off at 12,500 to cruise westbound, OX level 80%

  

 After cruising 30 minutes at 12,500 OX level at 82%

  

 No adverse effect, no tiredness, mental confusion, or any other abnormalties

  

 I might mention I am 78-years old.

  

 It was just a very nice flight.

  

 FWIW  

  

 John

 	  Quote: 	
		  

	


	


           [quote][b]

sarg314(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: Blood Oxygen Levels

FWIW:

I'm not flying my 6A yet, but I frequently WORK at 10500. I live at 

2500ft and occasionally (maybe 10 times a year) go up to a telescope on 

a 10,500ft mountain top and stay there for a few days.  I've been doing 

this for 7 years.  The observatory keeps oxygen up there for whoever 

needs it.



What I find is that I am fine (pulse ox around 90 - 91, which is low) as 

long as I don't move or exert myself.  As soon as I get out of the car, 

climb stairs, move around, lug stuff out of a pickup truck into the 

building, I very quickly become fatigued, can't type straight on the 

computer, have trouble remembering things and soon get a whopping 

migraine headache.



The best fix I've found for it is to breathe O2 for 15 min. as soon as I 

get there.  Sit still for half an hour or so and breath O2 again for 15 

min.  Then I start working (I'm a computer nerd) and hit the O2 once an 

hour for the next few hours.  After that, I'm just tired - no headache. 

  The next day I feel OK.



I'm planning on getting a portable O2 system for my plane.

--

Tom Sargent, RV-6A - painting.

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