I was put on oxygen without a real diagnosis after my ABG was low. Then, my ABG was normal and I had to pay for my oxygen. Then I was admitted to the ER with oxygen at 74, they gave me prongs and brought it up to 83 and decided the machine was "broken" and sent me home. Finally I did a walk test and fell lower than 80% and got coverage. Sometimes doctors should forget about Occam's Razor because we don't ALL fit into the "simplest explanation" category.

Mine was in the upper 70's and was put on 4 liters of oxygen 24/7 and was given just a few months to live without a heart and double lung transplant and was put on IV Flolan in 2007. Five years later came off Flolan and on Letairis and no transplants . Now I have recently been put on 5 liters oxygen

I agree that you need a sleep study. Sleep apnea will certainly cause fatigue. I think you also need to have blood gas done. I am on 2 liters of oxygen 24/7. My oxygen percentage may register 96, but I am still dyspneic because my CO2 level is 73! Everything works in tandem. We’re very complex organisms. We can’t just look at one facet without looking at related factors. As far as insurance coverage is concerned, most go with the same standard required by Medicare: sPO2 at or below 88 during 6 minute walk test, but as mentioned by others, that criteria does not speak to what happens when you are sleeping.

A finger clip pulse oximeter should show oxygen above 88% at rest sitting. Below that may require oxygen. Also consider getting a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea that can reduce oxygen while sleeping, especially if you wake up with headaches. (Some CPAP machines for sleeping also can have connections for oxygen if needed.)

Hi Christine5, I was put on oxygen therapy 3 years ago my lowest oxygen levels were 75% thank God I was already in hospital cause that low of levels almost killed me I became incoherent for 8 days could not talk or feed my self. I could barely move. Now carry a oxygen meter to make sure I'm staying in safe range. With oxygen on and being active it should be between 95%-100% if I am up and moving around without oxygen I can drop my levels down into 80% not good. Ask your Pulmonologist about a 6 min walk test without oxygen and again with oxygen. That's how they will be able to determine if you will be a good candidate for oxygen therapy. I was diagnosed Terminal in jun of 2020, with hereditary severe PAH and right side heart failure with using 5 different meds and oxygen therapy I'm now considered stable. I was originally told 5 years but they didn't think I would have lived past a year. Now I know I will be around for many more years. Best wishes to you ❤️