Oxygen Levels

I just laid down for a couple of hours this afternoon and couldn’t go to sleep. When I sit down or lay down, I start going numb and feel heaviness in my arms and legs and chest. It scares me and makes me feel like I’m dying.

I also felt like I wasn’t getting enough oxygen. I was breathing steady but kept feeling like I needed more air and would have to breathe more deeply. I checked my oxygen for a while. It was most often 97, but dropped as low as 93 and fluctuated back and forth between 95-97. Even after breathing deeply for a bit, it only went to 98.

This was all on the middle finger of my right hand. The middle finger on my left hand read about the same. Some of the other fingers read higher - 98-99.

Years ago before Lyme symptoms started, I told my PCP that I felt like I didn’t breathe right and felt like I didn’t get enough oxygen to my brain. I don’t remember her even responding.

When the doctor’s office checks mine, it’s usually 95-97. When my Lyme doctor’s assistant checked it, he had me take deep breaths to get it higher. Years ago when Lyme symptoms first started, an allergist was treating me. I remember him trying to get my oxygen levels up, too. It was like they only cared if I could get the level to 98 or 99. I can’t remember if I have ever seen 100.

What is your resting oxygen level like?

What should it be?

I think my level is usually 98-100. I just read that levels 94-99 or higher are considered normal.