I have severe copd with hypoxia and doctors have told me that my emphysema is getting worse. When I don't any activity that involves spending much of my energy, my oxygen levels are at 98%. But when I start spending energy like long walks the oxygen level starts to drop like when a plane takes a nose dive and O2 levels go well below 85%. In the beginning I was using oxygen 24/7 but lately I feel that I don't need it any more as my nonin GO2 pulse oximeter sometimes show SpO2 of 98% and sometimes it show SpO2 level of 95% (no activity involved). My question is show I use O2 while I am inactive or should I use it as prescribed by my doctor.
Just to add another piece of information
I have panel of doctors that oversee my health, that is my care team includes 3 pcps, 1 pulmonologist and 1 cardiologist.
One of the pcp's performed oxywalk test and according to her my levels of O2 saturation do decline during activity i.e. below 85%, while the same test was performed the very next day by my pulmonologist and the SpO2 reading were normal i.e. 98%.
So you see I am confused, am I cured or this damn thing (copd) is playing a sadistic game with me.
P.S. My ABG (arterial blood gases) test results show very low O2 levels and high CO2 levels.
Please provide helpful insight