My dh had those large swings in his blood pressure. My dh's blood pressure would go much higher and then drop like a rock an hour later . The oxygen level I believe at 79% is very, very low...I believe, if I remember right...I was told by hospice if his oxygen level got below 93 to put him on the oxygen.
Hopefully...there will be one of the nurses on here and can tell you more.
Jim--I only know a little but maybe it will help. First off, the level of activity will have strong affect on these readings. Most accurate after some quiet time (not sleep). Preferred BP range is low-mid 120s over lower 70s give or take. Pulse rate is the same as heart rate. Average is low 60s, at rest. The Oxygen % is the Oxygen in the blood--preferred is near/at 100. As we get older, and/or we have health issues our regular rates may vary from the norms, but should still be consistent.
To give you an idea, regarding the rastes you cited: The first set of entriesa look like my DH's did just after waking from a nap. Heart rate low and O2 down a little bit. In the next 2 entries the O2 level is fine, the heart rate is good to a little elevated, the BP seems a bit low--is there a med involved? Overall, these don't look too much out of kilter, but I'm by no means an expert. I gleaned most of this from DH's monitoring for CHF in the months before he passed, matching his readings to the preferred and to what was acceptable for his Dx. I hope this helps, but please ask your professionals for details specific to Kathryn.
Jim, I agree with JudithKB* and Carosi 2* that these vital signs seem within a reasonable range for your wife at this time and for all of the reasons that they have given. Unless there is something else going on that's unusual, such as falling, or a decrease in urine output, then I think that you can relax about these. How are you both doing otherwise?
Thank you all for the input. She has fallen a few times and she has had 5 TIAs also over the last month or so. She is under Hospice care at home and has been for 8 months. They recertified her for an addition 6 months in September and she is declining a what they consider a faster than normal pace. She is without a doubt in the final stage of her Alzheimer's and while she is for all purposes unable to speak and is totally incontinent she is still mobile at home. She spends her day walking around and round the living room and kitchen areas. When we go out she does have to use a wheel chair. I take her to Burger King every morning for a Bacon Egg and Cheese croissant and a diet coke which she mostly manages to eat. I have to feed it to her sometimes because she just can't handle getting it to her mouth a lot of the time afterwards I take her to Publix and weigh her on their scale because it has handles she can hold if I put her hands on them. I like to use the same scale every time. She has lost 90 pounds also. But all in all we still manage to at home together and she is safe.
One of the most difficult things to teach new paramedics is that while you take and record vital signs you MUST look at the bigger picture to understand if they are the cause of a problem, a reaction to a problem or really no problem at all.
The oxygen saturation of 79% is a concern . . . . BUT, how was she breathing at that moment? (slow? shallow? deep? gasping? etc) If she was hypoxic (oxygen deficit) you would expect to see the heart rate increase to compensate. (rate of ~90 to ~120) It is all so interdependent.
JimB, you are doing an awesome job of caring for Kathryn. Tears come when you speak of her and things you do for her. You give me inspiration. Thank you.
Oh, Jim. How long it's been for you! I am so far away from the time when we first came to Joan's that I can barely remember how stressful it was.. And then I'll see someone here at the retirement village that will have "that look" and it all comes back. As Mary has always said, there IS an "after." Hang in there.
M-MMAN, when her oxygen was 79% she was very tired and somewhat more confused but she was up and doing her normal walking also.
You know Briegull, I never really thought about it before, I can't believe it is coming up on seven years since Kathryn lost her job and five years since she was diagnosed and we actually knew what was wrong. That's so hard to believe even I am amazed that it has been that long. When Kathryn was diagnosed it was with moderately severe Alzheimer's Disease. I will never forget that day or those words. Since then I have been caregiver for both my Mother and Father and lost both of them. My Mother in July of 2008 and my Father in Feb. 2011 and had also my Knee replaced, plus I retired to take care of Kathryn. My life has changed so much since that day and until now I didn't even realize it.
Vickie, I'm just like every person on here just doing our best each day and hoping each time we do something we are doing the right thing and doing it to the best of our ability and then praying we are prepared for the next day.
The one thing I do know is that it would have been a lot harder if not for each and every person on here that post and answer questions that either solve problems or give support when we've needed it.
Anchor, Since the brain requires oxygen, anytime there isnt enough it malfunctions. So your description of more confusion (something probably only you could recognize) and fatigue are symptoms that would be expected.
The next question is WHY might it be low? The available posibilies and SOME causes include; 1. Low inspired oxygen (low respiratory rate, obstructions such as wheezing and low oxygen in the room such as CO poisoning) Most all of these seem unlikely except for the respiatory rate. Next time ask her to take some deep breaths and see if it improves. 2. Poor transfer of oxygen in the lungs (lung disease is generally the cause such as COPD or pneumonia) 3. Poor oxygen carrying capacity of the blood (anemia, heart issues related to poor circulation, slow pulse rate from inactivity or medications)
The next question to evaluate whether it is a problem, is to ask if the low O2 saturation CONTINUED? If it was a one time event and cured itself I wold not be worried. IF it stays low and symptoms get worse then that is something that needs evaluation.
You started by asking about vital signs. As an FYI - outside of an emergency situation, a single set of vitals is of less importance than the trends that develop over time and comparing them to the symptoms that are seen at that time. Like we know so well around here, it isnt about the numbers (MMSE?) really is all about the symptoms.