My mom had COPD, and occasionally was hospitalized for pneumonia. I always knew the COPD would catch up with her. She was discharged from the hospital with oxygen and a home respiratory therapist. She was constantly SOB and it was getting worse, although she was satting around 95 on oxygen and 92 on room air. But despite the numbers she was still symptomatic and weak. Hmmm, what's going on here? Her doctor attributed it to COPD. Her RT attributed it COPD. Hell, I attributed it to COPD and was preparing myself for the worst. But why were her sats normal? I must admit I suspected she was malingering.........until she had a routine CBC. She has a history of angiodysplasia, and somewhere between her hospitalization and the CBC, she started bleeding internally. Her crit was 4. That's right, 4. Her doc immediately hospitalized her for blood transfusions, while I just sat there and ate crow. Holy Jesus no wonder she was SOB and weak.