Noticed over the past few days that even though im getting enough air in my lungs, I'm getting little oxygen. Ventolin helps but I need a fair bit before I feel any benefit. Peak flow isn't too low, about 70%.
can anyone relate?
Noticed over the past few days that even though im getting enough air in my lungs, I'm getting little oxygen. Ventolin helps but I need a fair bit before I feel any benefit. Peak flow isn't too low, about 70%.
can anyone relate?
Just curious do you have a at home nebulizer? I've found that in your situation doing a nebulizer twice a day, morning and evening, until you feel like you are breathing normal (or as normal as you can) has been the best solution. If you don't have an at home neb you should ask your doctor about possibly getting one as it cuts down on emergency visits.
What do you mean by 'getting enough air but not getting anough oxygen'? Do you mean that even though your chest doesnt feel tight you feel like youre not getting enough air? or do you mean your breathing feels fie but your oxygen sats are low? If its the latter then definately get yourself checked out as cardiac issues can make your oxygen levels drop. If the former, i believe this is called air hunger, and is quite common in asthmatics. You might feel more comfortable if you take your reliever at regular intervals, or if your plan allows for it, increasing your preventor. If not, and the issue persists then id go see your GP, they might be able to up your preventor/laba or it might be time for some/more pred. When i have had really bad air hunger in hospital they've given me a low dose of diazepm - but i suspect that can only be done in a hospital setting where your breathing can be monitored!
limplungs- its very uncommon for people to have nebulizers at home in the UK, and often even when people do have them they are only for 'while waiting for an ambulance' as many UK consultants feel that homenebs are dangerous!
Yes sorry I wasn't clear and couldn't really describe it ...I meant that my chest doesn't feel tight but I feel I'm not getting enough air, ie the lack of air is the only symptom. I don't usually wheeze anyway so a tight chest (and sometimes a cough) are my only symptoms usually, I have enough trouble at the gps because of this without not having cough or tight chest either!!!
I have been using my reliever more regularly to try and prevent it getting worse as when it does happen I'm needing 15-20 puffs to stop it.unfortunately I'm on the max preventer I have flexibility to use.