viagra to the rescue?: About two weeks... - Lung Conditions C...

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viagra to the rescue?

bobwells profile image
13 Replies

About two weeks ago with my daytime unassisted SP O2 at 88-94% (4,500 feet above sea level) I went to bed with my O2 set at 2.5 LPM. Nothing remarkable, except that the following mornings I noticed a rapid 2 minute drop into the 70's (previously mid-80's over a period of about 5 minutes) and taking 20-30 minutes to come back up into the low 90's unassisted. Typically I awake in the 95-97 range and this was still the case. This deeper morning drop off gave me the idea that (1) my assisted O2 upon awakening was running a bit high and (2) my body was becoming lazy about making itself breathe as O2 was too available/plentiful. When I was originally sleep tested at 63% lows, with an 81% avg. my doctor prescribed 3 LPM. My O2 was 97-99% at spot checks which was not comfortable, and was also on pure O2 (99.8%/bottled), I had become settled at 2.5 LPM on my O2 generator (97% O2) for months.

I reduced my LPM to 2.25 for a couple of nights with about the same morning results. Dropping it again to 2.0 for two days and then 1.75 for two more. My morning drop off started to ease. Low 80's for about 15-20 minutes and back into comfortable low 90's. Two days later I dropped the LPM setting to 1.5. That resulted in (assisted O2) overnight spot checks still in the 92-94 range, and the morning drop off to mid-80's with about a 10 minute recovery to my normal lower 90's. Intuitively, and I'm asking for anyone to comment, it seems that too much O2 had "spoiled" my (bronchial/emphysema) damaged lungs and they were not "waking up" like they had been doing for months once I got out of bed (off the hose).

Last night, with my setting at 1.5, I awakened after three hours sleep with very short breath, but I tested at 93. Managing the anxiety was difficult. I was without a solution until I took a quarter of a viagra 200 mg tablet. I had used an eight to a quarter tablet to periodically boost my unassisted O2 when doing heavy lifting/long duration welding (with an air filtered hood/PAPR). My very shallow breathing started to ease about 15 minutes later and as I laid down with my 1.5 LPM, my depth of breath opened up and I have not had such wonderful easy breathing in nearly three years! Still assisted, I tested at 94-95% two more times during before I got out of bed. My drop off went only to the mid-80's and was back to 92-93% within 5 minutes. Any ideas out there? I've read where viagra was originally a pulmonary directed development, and have used it about 2 dozen times at about 50 mg with a good result of an added 5-8% to my unassisted O2 reads for 3 or 4 hours. Notably, I am still drawing air with that full breath feeling this morning 8 hours later. If you've had this experience or heard of anything like this, I'm very interested. Here in the USA, our health care system is so corrupted by greed, I don't even want to bring this latest event up with my doctor. I'll end up paying out another $140 US for the office visit, while I continue to pay my $498 a month " health insurance" bill. I can buy viagra overseas for a dollar a tablet (not $10 each here in the US). That's 25 cents a night or 560 doses at 50 mg at $140! Last year I spent nearly 11 thousand dollars on health care...and last night a 25 cent dose of viagra rocked my world. I'm very interested. Though I'm not a conventional medicine mentality and herbal oriented/Non GMO type, I'll compromise given continued results like this can be achieved.

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13 Replies
Billiejean_2 profile image
Billiejean_2

Very interesting ! As I've never taken Viagra, I can't really comment but anything that raises O2 sats is worth looking into. Have you googled any information on this ?

bobwells profile image
bobwells in reply toBilliejean_2

I know V was originally a pulmonary study. There are pros/cons, but few cons which are mostly "not effective" for breathing. Fine by me. I'm just about to take my next round as my O2 is now low 80's. There is lots to read out there. You can always try a small piece. It was originally made in a three pack of 50 mg when it was being designed for pulmonary usage.

Thanks for the message!

Justdoit2015 profile image
Justdoit2015

Hi, Viagra does help me breather a lot easier. I wrote a post on the subject about a year ago.

healthunlocked.com/blf/post...

bobwells profile image
bobwells in reply toJustdoit2015

I read your Cialis/Viagra post. The odd situation of a perfectly good Sp O2 (93%) and the suffocation sensation I was having could be so amazingly relieved. I was lucky to take the V when I did...but I'm hooked on the relief I received. Have used continued C or V usage, or had any diminishing results?

Thank You!

JP1954 profile image
JP1954

That is really interesting. As you quite rightly mention the drug companies can, and will, extort thousands in healthcare. This needs to be looked into fully and, dare I add, independently.

JP

bobwells profile image
bobwells in reply toJP1954

I think the odd part is that many medical opinions state that Viagra showed no real benefit...but, change it to a massively popular sex product and let the profits roll. Well, all I can say in my current situation is that I have not been able to breath so freely in three years. Wow! The day went really well up until 4:30 or so, but I put in a good day and my O2 did get a little too low at 79, but I could breath it up to 90 in a minute. Now, 8PM I've taken another quarter of a Viagra and am just now feeling my chest relax.

Healthcare as a means to reap profits is not sustainable in the long run. I say let the farmers start charging the doctors accordingly. You can live without a doctor for a lot longer than you can without food/water. Meanwhile, I'll buy my V for a dollar a tablet!

Thanks,

Bettz profile image
Bettz

First of all, your health care expenses are exorbitant - Obamacare was supposed to fix that - - -

I have United Health Care which includes Medicare - premium about $108 a month. My copay limit is $1000 and my deductible is $250 - most prescriptions are $10 copay. I went to a broker who found the best ins for me. I am happy with it. If you aren't old enough for Medicare, it can a problem. But you might see a broker who can find better ins for you.

One other thing, since I started taking Tramadol for my back, my breathing has been so much better - so Tramadol works for me like Viagra does for you. Thank God for medical miracles!

Billiejean_2 profile image
Billiejean_2 in reply toBettz

Hi Bettz, your reply shows how different people react to different drugs. I find Tramadol wonderful for pain and feelings of mild euphoria when taken at night. But next morning I feel nauseous and my breathing is bad. So no more Tramadol for me unfortunately. I expect it's the same with Viagra, so we won't all rush out and buy it just yet :)

bobwells profile image
bobwells in reply toBilliejean_2

No bad effect from the Viagra. Given the popularity of it, there should be plenty of comment on morning after negatives. I awoke this morning feeling really good. My O2 wasn't particularly higher that normal, but the ability to have fullness of breath through most of the day was fantastic! I will be certain to post any negatives I find. I've taken another 50 mg of Viagra and am off to bed! That just sounds funny.

Take good care!

bobwells profile image
bobwells in reply toBettz

I have an HSA 5000, so $498 a month, spend $5,000 out of pocket during my 12 month period and pay no more. I'm only 58 and make too much to get cheap healthcare. The downside to my plan is that it renews on my anniversary and there's another 5,000 out of pocket. The $498 must be paid on an ongoing basis. It is an $11,000 a year deal. There is a 2 million dollar annual cap should it ever result. My broker advised this coverage as it is really for seriously expensive medical events. $11k is a lot for the service I get, but the adjustments my providers must meet keeps the bills at about 10% of full boat billing costs (eg. blood work $1,200....cost $122). But the medical costs that are so inflated are the real problem. I rented an O2 machine...the unadjusted bill was $450, the adjustment made it $90...I bought a brand new identical machine for $490, delivered. There's a problem right there. That would be like asking a Doctor to make $15K monthly payments on their Mercedes! I bought a lightly used back up machine (identical) for $270. We must do what we can.

Thank you for your reply!

bobwells profile image
bobwells

I'm fascinated with the amount of (conflicting) Viagra/pulmonary information. Some of it odd. When a medical journal publishes that Viagra did not show a beneficial effect for pulmonary purposes...they should have been there last night. I could breath like I had no lung issue and the onset of relief was amazing.

Thanks!

AngieB72 profile image
AngieB72

I have pulmonary hypertension and viagra or sildenafil to give it's medical name is used to treat it. I am on 50mg 3 times a day. Luckily in U.K. we have our wonderful NHS so I don't have to pay for it but I know it is expensive.

It works by relaxing the walls of the blood vessels so more blood carrying oxygen can get through easier. It was initially trialled for angina patients when they noticed the interesting (!) side effect for male patients!!!!!!!

Mandy6513 profile image
Mandy6513

This is used by athletes, mountain climbers and even used with children and babies

abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id...

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