Severe asthma flare

[krazy-girl]

Recently I had a relapse with my cold, bronchitis and asthma flare. What I don't understand is my stats were good at 99% but yet it hurt to breath and I was having breathlessness. I live in an assisted living and they wouldn't send me to the ER when I knew I needed help. So I had a friend drop me off. They took me in and gave me a 80 mgs shot of steroids and a breathing treatment and I was fine. So they sent me out with another 10 day bout of prednisone. They said that happens with copd and asthma, So why wouldn't they believe me? Does 99% mean I'm in not danger? If though I feel I am? I just don't understand! Please help me, by explaining!!!

[mrsmummy]

Hello krazy-girl . I am pleased you are okay now. It is very complicated but there is a big difference between serious breathlessness and low oxygen levels. One doesn't depend on the other. A high oxygen level does not mean you shouldn't seek help during an asthma flare because you certainly should and that needs making plain to someone where you live. Perhaps your GP could have a word with them if you explained? Why not ring the BLF helpline during office hours on 03000 030 555 so that you can speak to someone medically qualified?

[Hidden]

Basically, it's because asthma by itself only affects the main airways, not the tiny alveoli (presuming you have no obstructive or suppurative lung condition such as COPD or bronchiectasis.)

When you take a breath, the transfer of oxygen from the air you've breathed in takes place in the alveoli. Then it travels to the rest of your body. In people with asthma, although less air reaches the alveoli because the main airways are swollen & narrowed by inflammation, the alveoli are very efficient with very thin walls, so the transfer is still efficient & fast enough for the sats to potentially be unaffected. If an asthma attack lasts a long time, your sats would eventually plummet, but if you get help quickly, it's quite possible your sats would stay up. At least, that's my understanding of it. I'm not very good at explaining things though.

Peak flow is a much more reliable indicator of your asthma status than sats. Anyway, you should always go by how you feel, no matter what your statistics say. Trust your gut feeling.

[knitter]

My oxygen levels can be OK, but not as good as good as yours, but I can have real difficulty in breathing ....tight chest, narrowed airways , panic.

A health professional will often say ' you are ok' as your SATS are fine, but I know I am not.

As Hanne writes, peak flow reading for asthmatics is more reliable.

I really wish some health professionals and others would listen and understand this issue.

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

Me too, knitter! It seems unbelievable that some junior docs, and nurses, don't seem to have much understanding of how lungs work. Sats are much more relevant to copd, which they see so much of that some don't seem able to think beyond it. Another one I've heard, even when presenting with a pf 50% of my usual, is "but you're not wheezing!". We know lack of wheeze is actually a bad sign, why don't they? Of course when you're really breathless you're not in a position to argue.

[sassy59]

When Pete has had a bad chest infection that has seen him hospitalised in the past, his sats have been good yet he struggles to breathe.

There needs to be more awareness of your health problems where you live. As Hanne says it’s down to how you feel.

Take care xxxxxx

[Hacienda]

I record my Sats every Morning, I do Breathing Exercise, Salt Pipe then start my Sats, I can still be Breathless, but my Oxy Level is about 88, increasing to 92, that is what I record, I have always said to Nurses and Doc, that Oxygen and Breathlessness do NOT go hand in Hand. If you feel so unwell you must report to you GP, or better to Respiratory regardless of any reading. XX

[knitter in reply to Hacienda]

Hi hacienda, I too have told many nurses, doctors and paramedics about my oxygen levels and breathlessness. The message doesn't seem to be getting through!

[Hacienda in reply to knitter]

Yes, I understand, they tend to ignore what you ask, I think it's because there isn't an answer, so much more Research is needed, I know myself how I feel, so. I will listen to my own Body and do what I need to, IE, extra puff of inhaler when needed. Good luck to you Knitter. Xxx

[krazy-girl in reply to Hacienda]

What is a "salt pipe"?

[Hacienda in reply to krazy-girl]

Sorry, been unwell, so hadn't read your comment. I think by now Krazy-girl, there have been lots of Posts re Salt Pipe, only you will know if you need one. Good Luck xxx

[winfar]

So glad you asked this question as i am constantly saying i do not understand why my stats are good 95 and up but my breathing along with chest pains are bad and therefore you get told all ok, particularly when your blood pressure ok too and you are coughing up mucous all the time. I have pulmonary fibrosis and just have to get antibiotics when i know i have an infection, the telltale sign for me is raised temperature.

[greatauntali in reply to winfar]

I am in that position at the moment where my sats. are better than normal ( 92% ) but I am very breathless and have chest pains and coughing up mucous. I once mentioned to the nurses that I knew I had an infection because of my raised temperature and they just laughed .....

[jimbrnfld]

Hey Krazy-girl, I really am sorry to hear about your set back but sounds like your doing better. As far as me I have sever COPD, I have been taken to ER this exact time of year for last 5-6 years, not sure why that is? But it is. I increase my dose from 10mg to 40mg a day of prednisone (anti inflammatory) helps everytime plus, I do the breathing treatments every 4 hours with duo-ned medicine (Ipratropium Bromide 0.5 mg and Albuterol Sulfate 3 mg) along with oxygen 24 hours. For me its the steroids that helps me the most. It's the combination of everything that gets me back closer to normalcy at which time I work back down to 10 mg dailey that I've been doing for past few years. From my understanding that the treatments was helping you feel and do better that's always a good thing. As far as your sats reading it's comforting to know although I have to admit 99% is unbelievably good. Did you have an opportunity to compare with another device? because it is important to know and if someone isn't believing it then they need to check with their instrument. How often do you check your sats? I check mine all day long or at least when I move around I'll be fortunate to get 93%. Bottom line is you know when you aren't feeling right and also know what treatments are helping.The real good thing is that you do feel and breath better after..

Hope it's just a seasonale affect and get and stay better quickly....

[Foxy79]

Hi karazy -girl

Great news to hear you knew where and what it was as for the health as someone said and I know like others from experience I have copd respiratory type 2 asthma broncechtisis emphysema I'm on oxygen nebulizer and bipeb machine everyday with lots of tablets due to exberation everytime makes broncechtisis and copd worse leaves scarring which is not good even emphysema and asthma and with stireods is very bad for longer run it makes you blotting and weakens your bone like sharpener and pencil due course of the time it's complicated as its all about maintenance if you can maintenanit you will be good like others best you see your GP and consultant or reds nurse cause only you exactly know and your GP knows your health