Emphysema

[Joujou9]

Hello I know I'm asking a lot of questions but I do not know anything about this disease because I'm new to it. I want to ask when I was diagnosed copd the oxygen level was 98% but I feel short of breath. Do I need oxygen if it is 98%? Does low lung function make the oxygen level drop or has nothing to do with it? because i didnt test my lung function

[hypercat54]

No you don't. Oxygen isn't given to help you breathe better (though it can have this effect), but to protect your other organs. If your sats go regularly under 90% and stay there for a while then you might need it. With sats (oxygen levels) like yours you are a long way from this. x

[Joujou9 in reply to hypercat54]

Thank you

[hypercat54 in reply to Joujou9]

You are welcome. There is lots of info on this site so have a look. Google reputable sites if you need to but beware of other ones as you can go from a mild headache to dead in 3 clicks! x

[Joujou9 in reply to hypercat54]

I've diagnosed with ct scan week ago and the dr told me is an early stage and the oxygene level was 98% but i dont know why i have a shortness of breath while sitting

[hypercat54 in reply to Joujou9]

Ask your doctor? x

[2greys in reply to Joujou9]

Anxiety can make you short of breath and perhaps because you have been diagnosed you are conscious/more aware of your breathing. You should still mention it to your GP though.

[Joujou9 in reply to 2greys]

Thank you I will talk to my doctor but as you said i think of anxiety and always think of my breathing

[barbs47]

Hi Joujou unfortunately oxygen doesn’t get rid of breathlessness. With stats of 98% you don’t need oxygen. I get extremely breathless at times but my stats will be 94/96%. Probably the best thing to help you when you are breathless is what is known as “pursed lip breathing”. To do this breath in through your nose to the count of 2 and blow out through pursed lips (as if you’re blowing a whistle) to the count of 4. If you put a search in google - pursed lip breathing you will find videos showing how to do it. Hope this helps Barbs x