I have never been on oxigen other than in hospital or in an ambulance. One reason Oxygen does not sit well with Amioderone .
My breathing is worstening - Not like a COPD flare or even an Asthma flare. I also have dyspnea and I think that is worstening..
My sats improved some years after I stopped smoking. usually 94 but lower at nigh time.
Most of today been 92 0r 93, last night 90 - I did a sleep test which lasted 3 hours, average 90with trips as low as 84 - That happened earlier today but just for a short while.
My 02 is lower in a flare up,but that just a part of the time - Hard breathing for me if far more of a problem than a COPD flare up.
My question is - my breathink mostly not wheezy most of the time, but with not much exertion.
My question is how low to sats have to go, or how bad breathing is. before oxygen comes in the picture - That is one thing I really don't want.
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Ern007
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I am surprised no one answered to you here on this forum Ern 🤷 I would imagine if your oxygen sats would drop to a danger level where you would really struggle to breath, oxygen would be needed! Hopefully others will be able to answer that question for you Ern! 🙏🥰 And definitely talk to your doctor urgently tomorrow Ern please 🙏❤️
I don't recall having Dyspnea in Winter, I am gonna check on my record when it was diagnosed, I know it was very bad in Corfu about 5 years ago - was very humid, 😀
before I was on oxygen I was frightened of it. I’ve got a concentrator now,it’s really useful if we go shopping or for a short walk,which I need to keep my muscles useful.
I was concerned what people would think at first,now I’ve got over that.
I’ve got a wheeled walker which I use outside,it helps my walking, I have a chronic back problem,along with my lung issues it helps me greatly.
So when I go out I use the walker,the oxygen concentrator fits nicely in the basket of the walker.me complete with nasal cannula.
When I go for a walk,people treat me in different ways, either scuttle past or they say hello in a *nice* way. I just try to carry on,sometimes better than others.
I hope you have a reasonable day tomorrow.
The constant change in weather is playing havoc with my lungs.
Regardless of you disability seen or unseen, we shouldn't treat people differently! I don't care really as to me they are people in my community or town! I think People with disabilities are so great with improvising so they can cope 👌🥰😁
I have a great respect for people with disabilities! Sad fact is when life's quality is greatly diminished by lack of financial or medical resources!
Example:
My Step Mum was so full of life, now she is bedridden and in a nursing home!
She's never out of her bed 🙄 which to me is unacceptable!
To assist her to take part in nursing home life needs to be addressed!
Only her daughters can change that!
It really greatly frustrates me!
She lives in Wuppertal Germany and sadly I am so far away! Otherwise I would speak up for her 👍
With COPD they say oxygen should be between 88 and 91 . The oxygen is not to help your breathing but to protect your vital organs from lack of oxygen or these could shut down I.e. heart ,kidneys liver etc.i am now in oxygen 24/7 and must admit I am having difficulty accepting it. I have to go to dentist today first time out in 9 months already in anxious state and dreading it. Also new dentist who doesn't know me. .I also hope I don't get stared at. I akso have problem carrying cylinder as find even the small one heavy . I've dosed myself up with steroids and Lorazapam. Praying it all goes well. XxS😱🙏
My oxygen at the moment is 89/91 some days and 91/92 other days, I have been down this road before, oygen to me Sheila wouldmean a medication change, I just hope Dr Pulls has ideas other than oxygen.
hi Ern for me my oxy sats dropped when I wasn’t even aware… it was comments for family saying my lips look blue that prompted me to ask the consultant to check it out. She was surprised when carrying out the 6 minute walk test to find despite me not being terribly breathless my sats were plummeting. Since then I’ve been on ambulatory oxygen and checked to see I’m not a co2 retainer etc. it’s not always obvious to the consultant when you are sitting in a chair in his consultancy room than you may need extra help. I’d suggest you get an appointment and air your concerns. Good luck and embrace the oxygen if that’s an option … my quality of life is so much better for it.
With me I used to have bad COPD flare ups. for some reason rare now but my breathing in some ways is worse. I can be OK one minute and struggling the next, Las night was not that good
I can't help with your questions Ern. (Thank goodness from a purely selfish point of view.) I hope you get some answers soon, though it sounds as if your GP or consultant might be the best person to give you authoritative answers. I hope you can avoid oxygen for a good long while yet. xxx Chris
while I was in hospital 3 months ago with Aspergillosis and COPD I was on 24/7 oxygen, my target sats were 88-92 and if the level went up above 92 the O2 level was reduced until the stats dropped back to 92. I was weaned off the 24/7 oxygen and after 6 weeks to stabilise I had an oxygen assessment at home. The oxygen nurse had me walking around the garden with and with out oxygen and I’m now on ambulatory oxygen. The cylinders are a bit of a pain but at least I can do a lot more with the oxygen on. The nurse explained it’s nothing to do with breathlessness it’s to ensure that my oxygen levels don’t drop too dangerously low levels to the extent that organ damage can start to occur, and treat it as any other medication
Sorry to read that you are not feeling so well and that your Dyspnoea is increasing. Not so nice is it ?
So a couple of things,
Breathing and breathlessness is affected by a few things, our physical health, our psychological condition, and how essentially how fit we are, the weather ( barometric pressure ) and how well we metabolise oxygen. Large muscle groups use a lot of oxygen.
Often oxygen doesn’t help with breathlessness very much… low sats and breathlessness are two separate things. Respiratory physiology is mightily complex.
What to do ?
Yes do discuss when you see your GP on Tuesday. Below 88 sats isn’t helpful for you.
An oxygen assessment, as others have said is an easy test by the specialist home oxygen service. It will check your 02 levels on exertion and your C02 levels too with a small ear prick. If you need an assessment it will happen quite quickly and then if you require 02 , a prescription will be set up quickly too
I wonder Ern, have you attended a Pulmonary Rehab course recently ? That will help you get fitter if you are able to be fitter.
Finally I saw needing supplementary oxygen a real sign that things were getting a lot worse though I have to say after 8 years of using it I have found it very helpful and it has helped me keep my major organs in better shape. Without it I wouldn’t be here for sure.
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