To have oxygen who decides?

[tucknutt]

to have or not to have?

my dad is constantly out of breath wheezing rattling and has had good for years. Recently his lung collapsed prior to this he was admitted to hospital for heart attack. Previous to this

[stone-UK]

Hi

Oxygen may not be the answer, I use Oygen like many others and it doesn't do a great deal for breathlessness. It more to protect major organ.

Many lung conditions have a poor gas exchange hence the need for supplementary oxygen.

Is your father under the local respitory team, they can refer for any test to determine whether oxygen will be of any benefit.

Heart conditions are not always associated with oxygen desaturation.

[deedee5 in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks, Never knew this. need to read up a little more on lung conditions with poor gas exchange. I have yet to get this explained to me by docs.

[O2Trees]

Stone is correct - oxygen is not given for breathlessness, it's prescribed when oxygen blood saturation is below a certain point which then risks organ damage.

[deedee5 in reply to O2Trees]

Never knew this. Still not understanding. I am at rest with no oxygen and it is good, on the go it it will go down to 88-95 and the heat rate always goes up 75-125 up. If I put oxygen on sometimes when this happens I sneeze and get naseau. Are you saying it is protect my heart. Are you saying what Stone is saying about heart conditions, which I do not understand. I probably need to see a cardio doc. Thanks

[O2Trees in reply to deedee5]

Ok, to try to illustrate this, here's my situation with severe copd. My oxygen is between 92-93% at rest and on exertion - walking etc - it goes down to roughly 89-90%, my heart rate goes up similar to yours and I get very breathless at times. But my consultant is satisfied that with these figures i don't need oxygen. This is because 88% is generally considered the cut-off point, below which you risk organ damage. Above 88% is considered ok. (I will have oxygen when Im ill and my O2 sats go a lot lower.)

You don't say if you have a heart condition Deedee - Stone was replying to someone (his father) who had had a heart attack which was probably why he mentioned that.

[deedee5 in reply to O2Trees]

Thanks again. As far as I know it, I do not have a heart condition, but was told I was a high risk for AFIB. My GP is not much help in discussing my concerns. Lost 3 brother at early age 44 to 59 and a parent. Because I get a pain in chest when heart rate is up.I am nervous, all I get is emphysema , lungs hanging by thread. I am trying to find a goode cardio doc as we speak. You really made me feel better though. I eill worry a little less now.

[Billybob10]

Don't know if this will apply to your dad's case but I'm learning about how to breath correctly from a method called Buteyko.It's helping me a lot but I have IPF.Breathing in only through nose stops any rattling for me .Good luck.