I was diagnosed with COPD 3 plus years ago. I also lost a lung lobe to squamous cell lung cancer.
Found out a few weeks ago that I am not ex-hailing the carbon dioxide completely. Some is staying in my lungs causing me to be more short of breath than I used to be. I had an overnight O2 test, oxygen level went below 88% for at least 8 minutes, at one point it dropped down to 72%. I had a sleep study this past Monday, hope to have results by Friday.
It sounds like your docs are on top of things and will get you feeling better soon. We all need to be proactive with our health and be our own best friends in this aspect of our lives.
So far it looks like the new doc is on top of things, although he thinks I might not have emphysema, he is thinking maybe asthma? I do know my old doc was pretty much useless.
I'm in the same boat, my spirometry tests aren't 100 percent copd so it may be uncontrolled asthma. One lung has some scarring so I want a biopsy to be sure of what I am fighting. I hope to get a biopsy soon. Of course it could be a combo of the two.
I wish you all the best. Please let me know how you are doing.
I'm doing pretty well my breathing seems to have improved since I started using a CPAP.at night
Glad to hear that. Keep using that machine.
Thank you
Hope study results help! During my extensive hospital stay my oxygen level would drop into 70s with minimal activity - but when I would settle down and breath slowly - in through nostrils and out through mouth. It would slowly rise back into upper 80s. Then they increased my oxygen to 3.5 liters and it has helped. It's a scary feeling when you can't breathe properly! Hope they get you in track!!
My oxygen level is in the mid 90's when I am awake, it only drops when I am asleep. I sleep through it, completely unaware. I am not currently on supplemental oxygen. I am thinking that may be in me near future.
Dangerous to sleep without o2 in your case
I was like you that's why I had a sleep study done and found out that my sleep apnea was the little trouble maker
I'm the past I've used a Bi Pap which has Oxygen flowing through at the same time
Hi Katherine. Welcome to this site. Sounds like you've been through quite a bit between copd & lung cancer. Thank God you got through that. I'm glad your doctor is performing tests to determine what the next step is. Pls give us updates as you receive them. I'll be praying for you as you take one day at a time. Terri
Thank you. Yes, I will post updates as I get them.
Sounds alot like my situation w/ the exception of the cancer. I"m very severe copd for a decade. I was told that because I am also am oxygen retainer is the reason I am on a BPAP machine. Understand Trilogy is the same thing to help this condition. Good luck
Thank you.
Update: Got a call from drs office, I do have mild sleep apnea so they offered to write a script for a cpap machine. I asked if that is why my O2 level drops at night and was told that it could be. Then she said you can get the cpap now or wait until I see the dr to see what he wants to do. I see him next Wednesday. She also said that I also qualify for supplemental oxygen.
Okay, can I do both? If not, which one do I do?
I don't like the idea that I stop breathing at night, but the low O2 levels at night and the fact that the shortness of breath is getting worse. When I walk through my small house, when I speak more than a few words, my O2 level stays up there, but I have to stop to breath.
I don't know what to do.
In your case it sounds as if you'd benefit from the use of a Bipap . It works like a CPAP, but has Oxygen flowing through the tubes as well.
Try purse breathing and you also should be sleeping with probably 2 setting on an oxygen concentrator
I don't have supplemental oxygen. I do use pursed lips breathing during the day when I get short of breath.
I think I definitely should be on supplemental oxygen at night, but I also need a CPAP for the sleep apnea I am aware that stopping breathing at night and low oxygen are both issues that can kill me. That fact scares the hell out of me.
Again. Have a sleep study done and I almost definitely think you'd be a candidate for a Bipap ( with Oxygen flowing through the air as well rather than a CPAP.it is scary, but think you'll start feeling better once you're on the machine.Alot better rested as well . good luck .I was once in your shoes and can empathize with you, but things should start getting better for you.
The company that monitors the CPAP machine say it is doing what it is supposed to do, and that a BiPap isn't needed.
I think I would like to have the overnight O2 levels tested again just to be sure that the only issue was the sleep apnea. I think I will talk to my PC about it because I don't see the new pulmonologist until September.
Update: I do have mild emphysema, I couldn't get straight answers from my pulmonologist, so I went to my PC to get them.
Atta gal
Well I am on oxygen 24/7 But with Gods help taking one day at a time. I would like it if God would take me home, but I also know His will be done. I also have bone on bone in my right knee so I cannot do much at more. So my days get very long here on earth. But I know some day I will be with the Lord no more pain and or get oxygen. It just seems like days are pretty much the same. Well the whole story would be to long to type.
I think I understand. I,ve been knowing for a while now that Dialysis is in my near future. But since my husband died, I jut have this black cloud of dialysis over my head and it is just too overwhelming to think about the rest of my life on dialysis. I feel so bad every day exhausted snd always sleepy. I am alone now, can barely take care of myself, can, stand on my feet to cook. I,ts hard work to eat right as a disbetic. I don,t get hungry so it,s hard to eat even if I have food in the house. I' m just sooooo tired., Just tired of hanging around.
I do not have any idea, I am still getting around my COPD.
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