Oxygen retainer

[CRONIFOMAD]

I was initially diagnosed with COPD five years ago and have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis in addition to asthma, and both central and obstructive sleep apnea. My blood oxygen is all over the place and at rest can go from 90% all the way up to 100%, but then drop to 75% if I exert myself too much. Other times when exerting myself it goes up instead of down! A carbon monoxide lung function test three years ago showed my lung function at 52%, and I was told I'd need oxygen if it dropped into the high 40s and that was likely in the following year or two, but then a repeat carbon monoxide breath test a year ago showed my lung function had increased back to 61% and I'm still not on oxygen. Possibly the 'longevity' supplements I've been on plus HIIT have stimulated my lung stem cells and I've grown new alveoli.

In early 2017 I started suffering from constant dysponea and was retaining CO2. My blood was acidic from excess carbon dioxide being converted to carbonic acid. I started changing my breathing patterns and breathed a lot more deeply to expel the CO2. I overdid it, to the surprise of my GP, and my blood went too alkaline from too little carbonic acid and I developed hypophosphateria. My GP said this normally only happens when put on assisted oxygen. Anyway I managed to retrain myself to breath faster rather than deeper, with occasional deep breaths, and my blood pH went back to normal (and the dysponea dissapeared).

Today I went in for a Covid-19 test and was talking to the nurse and she mentioned I may be an 'oxygen retainer'. I am familiar with the processes leading to carbon dioxide retention but have never heard of the term 'oxygen retainer' in regard to COPD. Could someone post a link to a site with a good explanation on the processes behind retaining oxygen, and what the ramifications are? Thanks.

[R2B_John Moderator]

You mentioned a lot in your post. May I ask for some clarification, please? When you say lung function at 52% and needing oxygen if it dropped into the 40's,,,,,are you perhaps referring to your DLCO, which is your diffusion of oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream?

[CRONIFOMAD in reply to R2B_John]

Sorry for my late reply. Just had a stent op. The lung function was the test where you sit in a cubicle and have one puff of carbon monoxide. They measure how much you expel and so can work out how much you absorb. As the lungs absorb carbon monoxide and oxygen at the same rate this shows how well your lungs are functioning.

[R2B_John Moderator in reply to CRONIFOMAD]

Yes,,,,that is one of the tests done in a full PFT. You are referring to testing for DLCO, or diffusion,,,,this tells how well the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream occur. The DLCO, combined with FEV1 and other markers they examine, gives an overall picture of that individuals lung function.

[vmrdoug]

I was diagnosed 6 years ago with both of your issues when in the hospital for pneumonia and other lung issues and was on oxygen for a year on exertion and my lung function was 32% since then my lung function has increased or remained constant every year to 38% but that is irrelevant. For medicare to pay for oxygen the only criteria is that your SAT drops to or below 88% during a 6 minute walk test on treadmill or around the Dr.'s office I had the oxygen taken away because I couldn't get my SAT that low