COPD & Emphysema Support Group

That was how I started out Katie. I had 2 liters just at night while sleeping. Eventually I had to go on daytime oxygen also... liters also. Noow I am on 3 liters at rest, four on exertion and 5 liters when I sleep. It just depends on where you are at in the progression of the disease. Two liters is not very much, but I know it is still scary to have to have it at all. Chin up, and don't panic, it is not the end of the world. I even know of a couple people, (jaznjams for one) who have actually weaned theirself off of oxygen. I also know that Sassyme, got off of it. Although she had surgery.(lung reduction)I think she still uses it with exercise though??? We'd have to ask her for certain. But good luck, and don't worry too much. JoAnn

Hi Katie!! Love your name. My little best
friend (dog) is name Katie.
I am on oxygen at night. I have been for about
five years. Two liters at night. The pulmonary did a sleep study, on me, and found
out that my oxygen saturations drop when I lie
down and go to sleep. My oxygen saturations are good during the day; unless I exert too
much. Using oxygen is not the end; it can
prolong your life. I was diagnosed in 1999.
I have made it almost ten years. My Dad and
both of his sisters died from Emphysema. My
Dad REFUSED to use oxygen. He had some "old
school" thoughts; that if you go on oxygen,
you are near the end. He told me every person
he knew that went on oxygen died a short time
later. That was true way way back, a long time
ago. Oxygen was the last stop efforts to help
patients. Now, it is realized that oxygen
therapy can enrich and prolong your life.
Example: My Dad's older sister used her
oxygen, like her doctor told her and lived to
almost 90. My Dad's younger sister would not
use oxygen, and lived to age 74. My Dad died
at 83.
Every single person who has COPD, loses lung
function at a different rate. Doctors try to
predict the rate of decline; and they are often
wrong. There are no hard and set rules.
I would rather use the oxygen and live longer;
than not use it; and have my body organs robbed of the oxygen they need. Good luck!!

Hi Katie
A liter is basically a US quart. At two liters, think of a half gallon milk jug being filled with oxygen every minute.
Oxygen is necessary,not addictive.Sometimes,as others have pointed out,it must be increased due to the progression of the disease leading to the impression that a person is addicted to it.Some never need any more than they start out on and some can reduce or do away with it depending on circumstance.I moved to an area lower in altitude than where I was and can be "off leash" quite a bit.
Our bodies need a given amount of oxygen to function properly.When the lungs are unable to provide this amount,air must be enriched for the impaired lungs to deliver the needed amount of oxygen.
Think of mountain climbers who at great altitudes nust use oxygen because of the thin air.The damage to our lungs makes it equivalent to us to living somewhere halfway up Mount Everest.
Have the best one you can!
Brian
"Breathe well...For a long time!"

Thanks for your response to my question....I am glad to hear that it is not addictive.....but JoAnn uses the expression "weaned off" oxygen which is confusing.......I raised the level to a "3" at night and kept the "2" during the day........thanks Brian.xoxoxoxo katie

Hi again Katie!
In my mind (or what left LOL) "weaned" is simply a term for getting off oxygen if it is no longer required for whatever reason.For myself when I went "off leash" after a day I would be more tired than usual so would use my oxygen.Now, unless I am having an "off" day I seldom use it during the day but still maintain good sats (saturation or the amount of oxygen in the blood rather than how much the blood can carry.As a rule,saturations below 90% indicate supplemental oxygen is required)
I still use it at night.Many use it only then or use a higher flow as we breathe more shallowly in our sleep.
Brian

thanks again Brian.......

Katie, I can't add much to Brian's answer as his explanation is one of the best I have heard for a newcomer to 02 use.

But I would like to add just this. Regarding the necessity and when to use oxygen. At 90% I go back on but I have been able to raise that level to 94% + by using the correct breathing to exchange the air in my lungs.

Instead of thinking "addictive" I think of it as my security blanket. Always there if I need it.

Great advice all.
Anna