I think it's something or other like the Co2 that people store. Now I have recently had my doc change hes DX so I'm not really part of the COPD team, but I know my o2 numbers are usually around 97. I believe the issue your referring to is that some people with the disease also have bodies that somehow store co2. There is of course a danger in having your oxygen supply turned up too high which can cause oxygen acidosis but if you are off the oxygen, or are on the correct amount of oxygen, and are not of the type who store Co2 then no, your O2 numbers can not be too high. Your mid 90's numbers seem quite good. Then it would seem likely you are somewhat out of shape. Also your psychological situation can suck the energy out of you too. If you are depressed you may not have the energy to get out of bed if it is bad enough, and that includes people who have no lung disease too. Depression can really kick your arse if you don't mind my saying, but you would have to be the judge of that for yourself.

After an exacerbation it is really tough to get back to where you were prior to it. It takes me 2-3 weeks and even then I never make it back to where I was. Each exacerbation I've had has taken a little more lung capacity away. Just part of the disease.
As far as CO2 retention goes, an ABG test will show the potential for CO2 retention by the PaCO2 reading. There is contention as to what is the cause of the dyspnea in a high O2 environment. IMO it is unlikely that CO2 retention unless you are running levels over what was prescribed:http://lungfoundation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/lungnet_news_november_2009_web-1.pdf


Hugs,
Dennis

Thanks. Dr. has me on 2lt at night and as needed during the day. It is tough trying to bounce back.

like dennis said, every time i have an exacerbation it seems to take me down a notch from where i was before.
i don't know much about CO2 retaining, my DLCO said i had "mild air trapping",but my pulm said i wasn't a C02 retainer.
also, dennis had a link once about C02 doesn't show on our Sp02, didn't you dennis?

i really don`t understand why so many people are always concerned about their " numbers. " the only time i ever know my " number " is when i see my doctor and he puts that thing on my finger, it usually comes up at about 96. other than that, i just try to live my life the best i can. i have been on oxygen 24/7 since 2012. he told me to put my machine on 2 and not to increase the number without consulting him first, because increasing the number " just because " might put more oxygen into my lungs than i need , causing problems. so, that`s what i did, i took him at his word because HE IS THE DOCTOR! he never once told me to keep track of my " numbers. " so when i see people saying.." i was at 96 when i was sitting and went down to 95 when i got up and down to 92 when i did the dishes and then back up to 94 when i was done and then back down to 91 when i walked outside. " is that because their doctor told them to keep track of this? does it change anything to know this? if not, then what is the point? all i know is that this disease sucks! not being able to breathe sucks! i don`t need a " finger thing " to tell me when it`s hard to breathe, i can pretty much tell.... WHEN I CAN`T BREATHE! when i am doing something and get short of breathe, i ASSUME my " numbers " are probably down. i stop what i`m doing { not much of a choice } do some pursed lip breathing until i`m back to my " normal " bad breathing, which i would ASSUME means my " numbers " went back up.if knowing the " numbers " could actually prevent something bad from happening, then it would make sense to want to know. so if that is the case, and i have been missing something all these years, will someone please let me know. if not, then having this nose hose hanging off my face 24 hours a day, is enough of a " reminder " that i have copd! breathe in.....breathe out......

Yes, oxyman, there are several of us in this group who "don't do numbers." We just go by how we feel - when to stop when to go. Based on what I've read in this group, some daily? measuring/testing is necessary for some

So far my Dr. hasn't required this from me. There's a limit on how much I want to have whirling around in my head. Tracking those numbers, for me, would give me a terrible headache. But I'll adjust if/when I have to.

All I know is once my copd took effect I went straight down hill. I was on 02 just to exercise and sitting I didn't need that. That change in a week on 02 24/7. I'm at 4 lpm resting and crank it up when I take a walk. It dose not matter how much I crank it up my 02 level goes in the tank in the 50's and 60's. I don't have any congestion or labor breathing, can take deep breaths. When I walk and it's nice enough to go outside I take a 20 minute walk around a small park. I stop about every 5 minutes to recoop about 3 minutes or so to get at least back up in the 70's. I will have shortness of breath at these times and a heart rate around 130. When I get back to the house I sit for about 10 to 15 minutes and feel good. I just cannot keep my 02 levels up. Took my meter now just sitting here typing and it reads 83%. I feel fine !!!! The nurse at the va clinic answered some questions for me. I have a problem with my gas blood exchange......dah no kidding. I need to find a better pulm doc since the one I have does not communicate well with me. Anyone out ther have this situation I have????? Bob

navbob. see... this is exactly what i`m talking about! you just wrote about how your " numbers " were going up and down depending on what you were doing. so? what good did it do to know that! what difference did it make in your breathing ? none! it seems like you do the same thing i do when i get out of breath...stop until you can breathe better. you don`t need that finger thing to know to do that! i STILL don`t get it! { you might want to think twice before " cranking it up ," since this is exactly what my doctor told me NOT to do....just sayin` " breathe in....breathe out.....

OK oxyman I will ignore my meter and see how it goes. Basically your saying out of sight out of mind. I agree a hose up your nose 24/7 is enough of a reminder I have a disease, and it does suck........Bob

navbob. i wasn`t trying to be a smart***! it`s just that i see so many meter readers on this site that i thought maybe they really knew something that i didn`t. that maybe if i knew my " numbers " that i could actually have an easier time of breathing when i HAVE to do something...like walking through the parking lot, going to the food store with the portable oxygen bag sliding off my shoulder while i`m trying to keep the nose hose from ripping off my ears and slicing my nostrils before i can get to a shopping cart to lean on for awhile to get my breath back before i even TRY to walk down the aisle. HA! but now i understand....IT DOESN`T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE! it`s just that people have different ways of COPING with this disease. i get it! if knowing the " numbers " makes it easier to get through the day dealing with this crappy disease....that`s cool. for me... every time i`m walking through my house, and my nose hose tube gets snagged on something { pretty often } i just scream at the top of my LUNGS, and BREAK something! HA! " whatever floats your boat! " right? ...breathe in.....breathe out.....

Oxyman....I think its good to keep track of oyxgen levels. There are times when it needs to be turned up. 2 liters may be good for sitting or low activity but walking, shopping, showering, exercising all cause my levels to drop and I find that I can do much better when I turn it up to 3 liters. My oximeter lets me know when I need to adjust the setting.

I knew what you meant oxyman, I wasn't trying to rattle your cage. I can see that everyone is truly different in not only dealing and managing this disease but how it affects you. This is also not just a physical but deeply a mind game with yourself. I read how people have 02 levels of 96% and above but a tough time breathing. I breathe ok until my levels drop into the 60 and 50 range. I mean sure sometimes I'm at 90 but mostly 80's and upper 70's and fine. I do have to stop constantly looking at the oximeter , I agree it doesn't change the disease for me. Breathe in breathe out and will go forward trying to appreciate this gift of life the best that I can.

oxyman, your description of the nose hose is hilarious. i can so relate. and this disease definitely sucks.

Oxyman -
I run my cannula hose inside of my shirt and let it come out at my side between my shirt and trousers. Then I loop it once around my belt. When I get hung up, the hose tightens around my belt instead of my face. Takes a mite to get used to, but better then pulling your nose up around your eyebrows...

Hugs,
Dennis

oxyman: Writing only about myself: my cardiologist and pulmonary doc told me to watch both my heart rate and my oxygen saturation.
This may only be true for those that have had a heart attack; and/or have some sort of heart involvement because their lungs are failing.
I was told what my numbers should be around; and to seek medical attention if I go into tachycardia; and my oxygen saturation drops off.