COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
I have seen case after case of posts where someone has said that they have had "exacerbation"/ breathing problems........but they have never been on Oxygen and did not need it.
There is much, much more to using oxygen then just the surface. When you say you don't need oxygen, are you aware of your blood oxygen percent. One can operate at lower than 90% for quite a while without noticing it. If you get below 85% you are heading for real problems. I got along fine in the low 80s for several years and denied that I had a problem.. I wish that I had been more informed or had a group like this to smack me in the face and give me a wake up call. Below 80% you are putting undue stress on your heart, your kidneys, your liver and every other organ in your body.
If you think you have COPD and do not need oxygen, hear it from your doctor!! Some people really do not need oxygen and can get by on medicines. Personally, I never have any problem with breathing, but the least effort depletes my oxygen level. My body needs the extra help getting oxygen into my system.
We may not always like what the doctor says, but do add it into your decision pot!
Larry
There is much, much more to using oxygen then just the surface. When you say you don't need oxygen, are you aware of your blood oxygen percent. One can operate at lower than 90% for quite a while without noticing it. If you get below 85% you are heading for real problems. I got along fine in the low 80s for several years and denied that I had a problem.. I wish that I had been more informed or had a group like this to smack me in the face and give me a wake up call. Below 80% you are putting undue stress on your heart, your kidneys, your liver and every other organ in your body.
If you think you have COPD and do not need oxygen, hear it from your doctor!! Some people really do not need oxygen and can get by on medicines. Personally, I never have any problem with breathing, but the least effort depletes my oxygen level. My body needs the extra help getting oxygen into my system.
We may not always like what the doctor says, but do add it into your decision pot!
Larry
I agree with you, and have also read posts like that, where it seems the person is almost bragging,,"Well, I had a lot of sob, went to doctor and , now I am better,,,but I am not on oxygen, because I do not need it" something like that!!!
You said it very well., none of us like being theathered to this O2 concentrator, but the alternative is perhaps dying?.....stroke, heart attack, ect...
So if anyone reading this has decided you do not need oxygen, but you have copd , then I pray it was a lung specialist that told you that,, not just you being vain.
Just my opinion, folks needs to take this copd SERIOUSLY, like the one's puffing on a cigarret as they type and complain about sob, and coughing, and hospitlizations..
.Folks, do you realize this disease is deadly enough with out you helping it along???? Believe me, if 98% of us could have this disease and could still smoke and not be on oxygen, we would be doing just that.
Sorry for the attitude, I just feel off kilter today, and sometimes just get gripey. I will hush now...
Blessings
BJ
You see, I followed the doctor's orders and quit smoking and started using O2 when he told me - but I delayed a lot of years in seeing him. A few too many. It was bad enough I was forced to stop working.
Denial is not a river in Egypt. I, too wish I could dump the O2 and smoke with impunity. But I've kinda learned that I have to pay to play that game - and I ain't willing today. The game is rigged against you and can only end in a quick and miserable death...
Hugs,
Dennis
I was taught lby respiratory therapists and pulomonary rehab that unless your oxygen levels drops below 88 you do not require oxygen. I was in that area for several years after being diagnosed with COPD. I learned that taking oxygen when you don't need it can be very harmful. Also, if it consistently falls below 88 organ damage happens. I also learned that Medicare will not pay for oxygen unless you drop below 88 during a walk test.
Now my conditions has progressed and I need oxygen when I get up and start moving around or exercise. Also when it for sleep (our respiratory system slows down in deep sleep). My oxygen level then falls below 88.
Our brain does not give us an indication that our oxygen level is low. When we are short of b reath our brain is telling us we have too much carbon dioxide CO2 in our body. That's why we are alway told to do purse lip breathing to get rid of the CO2. That is also why an oximeter is very helpful.
Seems to me that folks here were always encouraged to get a oximeter (a tool you put on your finger and it reads your oxygen level) and to talk to their doctors about this. I got oximeter for a very reasonable price on amazon.com. I encourage you to get a oximeter and,TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IT.
I might have an answer to your post. The people were not prescribed oxygen by their regular doctors because the regular doctors are not specialist and many do not understand or agree with o2 therapy.
I had a real bad episode in about 2008, went to ER and ended up in ICU .The hospital doctor came in and started explaining to me about copd and the fine line they have to walk when prescribing O2. I told him I was not on O2, and my doctor never indicated I needed it.
When I was moved to a regular room, they did the "walk test" and my level dropped well below 88. So that doctor sent me home with a order for oxygen, which the med supply folks delivered that day. It was for nights only.
When I told my regular doctor, he had a fit!! I did not need oxygen!!! So , like an idiot, instead of pushing the issue, I sent the o2 back to the people.
Like an idiot, I trusted the word of my regular doctor who had treated me for years over one that just saw me. Within a year, actually about 9 months, I was back in the hospital, and this time my regular doctor said HE would test me to see if I needed oxygen. He did, and I did......
There would have been less damage to my organs if I had a doctor that sent me to a specialist at first , or kept me on the oxygen when I had been so bad.
Instead I had to go thru hell and suffer sob and low o2 for almost a year because of his doctor's pride, and my ignorance.
I can assure you I demanded a specialist after the second time. When he "decided" I needed to be put on o2 at night (sound familar?) I asked to be referred to a pulmonary specialist.
If your car breaks down, do you take it to a shoe repair shop? NO! So why trust your lungs to anyone except a lung specialist. If these folks with copd, and low 02 levels, are being told they do not need oxygen, they need to get a second opinion fast, from a pulmonary doctor.
BJ
After a walk test or anytime I am off of o2 for more than an hour my levels dropped drastically below 88. I monitor my levels and generally I can tell when they are dropping without taking a reading.
I see people who seem to be struggling with SOB when walking and I wonder why their Doc's dont have them on o2.
Was sitting in waiting room at my Doc when a lady came in and she was so out of breath I wanted to share my o2 with her. And i wondered why she wasnt on oxygen.
I will use o2 and put my pride aside just so I can breath normal and enjoy life.
my brain started working better, my legs didn't feel so weak, it was amazing.
as i had taken care of my mother on O2 before i was diagnosed, hospice had explained how important it was; as you all have pointed out.
so when i got mine, i gave up pride & wear it 24/7 as prescribed.
i have met so many people that see me with O2 that tell me how they don't wear theirs because it's embarrassing in this small town.
funny, i'd rather be embarrassed than deceased.
also, i never realized until i had a sleep study how much my O2 drops at night!! it drops 10 more points at night than during day with moderate walking!!!
If people dont like to see the tubing in my nose they dont have to look at me. But it also gets a lot of help for a little white hair lady when she needs it LOL!
God bless