Peter, If you don't use your 02 on a regular basis, perhaps now is the time to do so. As much as you may not want to go to the Doctor, maybe you should do so. I'm praying for you. This sounds like my experiences on a regular basis without my O2. Blessings

Peter I understand you not wanting to go to the Dr. I'm the same way. I've been experiencing the same problems with SOB and yes I do think Stress has a lot to do with it. When I get that way I put my o2 on and it does bring it back up. Lately though my stats are 97 and I feel like I can't breath (don't know what that's about). The other day I took a little walk and they went to 80 which causes the anxiety and panic to set in and I think it makes it worse. Try to stay calm and if it keeps happening do go to a Dr. Take care of yourself and I hope you are feeling better. Sorry to rant.
Hugs

hey Peter, hang in there guy. What usually happens to me when I go to the hospital and have to spend a couple of nites there is they give you syringe shots with the prednisone through an iv already set up on your arm they iv drip the antibiotics and of course you're on the O2 24/7. They come in every 3 hrs to do the blood 02 levels, etc. Go the hospital and let them do their thing. Yes, stress can be accountable, but not entirely. Its just another phase we have to go through...it sucks, I know. Have a blessed day. You're not alone!

Peter, I agree with all the comments here. First, you have managed somehow to stay off oxygen up to now, and you have had a LOT of stress here lately, just to add to the stress of your normal day.
I know you do not trust the doctors, but you have to put your trust out there sometimes, this may be the time. Stress can case SOB, so can any activity, and if you are already ill, it does not take much to get SOB. Please get checked out, and think about useing that oxygen. There has to be one doctor there that is pretty much all right. With all that is going on with you, you do not need a major lung infection, and that may be where you are headed.
You will be in my everyday thoughts and prayers my friend.
Hugs
Brenda

Peter, You have been given a ton of good advice which I don't have anything to add. But it is very important that you follow the advice you were given. Go see the doc, that is the 1st thing you need to do, and maybe then it's time for you to be on oxygen. Please take care, and take care of yourself. -- Bill

Peter: I have also been experiencing SOB lately, and I am blaming it on a couple of things I can think of.

1. Allergies and weather. The monsoon season hit here about a month ago and everything is growing, plus lower barometric pressures.
2. Inactivity. I have been less active the past month, and it seems the less active I am the more SOB I become. It works the same way for me on a daily basis. If I get up early and stay active all day, I feel better at the end of the day.
3. Stress. I agree stress and panic can have an affect on SOB.

I am on oxygen 24/7 and I have tried turning it up a little to see if that made a difference, and it didn't.

Just some of my ideas, I hope your SOB improves. Gary

Gary

Thanks as usual guys...its 7.45am n ive used oxygen for 1 hour straight....now 2 hours later after I stopped, sats are back to my normal of 95...but still very SOB...
Ok....I need to get money together as its all cash here and will try n get in to hospital for 2 days observation....

Gro...you know about the exercise...when I started with these bad chest n rib pains my walking exercise became pretty non existant..im sure it has caused me to go backwards....

Anyway have a great day all...

Are well all scattered about geographically or could this possibly be the effects of the very many fires that we have had everywhere for the last couple of months screwing us all up?

I, too, have had such horrible shortness of breath that I can barely move. I don't need my oxygen sitting still and for the last couple of years have had trouble with exertion, but in the last month or two has gotten to the point where I can only manage a couple shuffling steps without it before I feel ...well, I can't really describe but I assume you've all been there/done that.

I know that when I first started seeing my primary, we discussed that I tend to have panic attacks related to mine- just standing up to do get dressed would get my brain thinking about what was coming up and then it became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. He did give me Ativan and taking that an hour before I needed to start getting dressed- which I only do occasionally- or do chores did seem to help to a degree.

Lately, however, that's not been particularly helpful. And I've recently developed another significant health issue which could be contributing, which confounds what is causing it. But if everyone is SOB, it must be something COPD-ey.

Why oh why can they grow hair on a bowling ball and give a 95-year-old man an erection but they can't come up with something that at least makes it *feel* like we're breathing? You'd think there would be a lot of money to be made from that.

My pulmo is considered to be one of the best in the country. Know what he said when I asked him what the correlation is between 02 & feeling sob?

He said, "damned if I know. I have patients with levels at 50 that do not suffer from air hunger and those at 95 that do. There are a lot of theories, but other than C02 retention being a factor, none of the studies have yet produced consistant results."

Honestly could not live without Ativan for those times the SOB has me feeling panicky but my O2 levels aren't too bad.

Wanted to add one more thing. Having a bipap machine at home helps a lot too. I am still amazed Doc talked insurance into getting me one.

CaitsMom: I asked my pulm. the same question about SOB and SP02 and he said about the same thing.

I worry more about SPO2 than SOB. A low SPO2 is bad for your body. SOB is just uncomfortable.

I am SOB a lot because I am trying to avoid corticosteroids. I would rather be SOB than suffer the side effects of these drugs.

Gary

I'm the opposite...I would not mind having my pO2 running low if it meant I could be comfortable. I guess it has to do with quality of life. Me having a 96% pO2 does me absolutely no good if I can't move out of my chair. Sure there may be consequences of reduced pO2, but I don't think the effects of hovering around 85% would be too much worse than the catastrophic effects of deconditioning and despair that comes with the severe SOB.

SimplyDani -
The consequences of having a consistent resting SPO2 level around 85% is going to be memory loss, right side heart failure and general organ deterioration over time. Tis one of the choices we get when we are diagnosed with these diseases. The problem is it won't stay at 85%. It will fall lower. Faster...
http://www.copd-international.com/library/oxygentherapy.htm


Hugs,
Dennis

As I said, I am not opposed to the consequences of a lowered pO2 if it meant a decrease in the SOB and therefore the life restrictions. I suppose I would just consider it a Kevorkian type moment, and I would be fine with that. It stems from a desire to *live* rather than just maintain a heartbeat. I can only assume that the rest have managed to find the perfect regimen that allows them some sort of quality of life. Unfortunately, I haven't despite numerous trials on numerous meds and oxygen and pep talks, so for me jogging off this mortal coil would be preferable to crawling.

SimplyDani,-
I get what you are saying. I still try to keep my 02 level up above 90% because at this point, no heart consequences. But I agree that sometimes I feel that whatever it takes to just go up the stairs and not feel as though my body is going to fly into a thousand pieces. And all the time I am trying to get to the bathroom as the overwhelming feeling of needing to void is giving me bladder spasms. When you get there, no problem , I could spit more.

I retain C02 so I am always going to be a step behind in working with the SOB. I have tried every tool in my COPD bag. This includes meds, changing 02 liters, up, down, up ,down and the only solution I have found is just adjust to it.

No, there is one more thing that we can do to help somewhat. Not food choices, I eat what I can when I can. Try to keep it healthy but quality (something I really enjoy) always seems to win. Could be something fried or the other bad stuff.

My secret is not really a secret. It is climbing on the treadmill and doing what ever exercises, the ones that we were taught in Rehab, and just staying with it as best as you can. Quality of life for me, is counted in a good day versus a bad day.

Quality over quantity, that is my wish too.

You take care and as we go on this journey, we occasionally will have a really good day.