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...
My mom was diagnosed with COPD a few years ago. As a result, she stopped smoking. I think she has been smoke free for five years. It seems that this past year she has gotten worse with shortness of breath and coughing. She uses her inhaler faithfully but is not on any oxygen. This weekend, she had a bad coughing spell. So bad, she blacked out for about 20 seconds. We always worry about her, but now even more worried after that! I am wondering at what point a doctor may suggests oxygen? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
The medical rule of thumb is when the blood oxygen saturation (SPO2) is at 88% or below when measured with a pulse oximeter. There is another test that can be done, but it requires drawing arterial blood.
The best thing is to get your mom to your doctor's for a check. I'd recommend asking for a referral to a pulmonologist if you don't have one. From there you cnh get the info you need and possibly O2 for her. It's definitly nothhing to mess with, as extended low O2 saturation leads to a myriad of other problems.
Take care,
Dennis
i got put on night time O2 as soon as i was diagnosed with it & sent for a "Pulmonary Function Test" that showed i was at 47% of function (or what ever that shows).
then they had me do a night study & that showed i dipped to 78% at night;
but i was already on it at night so i'm not sure if my dr just started it and then tested me or what.
then i told my dr that i was SOB & going below 90% with my oximeter (i had the little finger tester from when i cared for my mother)
so then the dr had me walk around her office for 3 minutes without O2; and i dropped to the "86%" that she said medicare required for daytime use of O2.
then i had to walk with O2 for 3 minutes to show it helped (it did).
until this year i didn't need it if i was just sitting around on the computer, only when i was up & active or when i went to higher elevations.
now i go below 90% even sitting so i wear it all the time.
----that's my story, but not sure if i hadn't asked my dr about being so short of breath during the day if i ever would have gotten it LOL
As Denny said let her Doc tell her what she needs.
I know when I was being checked for hospice they check me for my o2 levels and I had to walking with out o2 this showed that it would stay below 90 this got me approved for hospice and o2.
God bless