Good Morning Journal! 
Its bright and sunny this fine morning. 13 degrees out side, but snug in the house.
I have COPD Emphysema and possible vascular Kidney disease. I had a sonogram on my kidneys last Thursday because my GFR was 54 I hope to get the results today. I dont have high blood pressure or diabetes.
I have only 25% lung capacity now. I was diagnosed with Emphysema in 2000 with lung capacity of 30% at that time.
I have oxygen here at home. In the summer of 2006 just weeks after the death of my husband of 30 years. I had two long stays in the hospital, during that time they did a stress test and found I needed 4 leaders of oxygen when up and about and 2 leaters at rest and during sleep.
My oxygen levels at rest now with the pulse ox reads 91 to 98 at rest and moving around from 88 to 95 with out oxygen.
For me this is very confusing. I only put the oxygen on when the palse ox reads below 91, and although I carry oxygen with me when I go out, I most often dont use it.
I notice that my oxygen levels go down when I am under stress, both physical and emotional.
I must be in some sort of denial. My doctor said that I have severe COPD but I seem to be doing better than most who only have 25% lung capacity, or is this they way it is for others the ups and downs with the oxygen levels.
I am cheerful most of the time, although nights are long.
I also wonder how menopause plays into all of this.
When I was diagnosed I was caring for my mother who then had Alzheimer's, this was very stressful, she died at home with me in 2002.
My husband died two years ago of colorectal cancer, another large emotional stress. I had divorced him just three days before Mothers death in 2002 then three months later he was diagnosed with cancer. I was with him when he died in 2006.
I was wondering with all this emotional stuff and menopause how much of my COPD is really stress related. I know I do have COPD but I dont think its as bad as they think it is. I had a Cat Scan in October that said I have mild Emphysema, and it is not different than the scan I had in 2003. I realize that the scan does not show small air ways which is where the damage is, so maybe the scans just cant see it.
So does anyone have oxygen levels that go up and down like this? and does stress effect oxygen levels?
Replies
Holly, I would suggest that you copy this (or most of it) into a discussion post. Especially since not everyone has seen you yet, it would be a good way to get more answers. I\'m not on oxygen yet, and my emphysema is considered Stage 2 (moderately severe). But it\'s my understanding that we all react differently. Some people with severe COPD actually can do better that some with mild COPD. I\'m not sure why. So why don\'t you put you\'re questions out there for the whole community to see, and I\'m sure you\'ll learn a lot more. And you\'ll meet more people, too. Have a great day!
Holly, I am on 3-4 Lpm of oxygen my level goes up and down depending on what I\'m doing.--Flats
Holly, I\'m on oxy also. 2 liters with any physical activity (3 liters at rehab)None when I sitting still. My lungs are at 18%. I was diagnosed 9 months after my mom passed away. I had been going thru a stressful time in my life with other family problems also. I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago and my body was sent into menopause. I heard once that there was a study about women, menopause & copd. They\'re all connected somehow. I can\'t find anything on it but If I can ever find it I\'ll
send to you. I agree with Sue, you should post this and see if anyone else can relate. Patti
Holly, now I\'m on a mission. Go to www.hospitalpharma.com & look for feature dated Aug 19, 2004. it appears THERE IS a correlation between menopause & COPD. Patti
Patti, thats most interesting menopause accelerate the progression of COPD. I like you had a hysterectomy in 1991. key role of the estrogen receptor in maintaining alveolar surface area and airway elasticity, I am amazed to read this. Estrogen protects so much up to the point of menopause then we are slam-ed and depleted from this most precious hormone! Thank You so much for finding this info.
Sue825 thanks, I dont know how to post but I will give it a try...
Thanks so much...
Interesting article. I also had a complete hysterectomy in 1989, and was on Premarin until 2002. Then I weaned myself off with natural estrogen, and then used Progest cream for several years. I would like to see the medical community do further testing on this information, because of the proven hazards of ERT for most women. I would also like to see if the addition of progesterone creams which are all natural, and are the precursors to estrogen, would be of any benefit. One thing to remember: fat makes estrogen! So if you\'re overweight, you probably have plenty of estrogen already circulating in your body. This can be proven with saliva testing, which some doctors (not all) would be willing to do. Let\'s see what happens with your posting opn the discussion board. Good job!