Low oxygen?

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anonymous

New member
There are a few times when I've overexerted myself that I start to feel like I have a hang over, or that my stomach is unsettled (nausea), head feels funny and I also have a light headache.
This is a shot in the dark, but could these feelings be related to low oxygen from anyone else's experience?
The stomach part that hangs on forever is what's really got me puzzled since logic says that that wouldn't be oxygen related?
 
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lovingBenandCambree

New member
Well I have been on oxygen for about 1 1/2 years now and those aren't necessarily the symptoms that I have had. I have never had a hangover but from what I hear it definitely isn't what I have felt with low oxygen. I mostly just feel short of breath, lightheaded at times so that is something but other than that thats pretty much it. When I was really bad and requiring quite a bit of oxygen my fingers started to turn blue. You could go get your oxygen tested just to be sure. I have an oximeter at home so I test mine all of the time and am basically off it full time except for while sleeping and exercising. Good Luck!

Emilee
 
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anonymous

New member
I have had similar symptoms - sometimes when I realllly overexert myself I get piercing headaches and get nauseous and feel like I'm going to pass out. My doc has said that the headaches are from lack of O2 getting to the brain - scary!! I assume that the nausea is also related.

Martha CF, 30
 
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JazzysMom

New member
I have had those symptoms from both dehydration & high carbon dioxide levels. Not low O2 levels although they often go together.
 
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anonymous

New member
Next time you are at your clinic or in the hospital, ask to do a stress oximtery test. They will likely have you walk around at a fast pace, or even better, go on a treadmill (I would ask to do activity comparable with the activity you are doing when you find yourself with these symptoms) for a short period of time while keeping a close eye on your pulse-ox. This would be a great indicator if you are suffering from low oxygenation during activities.
 
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anonymous

New member
I wonder if it is dehydration.....I'll look that up. I don't drink enough water, I'll be the first to admit that!
I would almost hope it's that instead of low oxygen. That's something I can fix!
Thanks for the responses<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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anonymous

New member
My daughter has the same symptoms with exercise related to a drop in her blood sugar. She usually tries to eat some sort of snack prior to exercise and this seems to help.
 
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UKBASEDJON

New member
Hi

Well here's my two Penney?s worth. This may be low O². At your next clinic get them to do a blood gas test. At my clinic it?s done with an arterial blood sample from the ear. This will measure all sorts of things. At my clinic the PO² level in this test is the indicator of the need for O². Below 7.25 is the threshold. Two tests a few weeks apart will confirm your true levels.
I agree with Emilee that the obvious sign of low O² is being out of breath. Most people with CF spend years on low O² without realising it. It?s normally worse when you sleep as all people breathe more slowly when asleep so their O² drops but with lung disease like CF it?s a real issue. Do you feel very tired during the day? This could indicate poor sleep due to low O².
The headaches I believe actually come from too higher level of carbon dioxide in your blood not low oxygen. Because our lungs don?t work to well they can?t get enough oxygen in and as a consequence they can?t get all the carbon monoxide out of your blood either so it builds up in the blood an hence the headache.
The stomach problem could be down to low O² in that the first system your body steals O² from when it?s under stress is the digestive system as in the fight or flight response it is a low priority system. Hence when you get a sudden shock that sinking feeling you get in your stomach is actually the blood leaving to be used elsewhere.
However on the up side and having said all this I believe if you are not actually out of breath when exerting yourself (do you get out of breath climbing stairs or walking up a hill?) that the cause lays elsewhere, dehydration being a good starting point.
Good Luck

Regards

Jon.
 
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JustDucky

New member
Hmm....if you get light headed with a slight headache, then yes, you should get your oxygen levels checked. Many members have given good advice about a stress oximiter test, that is, the doc should have you exert yourself for 6 minutes and measure your O2 levels. A blood gas is also a good idea, want to check those CO2 levels if you get some head aches. When my O2 levels fell (but usually it was a fairly low number, at least in the mid to low 80's), I felt tired, weak and short of breath. I am trying to remember how my belly felt, maybe a bit queasy because of my heart trying to work and pumping more adrenaline into my body.....Either way, you should get this checked out. BTW, I got my pulseoximeter via my private insurance when I had it, my doc wrote a very convincing letter to the company and it was approved. I know Medicare and some other insurances do not cover it. Portable finger probes cost about 300 dollars, I have even seen them for less. I hope I have helped.....Cepaciagal<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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JustDucky

New member
Also, dehydration can do that to you....I forgot to add that one. Hugs, Cepaciagal<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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anonymous

New member
Original poster here, I did a PFT today but about an hour before I did I took 2 ibuprofen and have drank plenty of water over the last day or so (thanks to info learned here) and let me tell you, the headaches weren't as severe and no stomach ache whatsoever afterwards!! Hopefully if I do this regimen each time I won't notice this problem again
Thanks everyone.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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