PFTs and 02

[anonymous]

For those who are on or who have been on 02, what were your PFTs when you started O2 and if you came off it what were your numbers when you stopped. My numbers are currently in the 20s and I am currently still on O2 all the time.

 

[Allie]

Ry went on it full time when he was in the mid to early 20s, and never came off of it. Most people are on it in the 20s, I think.

 

[littledebbie]

I'm in my 20's (PFTS) and not on it, I think it's differnet for everyone and I think it has more to do with your O2 sats than your PFT's.

 

[anonymous]

My pfts were on the high 20s when I began using it at night. Then it gradually came that I had to use it all the time since i was so out of breathe. My pfts were probably in the low 20s at that point. I did not stop using O2 until i received my transplant.

Margaret
Double lung tx 11.11.04

 

[spicyone18]

just out of curosity, how do you know you need it at night?

 

[anonymous]

how long after you started o2 24/7 did you get on the list for transplant

 

[fr3ak]

spicyone18 aka courtney,

to determine if you need O2 at night you undergo a sleep study, where you are hooked up to a billion and one cords that monitor you while you are asleep. The results are recorded and any dips in your O2 show up in the results.
If your O2 is low enough by the drs standards he/she will prescribe O2 to sleep with...
Sometimes you may just need extra O2 when you are sick, and once you are over your exasperation you can usually cease using your O2..(doesn't always pan out this way..)

hope this helps

 

[luke]

courtney,

They also have "overnight pulse oximeters" that record your sat when you sleep. Rather than having a full blown sleep study many doctors who are looking for hypoxia rather than apnea opt to do theses studies. You just wear an oximter probe all night and that is it.


luke

 

[anonymous]

O2 sats tend to drop at night automatically. I have learned alot about this in the past 2 years. When you are in the hospital they check them while sleeping. Good luck

 

[anonymous]

It does have a lot more to do with your sats dropping, for instance my sons pfts were in the 20's for a year or so before his sats refused to increase past 90 or 91. Generally speaking they would like you at or above 92. My daughter on the other hand can have pfts going to 20 and only needs oxygen the first few days of admission. I guess the bottom line is your bodies own ability for sats to recover. I wish you well.

 

[JustDucky]

My doc put my on O2 after he did arterial blood gases (he was also concerned about CO2 retention as I have neuro disease as well). My PFT's weren't great at the time either (don't remember the numbers exactly...I do know that my FEV1 was something in the teens when I was vented with mostly a restrictive component). The oximeter at rest was about 88%, with any exertion it dropped even lower, as low as 69% once! Let's just say I looked like Papa smurf! Been through the sleep studies too..was put on BiPAP immediately afterwards with O2 bleed in.
Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[lovingBenandCambree]

I am still on O2 at night and when I exercise and my FEV1 has been as high as 55, my FVC 75. I went on it when I got into the 20's I believe. It also depends on the altitude. I live at a fairly high altitude so when I go to sea level I never have to use it.

Emilee

 

[anonymous]

I started on Oxygen at night during the summer of 2003. I was listed for the transplant in January of 2004 and received my transplant in November of 2004. But everyone is really different with that stuff.

Margaret
Double Lung tx 11.11.04

 

[ihatecf]

so if u need O2 and u dont use it, whats the worst that can happen?

 

[anonymous]

I guess the worst case is you die, but here are a few possible issues that come to mind

1.) your quality of life is not very good
2.) you start fogetting things, like what you are saying in the middle of a sentance
3.) your heart is stressed and can enlarge, can fail, etc
4.) your body heals slower from infections
5.) some bacteria prefer a low oxygen environment to thrive
6.) you rate of breathing will be increased and could lead to respiratory failure

 

[LisaV]

The worse that can happen?
pulmonary hypertension leading to right heart failure.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.phneighborhood.com/content/in_the_news/archive_2264.aspx">http://www.phneighborhood.com/...news/archive_2264.aspx</a>

 

[JustDucky]

Hi here is a like that describes what lack of oxygen can do to your tissues includingn your heart. I do know first hand that lack of oxygen can cause memory problems, I always felt like I was in a fog. My energy level also was terrible, I basically huffed and puffed my way through the day, any exertion would leave me feeling like a wet dish towel. My blood pressure was also elevated from the extra work my body had to do to get enough O2, 180/120 at it's highest. I was cyanotic after climbing stairs and my heart was working in overdrive, heart rate was about 170. That got much better after I was on O2, my memory improved and so did my blood pressure and heart rate. So...here's that link that describes O2 a bit...

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.dentalplans.com/Dental-Health-Articles/Will-I-Need-Oxygen-.asp">Lack of O2 effects</a>

Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[MANDI]

I FOUND OUT THAT I NEEDED O2 OVERNIGHT BY MY PULMONOLOGIST SENDING AN O2 OVER-NIGHT MONITOR FOR ME TO WEAR WHEN I WENT TO BED AND IT KEPT READING MY LEVELS DURING MY SLEEP. I AM NOW ON O2 NIGHTLY AND AS NEEDED DURING THE DAY. MY PFT WAS 46% LAST CHECK BUT I'M POSITIVE IT HAS DROPPED. ASK YOUR DR. ABOUT THE OVER-NIGHT O2 MONITOR!

MANDI 32 W/CFRD

 

[Jane]

You guys have great info. I wondered about the effects of low oxygen. My kids both did a sleep study when they were just in the hospital. The doctor now wants them to have a 1/2 liter of O2 at night. Their sats were around 93 overnight but dipped to 90 a few times.

I was wondering how they decide.

On the same subject... we just got a O2 concentrator (?) for each boy. They are SOOOOOO loud! What do you guys do about the noise? This is new for us. Any advice?

 

[anonymous]

I have heard of someone getting long tubing and putting it in the hallway