using oxygen while exercising

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ej0820

New member
Hey guys!

*I also posted this in Exercise & Fitness just to see if I get some different responses*

I've recently started working out. I've been doing Walk Off the Pounds DVDs (surprisingly GREAT cardio, for those wondering) and pilates. I started using oxygen at night before I started this exercise regimen so I assumed I should use the O2 while exerting myself. Is this effective? I mean, I feel good when I use it during exercise and don't feel like I could get very far in the exercise without it, but will this help me increase my lung capacity and exercise tolerance or will it just make me more dependent on oxygen during these times? I guess I'm wondering, if I use O2 while working out, is it possible to get to a point of not needing it while exercising anymore, or will I always need it since that's how I started? How would I know?

I'm noticing that I'm able to walk a little further in parking lots and such with out getting as SOB as I used to. Could this be a sign that I'm successfully helping out my lungs and might eventually need O2 less?
 
E

ej0820

New member
Hey guys!

*I also posted this in Exercise & Fitness just to see if I get some different responses*

I've recently started working out. I've been doing Walk Off the Pounds DVDs (surprisingly GREAT cardio, for those wondering) and pilates. I started using oxygen at night before I started this exercise regimen so I assumed I should use the O2 while exerting myself. Is this effective? I mean, I feel good when I use it during exercise and don't feel like I could get very far in the exercise without it, but will this help me increase my lung capacity and exercise tolerance or will it just make me more dependent on oxygen during these times? I guess I'm wondering, if I use O2 while working out, is it possible to get to a point of not needing it while exercising anymore, or will I always need it since that's how I started? How would I know?

I'm noticing that I'm able to walk a little further in parking lots and such with out getting as SOB as I used to. Could this be a sign that I'm successfully helping out my lungs and might eventually need O2 less?
 
E

ej0820

New member
Hey guys!
<br />
<br />*I also posted this in Exercise & Fitness just to see if I get some different responses*
<br />
<br />I've recently started working out. I've been doing Walk Off the Pounds DVDs (surprisingly GREAT cardio, for those wondering) and pilates. I started using oxygen at night before I started this exercise regimen so I assumed I should use the O2 while exerting myself. Is this effective? I mean, I feel good when I use it during exercise and don't feel like I could get very far in the exercise without it, but will this help me increase my lung capacity and exercise tolerance or will it just make me more dependent on oxygen during these times? I guess I'm wondering, if I use O2 while working out, is it possible to get to a point of not needing it while exercising anymore, or will I always need it since that's how I started? How would I know?
<br />
<br />I'm noticing that I'm able to walk a little further in parking lots and such with out getting as SOB as I used to. Could this be a sign that I'm successfully helping out my lungs and might eventually need O2 less?
 
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coltsfan715

New member
If you are not using oxygen during your workout you will feel fatigued and you will end up causing more damage to the rest of your body than the exercise is actually helping. I think you are doing the right thing. It may not necessarily get you off oxygen, but you may very well see a difference. It is hard to say in regards to that. I do know that it will help you to exercise and in exercising it will help you to maintain some ability to function as "normally" as possible.

I think all in all it is possible to wean off the O2 but I didn't have that result when I did rehab once I started O2 because I was listed for transplant and was called and transplanted before improving enough to accomplish that. Either way I hope it helps you and that you see some benefit to it.

Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
If you are not using oxygen during your workout you will feel fatigued and you will end up causing more damage to the rest of your body than the exercise is actually helping. I think you are doing the right thing. It may not necessarily get you off oxygen, but you may very well see a difference. It is hard to say in regards to that. I do know that it will help you to exercise and in exercising it will help you to maintain some ability to function as "normally" as possible.

I think all in all it is possible to wean off the O2 but I didn't have that result when I did rehab once I started O2 because I was listed for transplant and was called and transplanted before improving enough to accomplish that. Either way I hope it helps you and that you see some benefit to it.

Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
If you are not using oxygen during your workout you will feel fatigued and you will end up causing more damage to the rest of your body than the exercise is actually helping. I think you are doing the right thing. It may not necessarily get you off oxygen, but you may very well see a difference. It is hard to say in regards to that. I do know that it will help you to exercise and in exercising it will help you to maintain some ability to function as "normally" as possible.
<br />
<br />I think all in all it is possible to wean off the O2 but I didn't have that result when I did rehab once I started O2 because I was listed for transplant and was called and transplanted before improving enough to accomplish that. Either way I hope it helps you and that you see some benefit to it.
<br />
<br />Lindsey
 
L

Ldude916

New member
I believe the way you can find out if you need oxygen while exerting yourself is to talk to your CF doctor about getting some walk tests and maybe get signed up for pulmonary rehab session. They measure your heart rate and the oxygen in your blood, to ensure it remains > 90% to ensure you have enough O2 saturation to feed your blood the oxygen it needs.

If you're working out and your blood saturation is < 90%, I think this could be dangerous. As you build your stamina using oxygen, you may be able to wean off if your saturation stays at acceptable levels.

I understand your thinking about using oxygen will reduce your tolerence...however, if you don't feel like you could get very far in the exercise without it, you're not really doing any justice to build stamina and time, which is extremely important.

I say keep using the O2 during exercise until you can get an accurate test of your saturation to stay safe and build up time/stamina!
 
L

Ldude916

New member
I believe the way you can find out if you need oxygen while exerting yourself is to talk to your CF doctor about getting some walk tests and maybe get signed up for pulmonary rehab session. They measure your heart rate and the oxygen in your blood, to ensure it remains > 90% to ensure you have enough O2 saturation to feed your blood the oxygen it needs.

If you're working out and your blood saturation is < 90%, I think this could be dangerous. As you build your stamina using oxygen, you may be able to wean off if your saturation stays at acceptable levels.

I understand your thinking about using oxygen will reduce your tolerence...however, if you don't feel like you could get very far in the exercise without it, you're not really doing any justice to build stamina and time, which is extremely important.

I say keep using the O2 during exercise until you can get an accurate test of your saturation to stay safe and build up time/stamina!
 
L

Ldude916

New member
I believe the way you can find out if you need oxygen while exerting yourself is to talk to your CF doctor about getting some walk tests and maybe get signed up for pulmonary rehab session. They measure your heart rate and the oxygen in your blood, to ensure it remains > 90% to ensure you have enough O2 saturation to feed your blood the oxygen it needs.
<br />
<br />If you're working out and your blood saturation is < 90%, I think this could be dangerous. As you build your stamina using oxygen, you may be able to wean off if your saturation stays at acceptable levels.
<br />
<br />I understand your thinking about using oxygen will reduce your tolerence...however, if you don't feel like you could get very far in the exercise without it, you're not really doing any justice to build stamina and time, which is extremely important.
<br />
<br />I say keep using the O2 during exercise until you can get an accurate test of your saturation to stay safe and build up time/stamina!
 
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scanboyd

Member
I now use O2 to work out. With out the O2 my sats drop to 86-87 while my heart rate is at max (130 for my age 63). This is while I am doing a 16 min. mile grade of 4, walking for 2 miles, 3 times a wk. With the O2 my sats run 92-93 with same amount of exercise. My resting sats with out O2 is 96-97. My over night pluse O2 is normal.

My body is not as tired when I get home from gym when I use O2. With out the O2, I usually took a nap now with O2 I do not. Good luck!!<img src="i/expressions/neb.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/oxygen2.gif" border="0">
 
S

scanboyd

Member
I now use O2 to work out. With out the O2 my sats drop to 86-87 while my heart rate is at max (130 for my age 63). This is while I am doing a 16 min. mile grade of 4, walking for 2 miles, 3 times a wk. With the O2 my sats run 92-93 with same amount of exercise. My resting sats with out O2 is 96-97. My over night pluse O2 is normal.

My body is not as tired when I get home from gym when I use O2. With out the O2, I usually took a nap now with O2 I do not. Good luck!!<img src="i/expressions/neb.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/oxygen2.gif" border="0">
 
S

scanboyd

Member
I now use O2 to work out. With out the O2 my sats drop to 86-87 while my heart rate is at max (130 for my age 63). This is while I am doing a 16 min. mile grade of 4, walking for 2 miles, 3 times a wk. With the O2 my sats run 92-93 with same amount of exercise. My resting sats with out O2 is 96-97. My over night pluse O2 is normal.
<br />
<br />My body is not as tired when I get home from gym when I use O2. With out the O2, I usually took a nap now with O2 I do not. Good luck!!<img src="i/expressions/neb.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/oxygen2.gif" border="0">
 
T

theLostMiler

New member
When I first started working out (err... walking on my treadmill)... I was at 5 L of o2, after about two/three days my sats were staying higher for longer periods of time, so I slowly decreased my o2 amount. Before I stopped (I know, I am a slacker) after about a month and a half, I could do exercise at about 3 L comfortably (meaning, not about ready to pass out and/or headaches during or after (That is also what I started out with rx wise) but still get a good heart rate going and maintaining sats.

My fiance always says even if you ahve lower lung function, who is to say you can't increase the efficiency of the space of your lungs that is left? I feel like by working out, we are increasing the efficiency of that area that is working and slowly but surely expanding again...

I noticed that once I started working out, I could take deeper breathes for instance, and like you, noticed I could so more activity before getting SOB.

If anything its also just helping out our breathing muscles too, which is also good.
 
T

theLostMiler

New member
When I first started working out (err... walking on my treadmill)... I was at 5 L of o2, after about two/three days my sats were staying higher for longer periods of time, so I slowly decreased my o2 amount. Before I stopped (I know, I am a slacker) after about a month and a half, I could do exercise at about 3 L comfortably (meaning, not about ready to pass out and/or headaches during or after (That is also what I started out with rx wise) but still get a good heart rate going and maintaining sats.

My fiance always says even if you ahve lower lung function, who is to say you can't increase the efficiency of the space of your lungs that is left? I feel like by working out, we are increasing the efficiency of that area that is working and slowly but surely expanding again...

I noticed that once I started working out, I could take deeper breathes for instance, and like you, noticed I could so more activity before getting SOB.

If anything its also just helping out our breathing muscles too, which is also good.
 
T

theLostMiler

New member
When I first started working out (err... walking on my treadmill)... I was at 5 L of o2, after about two/three days my sats were staying higher for longer periods of time, so I slowly decreased my o2 amount. Before I stopped (I know, I am a slacker) after about a month and a half, I could do exercise at about 3 L comfortably (meaning, not about ready to pass out and/or headaches during or after (That is also what I started out with rx wise) but still get a good heart rate going and maintaining sats.
<br />
<br />My fiance always says even if you ahve lower lung function, who is to say you can't increase the efficiency of the space of your lungs that is left? I feel like by working out, we are increasing the efficiency of that area that is working and slowly but surely expanding again...
<br />
<br />I noticed that once I started working out, I could take deeper breathes for instance, and like you, noticed I could so more activity before getting SOB.
<br />
<br />If anything its also just helping out our breathing muscles too, which is also good.
 
H

Havoc

New member
You should read about aerobic and anaerobic (cellular) respiration. I would type an explanation, but I am short on time today. The short answer is that in the absence of enough oxygen your muscles will switch over to lactic acid fermentation, which is extremely inefficient and detrimental to the muscle.
 
H

Havoc

New member
You should read about aerobic and anaerobic (cellular) respiration. I would type an explanation, but I am short on time today. The short answer is that in the absence of enough oxygen your muscles will switch over to lactic acid fermentation, which is extremely inefficient and detrimental to the muscle.
 
H

Havoc

New member
You should read about aerobic and anaerobic (cellular) respiration. I would type an explanation, but I am short on time today. The short answer is that in the absence of enough oxygen your muscles will switch over to lactic acid fermentation, which is extremely inefficient and detrimental to the muscle.
 
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