Connect
← Return to Wildly fluctuating o2 levels
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
There are oximeters that record via app on the phone such as masimo - hospital grade. Pricy but there are others out there.
If you can avoid ed, dont go unless your levels of o2 sustained at all times and below 88%
Parenchyma damage in lungs can lead to o2 drop, air trapping. You can ask for high resolution ct with dynamic expiratory imaging which can show air trapping.
One other test is gas exchange and 6 min walk test
Good luck, try to go by how your symptoms are. Are you lightheaded all the time? There might be some correlation with heart - lung cycle of pumping blood/o2 & blood/co2 and timing of pumping blood a bit off andproduces quick drop in o2
Replies to "There are oximeters that record via app on the phone such as masimo - hospital grade...."
There is a thing called ventilation-Perfusion Mismatch which is the V/Q ratio. V is air flow and Q is blood flow in the lungs. It should be 1. Even the effects of gravity will change the ratio. A lung problem (asthma) or a blood flow problem ( heart issues) also affect this ratio. The body responds by adjusting breathing rate or depth and where blood is send in the lung. Its a Complicated system very briefly explained here.
Whole system is a big feedback loop and engineers know, if feedback is greater then one, oscillations can occur.
Im still trying to get through to doctors. Find the cause then fix it instead of always throwing a CPAP machine at everything. Like using pain pills to cover up the symptom rather than finding the cause and fixing it.
I probably said too much already.
Connect
Thanks!
No, I’m not lightheaded all the time.
At the Er they did a ct scan and xrays, I reread the X-ray report and it did mention a moderate amount of air trapping. Tests do mention minimal bilateral atelectasis
I had a 6 min walk test done in Miami which came out very well. The only problem is that the tech only checked o2 seated before and after-it was 99, but who knows what happened in between?
No, I’m not going back to the Er unless I start looking like a smurf.
Yes, I do have heart issues: a bovine mitral replacement which is holding up well
and arrhythmia- frequent pvc’s and nonsustained v-tach.
Until recently I was taking Amiodarone but stopped when my latest pft indicated reduction in tlc and rv.
What is parenchyma?
The heart lung cycle being off makes sense to me. Is that the same as ventilation/perfusion mismatch?