Connect
← Return to New and undiagnosed
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Well, that was a scary situation you went through. Like you, I would want to know more about what is going on, and why the crisis happened that landed you in the hospital.
I guess with no history of asthma or other problem, I would want to have the doctors search for a diagnosis - did he express any opinion of what might be going on? Those with a chronic lung disease (I have bronchiectasis & asthma) can get scary low readings whenever they have a virus or any kind of challenge. Then, as we get better the sats get better.
Would it be fair to say you are doing better than when you got home? Are you able to get up and move around, cooking or showering or other daily activities without being short of breath? Do you want to pursue an exact diagnosis, or just wait & see if your doc thinks it's OK (after he sees you?)
Sue
Replies to "Well, that was a scary situation you went through. Like you, I would want to know..."
Hi Sue,
I'm much better now than when initially coming home from hospital. Yes I'm showering and doing small jobs, picking up things off the floor, slowly doing a light load of laundry for example. But it's because I'm afraid. I'm afraid of doing too much because 1) breathlessness scares me so bad.
2) I dont want to find out I cant cook, or make a bed without becoming breathless because that sparks depression.
I have a very long history of anxiety and panic and was agoraphobic for 5 years. Due to a lifetime of anxiety and breathlessness from anxiety attacks alone, it just feels like I cant do this anymore, this continual fight to breathe normally. So I've been on a dose of ativan (2 mg a day) for 20 years. And 2 years ago my gp ordered 1 zopiclone for sleep at bedtime. Now he is saying those must be weaned away because both are central nervous system depressants. I tried for one day not taking the meds at all and my sats showed no difference between having no meds, to taking the meds. My sats were the same.
So when I arrived home and did things my sats went into the low 80s (just re-summing). Now when I do things, I am 90 to 91, and havent seen the 80s in a few days. I dont know if that indicates healing or just a few lucky days. Please feel free to respond. Thank you! 😊
Connect
Good point about home oximeters. I tried using it while walking, but erratic. Do you know of any good oximeters to use while outside walking?
Sitting at home my O2 is fine (95 and above). I had recent stent and did cardio rehab and they took oxygen readings at various levels of exertion on the treadmill. My O2 drops to 88/89 with mild to moderate exertion and my Pulmonolgist is fine with that. My O2 does drop lower with longer moderate exertion and in cardio rehab they had me do "intervals" or 4min lower exertion, 1 min greater exertion. My O2 did improve with exercise and both Pulmonologist and Cardiologist tell me to exercise! Of course, I have lung cancer and possible interstitial disease