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Asthma and on oxygen 24/7??????

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Posted 9/6/2010 3:31 AM (GMT -8)

smhair  

Long story short I went to urgent care because I thought I had a sinus infection/chest cold. I never put it together that my asthma was acting up because it has been so mild my whole life. For months I've had chest pains, and below my left lung I have a very sore spot. I also have a mild dry cough all the time and tightness in my chest. I just thought it was something else.

When I went in, I thought I had a chest cold and a sinus infection and was shocked to learn my oxygen level was low. It didn't respond to the nebs, oxygen at doctor, and x-ray shows no signs of fluid. They wanted to admit me but I wanted to try home care first. Now I'm on oxygen 24/7, taking a routine of meds, but now the pain has increased and I am coughing up clear mucus. I also can't lay down to sleep because it all gets worse. (Coughing, breathing problems, pain, etc)

I'm so confused by what this could be and how to fix it. I am not ready to be on oxygen everyday. When I read many of the post, they don't mention oxygen much. Is this normal? Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks!

 

Posted 9/6/2010 4:51 AM (GMT -8)
Have you been checked for acid reflux? Sometime acid can reflux into your lungs causing all sorts of problems. The clear mucus sounds like the problem I had with GERD. Not much heartburn, but coughing alot of mucus.
Posted 9/6/2010 7:20 AM (GMT -8)
If you sre married ask the Dr to show hubby how to do percussion therapy if it is needed......I'm on oxygen 24/7 & have been almost 2 years for COPD but was born with Asthma so I've had breathing problems all my life....
Posted 9/8/2010 6:51 PM (GMT -8)
Having O2 Stats that low is actually life threatening. THey did not want to alarm you, which is why they didn't bring up your levels much. When you panic, you breath fasther, which would of put you in more danger. You need to be on full oxygen, whether or not you like it. If your oxygen drops too low, you can pass out. If you pass out long enough you will either go in a coma or die. And its no fun doing either! I've done the lets walk into the ER and hand them my inhaler then pass out right in the cute guy in scrubs litterly. I had to be stabilized in a waiting room-when they used smelling salts to wake me and I came to I got whisked off in a wheelchair to the critical care wing and a nebulizer shoved onto me. I was told that day, I would of died 30 minutes later...That would of been the next city bus. You can see if you can get a home nebulizer and do doctor orders on that. Severe acid reflux can give asthma a bad time too. Coughing up the mucas for you is a good thing at the moment. I would of opted the hospitalization--but thats because I've had scary asthma attacks in the past where I black out.
Posted 10/4/2010 2:47 PM (GMT -8)
My gerd symptoms have included pains in the sides of my ribs, over each breast, and in the middle of my chest. I had thought this symptom was related to lung function at one point, but a pulmonologist told me there were no nerve endings in the lungs and I wouldn't "feel" asthma that way. I don't know if his statement on the whole is true, but it's worth thinking about. One reason you may be coughing up muscus is because your vocal folds secrete more mucus when they encounter the acid from gerd in order to protect themselves (I know this because I'm a professional singer and this is a big deal for us). Before this point, did you clear your throat a lot? The symptom may have been there without being as bad.
Posted 12/4/2010 3:42 AM (GMT -8)

Thanks for all your post. I haven't heard anything new except that my low oxygen was from Asthma. Nothing showed gerd or acid reflex from my understanding. I was able to go on oxygen only at night for about 2 weeks but last week it started all over. My oxygen was 73 this time around so I was put back on the oxygen 24/7 and another round of treatments for asthma. Keeping my fingers crossed for a quick recovery.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Thanks for the ideas!

Posted 12/4/2010 6:11 AM (GMT -8)
Medicare will pay for oxygen if it is 88.73 way too low.I'm on 02 24/7 & have been for 2 years.......My Asthma preogressed to COPD 30 yrs ago but is much worse now.......
Posted 12/4/2010 7:02 AM (GMT -8)
I'm sorry to hear that your asthma progressed to COPD SnowyLynne. I'm in my early thirties and just had a baby this past year so I'm still in a bit of shock by the whole experience I've never had a serious asthma attack until this past September and I just had it happen again. The low oxygen coming and going with my attacks is concerning and I wonder if this is common. I also worry about holding down employment with this kind of issue. It scares me that at any time I could have an attack. I just try to continue my meds, carry my oxygen and monitor with me and keep my fingers crossed. The hardest part is learning to make the adjustments to my life. I'm use to being the "soccer mom" for five children and running here and there between working and playing taxi. Now it's hard to even get them off to school but I hope with time the adjustment will get easier. Any tips would be great.
Posted 12/4/2010 10:50 AM (GMT -8)
Hi! I just wanted to chime in with wishes that your doctors can get to the bottom of things quickly.

I certainly can't tell what's going on, but I can say that with my reflux also, there were no signs of trouble except what the ENT saw with a throat scope (redness and some tissue swelling). No heartburn, no pain, just shortness of breath, throat closing, and the occasional extra mucus. Even the gastro doc was 100% convinced that I didn't have it. It is possible that you have some of that going on along with the low oxygen levels. I have read of at least one study that found people with asthma can have more breathing-related difficulty from reflux than other folks do.

Keep at your doctors to let you know what they think should be explored next.

Hugs,
percycat
Posted 12/4/2010 12:45 PM (GMT -8)
Moon what triggers your attacks?I'm allergic to any'all that flies thru the air......I pick my battles so to speak.Wear a mask when you go out.Your running days are going to be alot less otherwise you will run low on air.....slow down,you can but it wont be easy with kids......They need to understand like it or not or you will not last......Even laughing too hard knocks the breath out of me............
Posted 12/4/2010 8:25 PM (GMT -8)
I hope you can get control of your asma monnmaiden. Be sure to do exactly what your doctor orders. I was 1st diagnosed with astma 4 years ago and since have developed copd. I was put on oxygen 24/7 about 4 months ago for stage 4 emphysema and have an oxygen concentrator in home. I now have sore spots in my nostrils where the oxygen exits the nasal canalis and it's gotten so bad it has created light scabbing which will not go away. I try using s a saline wash to clean the area and even tried a little vasoline to prevent the "drying out" of the nasal passage but it has not helped. Does anyone else have this problem?

I even tried shortening the nasal tubes with scissors so they were further away from my nasal wall but it didn't help either.

Has anyone else had this issue with oxygen?
Posted 12/4/2010 11:24 PM (GMT -8)
You are not supposed to use any type of vasaline or oils in your nostrils.Talk with the oxygen supplier they can help you deal with the irritation to your nose....I don't have that problem & I have been on 02 2 years..........
Posted 12/5/2010 6:57 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks for your reply SnowyLynne. I only tried the vasoline once with no long term relief. though it did help briefly.
Regarding my oxygen supplier: They are a DME and no one there seems to have any sense of knowledge.(other than selling the equipment) I do see my pulmonologist on the 10th but in the meantime I still hope to find a bit of relief.
Posted 12/5/2010 9:08 AM (GMT -8)
How about saline gel like Ayr?
Posted 12/5/2010 10:39 AM (GMT -8)
Do you have a LinCare oxygen company up there? That's who I use here in Texas.They are all over the country.............
Posted 12/5/2010 2:42 PM (GMT -8)
couchtater........... I've only tried a saline spray but wifey is going to walgreens now to pick up the gel. TY! TY! Will report back tomorrow

SnowyLynne........ We have Lincare but my Medicare HMO only allows me to use AllMed They are great at giving me any equipment I ask for but trying to speak to a nurse there is almost impossible TY!
Posted 12/5/2010 6:00 PM (GMT -8)
Sorry you only have an HMO.What is that,I just have regular Medicare plus a supplement......
Posted 12/6/2010 2:14 AM (GMT -8)
BWald, I'm glad Joy posted about Ayr. My Walgreens doesn't carry it but Walmart does if you have any trouble finding it. I find it to be very helpful.
That's so scary how fast Asthma can turn into COPD. I wish you all the best!
Thanks for all the posts Everyone. I see my doctor at the end of the week so hoping for good news.
Have a geat day!
Posted 12/6/2010 5:37 PM (GMT -8)
HMO is managed care. You see an approved PCP, who is a gate keeper to specialists. You have to be referred to specialists. Unless you have a special HMO like mine- As long as they are on the approved list you can see a specialist without a referral.
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