That was good, I'm having brain pressure when i cough, doctors don't have time to explain this stuff, I will practice the breathing, I know I'm C02 retention now.
My 90-year-old mother has thoracic chest wall restriction from severe kyphoscoliosis. She also has vocal cord dysfunction. Six months ago we went back to Sleep Med doctor to see if anything else could be done for her daytime sleepiness. A home sleep study showed just 5.1 apnea events, but her oximetry showed mild nocturnal hypoxia - average sat 89, nadir 84. I begged for an appt to talk to the Dr. and ask questions, but they are too busy to see patients in the office. So the Dr. ordered 2L O2 at night, but I got no education or opportunity to ask questions. I thought she should have the O2 on whenever sleeping, so I was putting it on for 12 hours a day, then 16, then 20 - as she became more obtunded. I now know she had increasing hypercapnia and would have eventually gone into coma. Oddly, they didn't give her BiPAP at the hospital and sent her home after two days, with orders for an in-house sleep study for BiPAP titration. That took another 6 weeks to get an appt. Meanwhile ABGs still had CO2 around 60 and O2 around 40 I think. Delirium, retropulsion, weakness, balance problems, attention and cognition problems. I had to hire a bunch. of extra care. She had the Sleep Study Dec. 17 - tolerate the BiPAP well, and I saw an immediate change in her! But only for about 48 hours. For the last week, she's been getting worse and worse. I almost took her to ER again, but I new the DME provider had orders for her machine, if we can just get there! So tomorrow Jan. 8 she is to get her machine. Do you think it's going to work for her? I'm worried about seizures. Dr. still won't let me bring her in. He will (sort of) answer my questions via MyChart. As you said, I've learned this is so complex, and I'm trying to explain it to her multiple nurse's aides that come in to help her - not easy.
I believe any type of CPAP or BiPAP will make increase your mothers CO2 Retention making things worse. I have had similar problems but not as bad. I currently use supplemental O2 at Night and during the day only if my O2 is below 88. She needs to immediately start using the Parsed Lip Breathing Technique to reduce her CO2 Retention. The mehod I use is to Breath In quickly through my Nose for 2 Counts, then Exhale slowly through Parsed Lips to restrict the out flow of Air for a count of 4 or 6. I believe that it is necessary to restrict the inflow of air when breathing in, this will create a lower Air Pressure inside the lungs. This lowered Air Pressure allows the CO2 to exit the Blood Stream and enter the Lower Air Pressure in the Lungs, reducing the Blood CO2 level. Then when the Air is Exhaled through Parsed Lips, it increases the air pressure inside the lungs which helps the O2 exit the Air in the Lungs and enter the Blood Stream, increasing the O2 Levels in the Blood. A person needs to used this method of breathing as often as possible, even when not short of breath. If this breathing method is used for a month, every day when on Supplemental Oxyen or Not on Supplemental Oxygen, your ABG Test should show a lowered CO2 Level, and a Lowered HCO3 (Bicarbonate) level with a corresponding neutral PH level. Breathing will become easier over time. By Increasing your breathing rate your body will reduce the CO2 Levels, which over time will reduce the HCO3 levels keeping the Blood PH neutral. Note: When the ABG Test shows a Higher than normal HC03 level, a person will actually forget to breath and your O2 Levels can drop with out a person breathing automatically, this is why a person has to mentally keep breathing to keep the O2 Levels in the blood high. I use Supplemental 02 at night because when I sleep my respiratory rate and heart rate drop to the low end of normal. This causes my O2 in my blood to drop. With the use of Supplemental O2 at 1.5 Ltr Per Min I manage to keep my levels high enough. I have read that a person who has COPD and when using Supplemental O2 should keep their Blood O2 between 88 and 92. It is my understanding that if given too much supplemental O2 it can cause a person to retain CO2 which is detrimental. I personally recommend using an Oxygen Monitor, recorder called the O2 Ring by Wellue. It will record the O2 Levels, Heart Rate and Motion of the wearer. It costs around $165.00 and works great. It automatically downloads the values from the ring when removed from ones finger and is easy to set up. Just download the App for your smart phone. May God bless you and your mother! Good luck in making her life easier! PS: I started using a CPAP machine for 3 months and it caused my CO2 levels up so high I was unable to move 10 feet without becoming totally tired and breathless. Stopped using it and I am now able to climb a set of stair without to much trouble, just slower than I had previously. I believe the continuous high Air Pressure from the CPAP machine did not allow the body to eliminate the CO2 in the Blood and enter the Air in the lungs. In normal breathing, a person expands the chest cavity, this cause the lungs to increase in volume which lowers the air pressure inside the lungs allowing the CO2 to exit the Blood. Reverse is true when exhaling allowing the O2 to exit the Air in the Lungs and enter the blood.
Very good advise thank you for the demonstration I recently had respiratory failure and pneumonia, they did arterial blood test and it showed my co2 levels were raised. I now carry a card incase I ever need to call out emergencies services. Giving me to much oxygen will not be good for me because of the co2 I quit smoking 5 wks ago after smoking for 50 yrs Have severe copd and struggle to walk to walk a few steps in my own home I’m not sure if stopping smoking would alter the co2 levels but certainly found your video very interesting Thank you
Amazing, I quit smoking 50 years ago & now they say I have COPD, just went through 4 months of fungal infection in my lungs, 90% better now but still have a dry cough.
FYI: Improving CO2 Levels, Methods and Reason I believe any type of CPAP or BiPAP will make increase your mothers CO2 Retention making things worse. I have had similar problems but not as bad. I currently use supplemental O2 at Night and during the day only if my O2 is below 88. She needs to immediately start using the Parsed Lip Breathing Technique to reduce her CO2 Retention. The mehod I use is to Breath In quickly through my Nose for 2 Counts, then Exhale slowly through Parsed Lips to restrict the out flow of Air for a count of 4 or 6. I believe that it is necessary to restrict the inflow of air when breathing in, this will create a lower Air Pressure inside the lungs. This lowered Air Pressure allows the CO2 to exit the Blood Stream and enter the Lower Air Pressure in the Lungs, reducing the Blood CO2 level. Then when the Air is Exhaled through Parsed Lips, it increases the air pressure inside the lungs which helps the O2 exit the Air in the Lungs and enter the Blood Stream, increasing the O2 Levels in the Blood. A person needs to used this method of breathing as often as possible, even when not short of breath. If this breathing method is used for a month, every day when on Supplemental Oxyen or Not on Supplemental Oxygen, your ABG Test should show a lowered CO2 Level, and a Lowered HCO3 (Bicarbonate) level with a corresponding neutral PH level. Breathing will become easier over time. By Increasing your breathing rate your body will reduce the CO2 Levels, which over time will reduce the HCO3 levels keeping the Blood PH neutral. Note: When the ABG Test shows a Higher than normal HC03 level, a person will actually forget to breath and your O2 Levels can drop with out a person breathing automatically, this is why a person has to mentally keep breathing to keep the O2 Levels in the blood high. I use Supplemental 02 at night because when I sleep my respiratory rate and heart rate drop to the low end of normal. This causes my O2 in my blood to drop. With the use of Supplemental O2 at 1.5 Ltr Per Min I manage to keep my levels high enough. I have read that a person who has COPD and when using Supplemental O2 should keep their Blood O2 between 88 and 92. It is my understanding that if given too much supplemental O2 it can cause a person to retain CO2 which is detrimental. I personally recommend using an Oxygen Monitor, recorder called the O2 Ring by Wellue. It will record the O2 Levels, Heart Rate and Motion of the wearer. It costs around $165.00 and works great. It automatically downloads the values from the ring when removed from ones finger and is easy to set up. Just download the App for your smart phone. May God bless you and your mother! Good luck in making her life easier! PS: I started using a CPAP machine for 3 months and it caused my CO2 levels up so high I was unable to move 10 feet without becoming totally tired and breathless. Stopped using it and I am now able to climb a set of stair without to much trouble, just slower than I had previously. I believe the continuous high Air Pressure from the CPAP machine did not allow the body to eliminate the CO2 in the Blood and enter the Air in the lungs. In normal breathing, a person expands the chest cavity, this cause the lungs to increase in volume which lowers the air pressure inside the lungs allowing the CO2 to exit the Blood. Reverse is true when exhaling allowing the O2 to exit the Air in the Lungs and enter the blood.
FYI: Improving CO2 Levels, Methods and Reason I believe any type of CPAP or BiPAP will increase a persons CO2 Retention making things worse. I have similar problems but not as bad. I currently use supplemental O2 at Night and during the day only if my O2 is below 88. A person needs to immediately start using the Parsed Lip Breathing Technique to reduce their CO2 Retention. The mehod I use, is to Breath In quickly through my Nose for 2 Counts, then Exhale slowly through Parsed Lips to restrict the out flow of Air for a count of 4 or 6. I believe that it is necessary to restrict the inflow of air when breathing in, this will create a lower Air Pressure inside the lungs. This lowered Air Pressure allows the CO2 to exit the Blood Stream and enter the Lower Air Pressure in the Lungs, reducing the Blood CO2 level. Then when the Air is Exhaled through Parsed Lips, it increases the air pressure inside the lungs which helps the O2 exit the Air in the Lungs and enter the Blood Stream, increasing the O2 Levels in the Blood. A person needs to used this method of breathing as often as possible, even when not short of breath. If this breathing method is used for a month, every day when on Supplemental Oxyen or Not on Supplemental Oxygen, your ABG Test should show a lowered CO2 Level, and a Lowered HCO3 (Bicarbonate) level with a corresponding neutral PH level. Breathing will become easier over time. By Increasing your breathing rate your body will reduce the CO2 Levels, which over time will reduce the HCO3 levels keeping the Blood PH neutral. Note: When the ABG Test shows a Higher than normal HC03 level, a person will actually forget to breath and your O2 Levels can drop because a person stops breathing automatically, this is why a person has to mentally keep breathing to keep the O2 Levels in the blood high. I use Supplemental 02 at night because when I sleep my respiratory rate and heart rate drop to the low end of normal. This causes my O2 in my blood to drop. With the use of Supplemental O2 at 1.5 Ltr Per Min I manage to keep my levels high enough. I have read that a person who has COPD and when using Supplemental O2 should keep their Blood O2 between 88 and 92. It is my understanding that if given too much supplemental O2 it can cause a person to retain CO2 which is detrimental. I personally recommend using an Oxygen Monitor/Recorder called the O2 Ring by Wellue. It will record the O2 Levels, Heart Rate and Motion of the wearer. It costs around $165.00 and works great. It automatically downloads the values from the ring when removed from ones finger and is easy to set up. Just download the App for your smart phone. PS: I started using a CPAP machine for 3 months and it caused my CO2 levels up so high I was unable to move 10 feet without becoming totally tired and breathless. Stopped using it and I am now able to climb a set of stair without to much trouble, just slower than I had previously. I believe the continuous high Air Pressure from the CPAP machine did not allow the body to eliminate the CO2 in the Blood and enter the Air in the lungs. In normal breathing, a person expands the chest cavity, this cause the lungs to increase in volume which lowers the air pressure inside the lungs allowing the CO2 to exit the Blood. Reverse is true when exhaling allowing the O2 to exit the Air in the Lungs and enter the blood.
Please explain: I've read that COPD patients have to be careful not to use oxygen concentrator machine too often. And to keep oxygen levels between 94 - 98. Why???
That’s only true if you know that you are a COPD retainer which can be identified by getting an Arterial Blood gas. If you are a retainer, then you don’t want your SpO2 to get too high because in theory, you may start breathing less. It’s more complicated than that, but the main thing is that you don’t want your SpO2 to be over 98% if you are a retainer.
Both weights and cardio are very good if you can tolerate them. I would add breathing exercises as well. With weights, exhale during the exertion. You want to breathe out for twice as long as you breathe in. This will help get rid of the excess air.
I was just hospitalized be cause of high CO2 levels. They used a CPac on me and I woke up literally screaming for them to take it off!! I’m claustrophobic and can’t stand something even near my face. Is there anything else I can do besides exercises to lower my level?
Anxiety and Depression are major components of COPD. I always recommend seeing a mental health professional as well as practice deep breathing exercises daily to cut down on the symptoms that come with anxiety and depression.
