Oxygen

Ok if someone could help me understand why because this doesn't make sense to me:: I've had a low heart rate off and on now for the last several days ( on a monitor for that) I've also felt very lightheaded and not very well. I tried an experiment although my oxygen levels seem ok ( I have a pulse oximeter) I tried some oxygen ( I normally sleep with a small amount of o2 at night) anyway it seems to help with the lightheadedness and other symptoms but why if my o2 levels are normal?? Other question is will it hurt me to use the o2 during the day?? For a while?? Because it seems to help the lightheadedness a lot

5 Comments

I guess this is telling me something!

by kmom - 2014-03-02 06:03:19

I can just imagine how i'm gonna feel once I finally get my PM if that's what I need! I just wanted to try the experiment because I got so sick of being lightheaded--I think i'm gonna put in a call to my dr. this week to see if they are getting anything from this monitor that I've been wearing--This is really beginning to effect the way I'm functioning and it's getting beyond annoying! Something has got to be DONEand soon or I'm gonna go crazy! Something just isn't right!! I know I seem impatient--and apparently already a good candidate for a PM as per my dr. last year when he did the ablation. I just wish they'd hurry up already. I just hope that this is really what's causing the lightheadedness and the symptoms i'm having --I guess that's why the monitor. or it's one of my meds?? (Rythumol, Pradoxa, or Hydrochlorothyizide (HTCZ)????

Not the O2

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-02 06:03:40

It's not the o2 level, it's how it's getting to various parts of the body. So your pulse/ox will show a good number but when you start moving the heart doesn't pump the blood (and oxygen) efficiently to the various parts of the body.

Since the brain is o2 hungry and uses quite a lot it will start telling you right away when it doesn't get enough. That's why you get light headed right away.

Using o2 will help but you really have to be careful using it. I'm not sure of all the medical reasons but the medical people watch o2 use. Too much can cause problems, too little can cause problems. Also using it over long periods of time can cause problems too.

Was in step down with a guy who needed oxygen. He thought he'd be smart and not use it. Problem was his organs needed the oxygen to survive. So by not using oxygen his organs started shutting down. Ended up in critical care, almost died.

My stepmother was on oxygen at the last. They had to keep increasing the amount. When you reach a certain level your body just shuts down and you stop breathing. So the doctor was in a bad spot because he couldn't give too much oxygen, but at the same time if she didn't get enough she would die. Unfortunately she died. Not a nice way to go.

You can use o2 during the day to help you feel better. But I'd make an appointment with a doctor to find out what would be safe levels. Like I said, either too much or too little can cause serious problems.

Theknotguy

Question in my mind

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-02 08:03:10

Question in my mind is if you're at a point where they can make a decision. I know doctors like to get enough information to confirm their thinking but as you said, enough is enough.

Going around gasping for air is not a way to live.

I wouldn't just assume a PM is the answer to everything but I do hope they can find something for you - and quickly.

Theknotguy

@theknotguy

by kmom - 2014-03-02 09:03:02

Amazingly I haven't been that short of breath it's just Iam so lightheaded most of the time especially when getting up from a sitting position I have to be real careful. Iam also very tired and have occasional burning in my chest (again this could be heartburn or acid reflux but I don't think so. It's mild but annoying) I also have palpitations every once in a while as well. I also know that my heart rates been dipping into the 40' and 50's and high 30's at night. Now whether this is all related remains to be seen I'll leave it up to the monitor guys. FYI I'm gonna stick to the low level o2 at night only as prescribed

Pulse odometers are not reliable

by HK - 2014-03-03 11:03:57

Pulse O2 meters are not reliable with any type of irregular heart rate because they are fooled by the irregularity. I am talking about the cheap non clinical models and so you should try not to rely on the data u get from them

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