Hi there,

I just started using high flow oxygen and I'm finding that the hyperventilating or taking fairly fast deep breaths is making me very dizzy. Does anyone have any advice for how to benefit from the oxygen without being sick from the hyperventilation.

Thank you!

Hello,

When I had a chance to use oxygen I just took deep breaths slow and steady and I stayed on the oxygen 10 to 15 minutes longer after the cluster was over just to make sure it was gone.

Mark

G'day,  Hello,  and welcome to the madhouse.

Best bet is probably just to experiment with different settings and breathing until you get something that works well without feeling lousy.

If you haven't already seen it,  there's a button on the left side of your screen marked  Oxygen Info  and it contains heaps of little tricks to get best results.

Good luck and be sure to let us know how you're getting on because we care.

Hello,

Here’s what works best for me. Slow, deep intake of Oxygen to full lung capacity. Hold for 5 seconds and release slowly to empty.

This method allows the time for the Oxygen to be absorbed into the bloodstream and works well with the O2 mask on sale here, (see CH.com store, on the left above), as it corresponds approximately with the time it takes for the bag to refill.

It takes a bit of practice.

Best,

Peter.

Thanks for the help and feedback!

Hey Hello,

Dizziness when hyperventilating with 100% oxygen is actually a good sign you're getting the most benefit from the oxygen therapy and the fastest CH abort possible.  Sit erect in a straight back chair if you get too dizzy.

Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

So if you are in the ideal world of a demand regulator on your oxygen, should we just breath as fast and hard, inhale and exhale as you can and reach hyper ventilation (something perversely I really struggle to get to)?

Dissolved oxygen (as opposed to oxygen attached to red blood cells) is what quells a cluster. Hyperventilating causes blood vessels to constrict and that can help quell the cluster by another means. I will start with the slow deep breaths: blowing out as much as possible (like blowing out 100 birthday candles), and inhaling as much as possible. Most of our blood flow in the lungs is at the apex (top) of the lungs so the big inhale is important. Sometimes if the cluster hangs on I'll do a little hyperventilation. You'll figure it out.

Maryo,  thank you, that is interesting. I think the interesting thing is, as you say, each of us it will work differently and trying different things will lead to the best fit solution.