For me the trick is not to cut the rubber band from the mask. In fact, when the rubber band loses its elasticity, it's time to discard the mask and get a new one. How else could I get a tight fit with the beard? If the bag gets completely flat I feel I can no longer inhale and it's time to crank up the flow rate.

It takes several hours to empty the tank, much longer than I can sleep at one piece. Furthermore, if I fell asleep, I would fall from the chair within minutes.

(Those afraid of falling asleep should hold a brick between their knees, it will wake you up when it falls on your toes  )


                 

Quote:


Don't worry. Like I said, I'm living a normal life because of etoricoxib at the moment

I'm sorry you're not feeling great, though - hopefully things will get better soon.

Here's a for speedier recovery!

- Rosa

Bob,

I see clearly what you're saying. It’s pure guesswork on my part, but my assumptions would be:

Working with only the tidal volume leaves 90% of the ambient/CO2 laden air in the lungs. Deep breathing pure O2 brings up the overall concentration by swapping out the whole volume (well, almost). Rapid deep breathing further reduces the CO2 levels by flushing it out faster the the lungs can put it there.

Having this higher overall concentration of O2 in contact with all of the lungs surface area might increase the number of molecules exchanged to the blood stream - at a given blood flow rate – ending up with a higher blood saturation of O2.  

What I’m doing is trying to guess why it works for me, but it has really made a big difference in my abort times and peak pain levels – consistently.

So if all of my guesses are way off base, then it’s something else. I'm reasonably convinced that it’s not “all in my head” – or maybe it is actually.  

Marc

If it gives you benefit, it's not a waste.

Just trying to understand the mechanics of it (kind of like contemplating one's own navel).

OK, that's squared away for now.

Let's talk about apnea.........

Where did the term "half-assed" originate from?

5 months, 12 days till I'm a voluntarily unemployed guy like you Jimi.

35 years practice, for oxygen all I do is put the tube in the cylinder, and breath 100% as fast as it comes out, hold breath maybe 15 seconds, then repeat step one. No waste, I figger the idea is to get as much oxygen into the bloodstream as possible, as fast as possible. If it doesn't work, maybe 1/3 of the time, time for a hot shower, which works maybe 90-95% of the time. O yeah, half assed is a vulgarization from the word adz. The adz was an axe like tool, used to rough finish finish wood. Ole days, if you had the time or inclination, or bucks, wood on a hearth or mantle or beam would be finished on all sides. If you wanted to lazy out, you would just finish off the facing portions of wood, thus the term half adz, or...... Oh well, just into another episode, almost two years from the last. They call this a young man's disease, at least that is some small comfort... cheers!

I vary my flow rates. I have a clustermasx and when I get the nighttime visits it is already involved, my flow rate starting out is 25lpm+, as relief comes my demand goes down dramatically. I finish the therapy at 15lpm and lower. I can sometimes get to the 02 quickly and get relief at 10lpm. I am tighter than a bulls ass in fly season so I try to hoard my 02 same as trex.
Whatever works for you is a good thing.
all the best
the bb

Melissa wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2008 at 8:11pm:


Yo Mel,

I couldn't sing if you spotted me the do...re...me...and certainly never have had singing lessons...but, I too abort at much lower levels than most, and I'm convinced it is the DEEP, slow breathing that CALMS me down and takes me to a "different" place, where the beast is unwelcome...

Best,

Jon