Did you tell your prescribing doc about the COPD before he/she wrote the script for it? If so, did he/she have any problem writing a hi-flow script for you?

Wish I could help you. I'd think your situation would require the scrutiny of a supervising physician.

Good luck!

And there's the rub.  Hard as it is to get a physician to write a script for oxygen for an average Joe, try finding one who will consider additional complications.  I know they have about ten minutes to see one  of us before its on to the next patient, but I never ever have a simple “normal” problem that resolves with 2 aspirin and a good nights sleep.  That is one of the many reasons I find myself going the self-help route.  I may not be able to figure it out but at least I'm going to try.  That's more than I can get a doctor to do.  Its not his problem, he still goes home tonight headache free.  I go home and wait for the Beast.  But while I wait I prepare.  I ready my lair.  I arm myself as best I can, hoping to move from stone age tools to  bronze age tools, to iron age tools, to atomic tools until I have all the tools I need to beat the bastard.  I WILL SURVIVE!  (or die trying)

Thanks Brew, I appreciate you at least taking an interest in my plight.  And to all of you Neurologists and/or Pulmonologists lurking out there, here is your chance to jump in!

Hi Bj, I have emphysema, too. When I'm in cycle, I find that I can only stay at a 15lpm flow rate for a few minutes before I start having chest pain. I generally hit it hard with 15 lpm for a minute or two, then gradually turn it down for a maximum of 15 minutes on O2 in total. If it doesn't work in 15 minutes, odds are it won't work at all.

I NEVER hyperventilate, and in fact, lift my mask and exhale forcefully through pursed lips. (If you don't know what pursed lip breathing is, look it up ... it helps when you're short of breath).

I'm quite fortunate, that by using Clusterbusters treatments, I rarely need O2.   

pf wishes, nani

Quote:

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!


Priceless!

cts022 wrote on Aug 12^th, 2009 at 7:21pm:

Great post & explanation
You may only be a mere second year med student but you’ve got a flair for telling how it is in plain speak, don’t loose that as you progress toward graduation & good luck.

Cheers
Barry

Thanks, Barry, for the kind words.  Certainly is a little extra motivation around finals!

Bj wrote on Aug 14^th, 2009 at 2:04pm:


Ahh, if only it were that easy   As I made some reference to, apnea of all kinds (those resulting from your situation, sleep apnea, etc) are generally dealt with using mechanical ventilation.  It's exactly as it sounds: a machine basically breathes for you.  In order to use one, you basically have to either have a small machine that is pre-calibrated to your exact needs ($$$) or receive treatment under the supervision of a respiratory therapist.  The former device is intended more for people whose reflexes aren't quite there while they're sleeping (sleep apnea), so it probably wouldn't be particularly helpful in your case.  The latter, well, your doctor probably doesn't want to INDUCE an episode of apnea, so they probably just won't give you the tools.

Then again, there's no harm in asking; just make sure they are the ones figuring out feasibility instead of you working on trial and error. And if they say no, I assure you there's a good reason why 

cts,
Oops.  I was being facetious with the apnea.  Not there yet (unless 6 minutes at 6 lpm is enough to push me over the edge).  But, all kidding aside, it is very kind of you to provide such valuable information.  I am curious though, about the oxygen/COPD relationship.  The reason I have access to oxygen is that my wife uses it.  She has lung cancer (from cigarette smoking) and is on low dose oxygen (2.5-3 lpm).  I assume that is okay because it is low dose.  She uses it while sleeping.  When she is having a tough day I encourage her to use it more often, i.e. during the day.  Is that not a good idea?  

I don't have cancer (yet) but at age 62, after a lifetime of abuse, my lungs were looking forward to putting their feet up (okay, IMAGINARY feet) while I sucked oxygen and martinis on some headache free sunny beach.  You mean they won't get any help in their twilight years?

Finally, I congratulate (and envy) you on your career choice.  I'm sure you are in for a boat load of work, study, and sleep deprivation.  You will probably have lots of days that you say to yourself “its too much, its too hard”.  For what its worth, I'm here to tell you, do it.  If I could go back and have a second chance at life that is what I would do, no matter how hard it was.  The best times of my life were those that took the most effort, those that made me work the hardest, those mountains I thought I could never get over.  To steal a phrase:  Yes You Can.

Like I said before, you are beautiful.
BJ

Late answer here, but late better than never...  I've had 5 "cardiac incidents"...  6 stints.  So, Triptans are out.  I also have "mild" COPD.  I'm going on 65 this year, been having dates with the Devil for 45 years...  Went chronic in '96, was put on Oxycontin, got up to 200mg a day, with up to 10 Lortab 10mg for break-through pain.  In '02 {ironic, huh?} I didn't know if I was having headaches or not.  Absolutely the worst 3 months of my life coming off that crap.  I use 02 at 7lpm for no more than 15 minutes, and it works for me, so far, without repercussions.  As a RN, I understand the difference in what's medically called "co2 drive and O2 drive"...  but I was at the point of eating a .45ACP round, so I didn't care.  Everyone is different, and my results may not be yours.  That's just my experience... {if you're still out there... LOL}