in emphysema, when is oxygen needed?

Question

My father uses an inhaler/ nuebulizer now, he's only 61, but is very tired, and cannot walk very far, and he's hesistant about going on oxygen, will this help him?
He was an elec contractor, and has been told he doesn't qualify for disability benefits???

Answer 1

Disability. Have him get a lawyer who specializes in disability to help him, if the doctor says he can't work, he should be able to collect. I have been told that no one gets disability on the 1st time around with the government.

As for going on oxygen, Oxygen will always help him. In fact I have been reading lately that among the rich and famous it is the new water bottle, that many of them actually are carrying around personal oxygen takes to give them a lift during the day.

He should definitely give the oxygen a try, it certainly will NOT hurt him.
There is no reason he should hesitate. If you ever have to take him to the ER, have the personnel put on the Pulse-OX, before and while giving him oxygen. Unless he has a circulatory problem, this will show him the difference the oxygen can make.

For more infor: http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/emphysema-emphyseme/index_e.php


Pulse-ox should read 96-100%
Good Luck

I am studying to be an EMT....in respiratory distress, always give oxygen, as for Cherry-cola saying it will shut down it's natural supply...that does not make sense.

A nasal cannula delivers low flow oxygen. In many emphsema patients, hypoxia is what triggers the need to breather. Low-flow will normally not suppress this.

Answer 2

Oxygen can help him feel better, but the others are right in that too much oxygen can cause even more problems. The best thing for him to do would be to start with his physician. He or she will check his oxygen saturations with a pulse oximeter and determine if it could help him. And if they do put him on oxygen, he should remember to never turn up the level without the permission of the physician first. This is very important for his own safety. As far as the disability benefits go, emphysema (especially if he does need oxygen) should qualify him. You might want to get a lawyer for that. Good luck!

Answer 3

It actually depends on the individual patient. For some severe chronic lungers, oxygen can be harmful. Most of us use increasing CO2 as our drive to breathe, but some with emphysema walk around with high CO2 all the time, and their system has changed so that a low PaO2 signals them to take a breath. If you increase the FiO2 in those patients, you can knock out their drive to breathe. For most COPDers, though, we are trying to overcome a lack of air/capillary interface by increasing the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli. More oxygen molecules can diffuse into the blood because there are more of those molecules in the alveoli to do so.

Answer 4

He needs to have his oxygen saturation checked, if it is less than or equal to 90% then he needs supplemental oxygen. He needs to apply for medicare benefits, which actually is easier if he applies while he is in the hospital.
Cherry cola is right about shutting done the thrive to breathe with more than 2-3 liters of oxygen. Emphysema and copd patients are not used to large amounts of oxygen.

Answer 5

it could be that your father is still in his early stages, but when you said that he is constantly tired and cannot walk very far, that concerns me. the only want to find out if he needs supplemental oxygen is to do pulmonary function tests on him and other tests as well to determine the severity of his condition. i don't know why they said that he is not qualified for disability benefits -- the company said that? could be they have their own rules when it comes to disability, im not so sure. but for an emphysema patient requiring oxygen, i would say they are considered disabled because of their disease.

Answer 6

If oxygen is used at all, with emphysema, it should only be 1 to 2 liters. I probably wouldn't use it., the nebulizer will help him more than Oxygen.

Answer 7

It should be needed all the time EXCEPT WHEN SMOKING YOU DON'T MIX OXYGEN AND FLAMES TOGETHER. I'm a nurse and I have seen it done before there is a reason why they make that sign OXYGEN IN USE NO SMOKING. It should help him with his ADLs. Activities of daily living (ADLs). He should also have a PULSE OXIMITER to measure his oxygen level in his blood. Its the little thing that makes you look like E.T. He should be able to QUALIFY for all this on medicaid Dr has to write PRESCRIPTION for them all.

Answer 8

One to two liters of oxygen is sufficient, anything more will shut down his natural supply and make it harder for him to breathe. The nebulizer should help. But I would suggest atleast trying the oxygen, he may benefit from it. Also it may help with his benefits.

Answer 9

Yes it will help. My mother has emphysema and severe COPD and uses O2 overnight and when needed during the day. Plus she has 2 inhalers and a nebulizer!!
Medicare and mother's AARP pays.
Your dad could get early retirement and get medicare

Answer 10

If his COPD is severe, continuous low level O2 supplementation is shown to imrpove survival but it is administered via nasal cannula for at least 15 hours per day. It helps reduce pulmonary hypertension which otherwise results from prolonged hypoxia and ultimately causes right heart failure in these patients (thereby decreasing exercise tolerance and increasing mortality) so yes it is useful.