COPD question?

Question

mother has COPD. she is 63 - 90lbs - stays in bed - 88 oxygen level - oxygen given on #3 24/7 - I think I am seeing signs of her getting worse but not sure what I should look for before calling 911 or making her go to the doctor. Some mornings it seems as if she will never wake up or she seems out of it. These signs have just started showing up. she has been on oxygen now for about four years. Any information on this questions is good information.

Answer 1

She may be having problems with too much carbon dioxide building up in her blood. The function of the lungs is not only to provide oxygen to the body, but also to get rid of carbon dioxide. One of the problems associated with COPD is a high blood CO2.

If the level of CO2 gets very high, it can cause mental obtundation (drowsiness, decreased level of consciousness).

If she is having problems waking up, she needs to be seen by a doctor. There may not be a lot that can be done, as it sounds like she has end stage lung disease.

Her oxygen dose may need to be adjusted, but that needs to be done while she is monitored. If patients with COPD are given too much oxygen, it can decrease their drive to breathe, and the CO2 can actually get worse.

At 90 pounds, you can probably pick her up and TAKE her to the hospital if she doesn't want to go. It may be that an adjustment of her medications can improve her pulmonary status, and she deserves an attempt at that.

Good luck to you, and God bless!

Answer 2

My mom insisted on being sent home with oxygen against the hospital's decision not to. With COPD the more pure the oxygen the more carbon dioxide is going to be produced which is OK for a healthy person because we naturally exhale it. Her condition is where she has trouble exhaling the carbon dioxide (it gets trapped in her lungs=poisoness) so they wanted her to breath normal air levels of oxygen. After a while she would understand after going directly back to the hospital when on oxygen.
My mom has been doing fine for about 6 years in and out of the hospital a few times with attacks (allergy season triggers).
Last time she got a lung infection which caused her lungs to fill up with fluid in which she needed an antibiotic (this was threatening). It took the hospital a few days to figure out the problem. With lung infection it is the worst thing to stay in bed, but it is what everyone naturally does. You can appear out of it as well with carbon dioxide poisoning.
My mom is 60 yrs old
Good Luck!

Answer 3

Any suddn change, and any change in her level of consciousness, certainly deserves medical attention. Doe she have a home health nurse coming at all? Has she had labwork done recently? Is she drinking enough water? A urinary tract infection, dehydration (which is surprisingly common in the elderly and the ill), or a change in her drug levels or body chemistry could account for all kinds of changes.

Call you doc today, and if she is truly less aware, then call 911. Be sure to tell them what is different and what is normal - often they don't know how to assess the seriousness without someone insisteing that a condition or behavior is new.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I am 40 & was just diagnosed with copd recently. SMOKERS take note, I never thought it would happen to me. I am 88 lbs & my advice to you even though I am not a doctor is to do everything possible to make it easier for her to breathe. Make sure when she sleeps she has atleast 2 fluffy pillows & ask the doctor about an Albuteral inhaler. That helps me. There is one in every room in my house. Also try & get her to cough up as much plem as possible. I feel very sorry for you too, my 14 year old has to watch me gasp for breathe sometimes & it's not fair to ones we love.Two more things my pharmacist told me there is medecation that can help so you might want to ask yours & Vicks vapor rub on her back & chest Good luck

Answer 5

not being coherent upon waking probably is due to lack of oxygen since her sats are in the 80's #3 seeting may not be high enough for her ask the doc this setting is considered a "maintenence" setting-sometimes a doc wont go higher because a copd does not have lung capacity for more oxygen really though she can go higher if doc agrees tell him her symptoms.

Answer 6

Your mother sounds as though she is getting hypoxic ( deprived of oxygen).. she does sound as though she is getting worse and you should probably take her to the DR..Sometimes something as simple as a slight cold or conjestion can set this off. As far as her confusion this could be also caused by hypoxia. I would try elevating her head when she is in bed. like 2 to 3 pillows, but be careful not to just elevate her head but really the upper part of her body so she is not bending prodominately at her neck but as a slight incline from waist up so you don't cut off her airway.. also any change in her level of conscienceness deserves immediate attention. You should call 911

Answer 7

I'm sorry to hear about your mother. My mother also had that. Your mother is "slowly" dying. There's nothing the doctors can do. Has she said anything to you about not wanting to be on life-support? If so, abide by her wishes!
My dad always said of my mother," I hope she doesn't suffer when she dies." She didn't suffer when she died. I was with her.She just never woke up.She was suffering while alive. Because of not being able to breathe, her quality of life was nil. She had always been very active as a younger person, but her smoking cigarettes shortened her life. So sad.
If you want to ask me anymore questions just let me know. It's hard on everybody. May you cope with ALL that this situation entails.
I am a Bible reader and teacher, and If you'd like I can share with you scriptures that can help you cope and give you hope.

Answer 8

Call the doctor, now!. She should be getting some kind of exercise, daily, to keep the oxygen flowing and her lungs functioning properly. Sit her up, and make her stay that way as much as possible. By just staying in bed, she is killing herself.

Answer 9

talk with her dr