02 diffusion....was.....nausea

[Guest guest]

Kim, 02 diffusion is a test of how efficiently your air sacs transfer 02 into the blood. Every age group and sex has a 'norm'. The % is determined by how well your lungs are able to do this transfer relative to the norm for your sex and your age. (There may also be other factors involved when determining this %.) An 02 diffusion below 50% is considered 'severe' hypoxia. 50-65% is considered moderate hypoxia, 65-85% is considered mild hypoxia. (I got the %s from the internet so the actual % may vary according to MDs.) A PFT will give an ACTUAL diffusion and an ADJUSTED diffusion. Your ACTUAL diffusion will be labeled DLCO. Your ADJUSTED diffusion is your DLCO divided by your lung volume. Since lung volume can increase as elevation decreases (or decrease as elevation increases.....think of the men who climb MT. Everest....), your adjusted diffusion will

vary according to the elevation at which you are tested. For example, when I lived at an elevation of 4800', my DLCO was 52%. Adjusted for lung volume, my diffusion was 53%. At my current elevation (900'), my DCLO is also 52%. However, adjusted for lung volume, my total diffusion is 62%. Assuming my DLCO (based upon actual scarring) doesn't change, if I were living at sea level, my adjusted DLCO could be greater than 62%. On the other hand, if I moved to an elevation of 7000', my adjusted diffusion would be no greater than 52%. (I do not know if it could ever be less.) I moved to the lower elevation precisely to improve my adjusted diffusion %. If you have had a PFT, look for your DLCO. This is your ACTUAL %. However, it is modified by lung volume (given on same test). Lung volume is influenced by elevation. maryKim

L Jelen wrote: at 55-56 difussion what does "difussion" mean?? Kim Re: Re: nausea Heres a question, for all that are using 02 Iam at 55-56 difussion how do I know if its time to talk about 02 more seriosly with my doc. ? and when I go to the mountains should I have one ? flying?at rehab I have been pushing myself to see when my numbers drop so when I am at work or doing my own ecercise I have a better understsnading of my limit. because I have been unknowly dealing with this desease for ...now 4 years I have gotten use to short of breath and sometimes just go with it . I now know I am harming myself more by not knowing my limits. Dorisjanne5303 wrote: Oh , I am so sorry about your doctor situation. It is

difficult enough to deal with serious illness without having an insensitive doctor treating you like you are worrying about nothing. I have been there. I would leave the office, get into the elevator and cry. When I had my lung biopsy I actually felt validated. Finally, I could prove that I was in pain and actually sick. It was a cruel victory, however. I found myself a top notch pulmonologist and a top notch rheumatologist and have had good treatment since. I know it hard when you are so sick to shop for doctors. But you are fighting for your life. I wonder why these guys who have no heart even go into the business of caring for the sick?? I pray that God will lead you to the very best. You are worth it! Hugs, Joyce> >> > Joyce - you do have a wonderful spirit...and that is so important. It's easy to get scared or depressed....it's harder work to get yourself out of bed and ready to face the world somedays. But, I know it helps to talk to others who have the same fears and worries. You need to be able to talk about what is bothering you....I try to explain to my family when I'm having a bad day...but there's a lot of explanation that usually happens just to get them to understand...and then I'm exhausted. If that happens enough, my response to "how are you feeling?" will be "fine." So, that is why it is so easy to talk to this group. I know that people ask questions because they care and want to really understand. Some days we just don't have the energy for it, you know? I love to write and have thought about keeping a journal....it's another method of working

through those feelings we have. As a nurse, I have seen patients die because they lost their spirit....and I saw patients who lived much> longer because they had such a will to live. So, you hang onto that positive attitude and outlook you have. > > > > > > --> > Diane Quinlan > > dianequinlan@ > > > > > > But, you know Ginger....inside where my spirit lives....I don't feel like I am dying. I have days when I feel scared or lonely but most of the time I am just excited to be alive and look forward to tomorrow. I have some little faces that I look forward to seeing. > > I am especially happy to meet you and others on this site. It helps so much to share. I have already learned so much. > > Hugs to you, friend.> > Joyce> >> > > >

[Guest guest]

thanks for the info - I'll have to look back on his test results.

Kim

Re: Re: nausea

Heres a question, for all that are using 02 Iam at 55-56 difussion how do I know if its time to talk about 02 more seriosly with my doc. ? and when I go to the mountains should I have one ? flying?at rehab I have been pushing myself to see when my numbers drop so when I am at work or doing my own ecercise I have a better understsnading of my limit. because I have been unknowly dealing with this desease for ...now 4 years I have gotten use to short of breath and sometimes just go with it . I now know I am harming myself more by not knowing my limits. Dorisjanne5303 wrote:

Oh ,

I am so sorry about your doctor situation. It is difficult enough to deal with serious illness without having an insensitive doctor treating you like you are worrying about nothing. I have been there. I would leave the office, get into the elevator and cry. When I had my lung biopsy I actually felt validated. Finally, I could prove that I was in pain and actually sick. It was a cruel victory, however.

I found myself a top notch pulmonologist and a top notch rheumatologist and have had good treatment since.

I know it hard when you are so sick to shop for doctors. But you are fighting for your life. I wonder why these guys who have no heart even go into the business of caring for the sick??

I pray that God will lead you to the very best. You are worth it!

Hugs,

Joyce> >> > Joyce - you do have a wonderful spirit...and that is so important. It's easy to get scared or depressed....it's harder work to get yourself out of bed and ready to face the world somedays. But, I know it helps to talk to others who have the same fears and worries. You need to be able to talk about what is bothering you....I try to explain to my family when I'm having a bad day...but there's a lot of explanation that usually happens just to get them to understand...and then I'm exhausted. If that happens enough, my response to "how are you feeling?" will be "fine." So, that is why it is so easy to talk to this group. I know that people ask questions because they care and want to really understand. Some days we just don't have the energy for it, you know? I love to write and have thought about keeping a journal....it's another method of working through those feelings we have. As a nurse, I have seen patients die because they lost their spirit....and I saw patients who lived much> longer because they had such a will to live. So, you hang onto that positive attitude and outlook you have. > > > > > > --> > Diane Quinlan > > dianequinlan@ > > > > > > But, you know Ginger....inside where my spirit lives....I don't feel like I am dying. I have days when I feel scared or lonely but most of the time I am just excited to be alive and look forward to tomorrow. I have some little faces that I look forward to seeing. > > I am especially happy to meet you and others on this site. It helps so much to share. I have already learned so much. > > Hugs to you, friend.> > Joyce> >> > > >