Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Hi every one Duane is having a real hard time with air hunger he is constantly gasping for air and says that he can not breath and wants me to call 911 this is an every day occurrence. The Dr ( his pcp and mito Dr) says that it is anxiety and physiological, his 02 is 99,98 % most of the time, and his ekg is normal they are now testing his blood but I am not sure for what. His mito Dr said that no one has died of air hunger, but Duane is so uncomfortable and this is very hard to watch. they wont give him oxygen, I have asked. They wont give him a c pap or bipap because that is for sleep apnea, and he has not been tested for that. I have given him lorazapam an anti anxiety drug and that did not seem to help either. I am at my wits end and need help, suggestions. MY QUESTIONS What and Why is air hunger. What does your Dr say if you have this? What helps you? and any thing else that might help me thank you Hugs Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Jan I'm sorry that Duane is having so much trouble. Air hunger can be caused by many things. It sounds like they are doing testing to rule out the dangerous ones. I have air hunger, brought on by physical stress. If I walk more than a few feet (less if it is hot or humid). I was told by my mito doc, neuro and pulmonologist that it is due to the cells being hungry for energy and they think that more oxygen is needed to burn fuel for energy when the problem is the broken mito system. I try to sit down immediately when I get it. Sitting up is better than lying down, just like with asthma. If he has it at night, have you tried propping his head up or sleeping in a recliner? Good luck trying to find something that helps him. laurie > > Reply-To: > Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 16:18:22 -0700 > To: > Subject: Question about air hunger > > Hi every one > > Duane is having a real hard time with air hunger he is constantly gasping for > air and says that he can not breath and wants me to call 911 this is an every > day occurrence. > > The Dr ( his pcp and mito Dr) says that it is anxiety and physiological, > his 02 is 99,98 % most of the time, and his ekg is normal they are now testing > his blood but I am not sure for what. > His mito Dr said that no one has died of air hunger, but Duane is so > uncomfortable and this is very hard to watch. > they wont give him oxygen, I have asked. > They wont give him a c pap or bipap because that is for sleep apnea, and he > has not been tested for that. > I have given him lorazapam an anti anxiety drug and that did not seem to help > either. > I am at my wits end and need help, suggestions. > > > MY QUESTIONS > What and Why is air hunger. > What does your Dr say if you have this? > What helps you? > and any thing else that might help me > > thank you > Hugs Jan > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Hi Jan, I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. When Laurie's answer came thru I saw it for the first time. I am very sorry that Duane is dealing with air hunger. It can be uncomfortable and scary. The testing they have done does indicate that he doesn't need oxygen and you wouldn't want him to have oxygen if he doesn't need it because that can cause him more harm than you would want to know. Laurie suggested that you have him sleep in a recliner or propped up at night if it's more bothersome then and I agree. Even with my CPAP and oxygen, I sleep on with my head elevated on two pillows. Anxiety can cause it to be worse as I've experienced this myself. It's a vicious circle. It starts and you get anxious which makes it worse and the more it continues, the more anxious you get. I know about Lorazepam and wonder if he needs another med to handle this. I know my PCP considered taking me off Lorazepam and giving me something else when I was so bad a few months ago but I'm doing pretty well now so we never made a change. I definitely think he should be seen for a sleep study. If he is put on CPAP at night, he could use it in the daytime if he started having a problem. I sure hope things settle soon. Having difficulty breathing is no fun at all. Alice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Hi Jan, I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. When Laurie's answer came thru I saw it for the first time. I am very sorry that Duane is dealing with air hunger. It can be uncomfortable and scary. The testing they have done does indicate that he doesn't need oxygen and you wouldn't want him to have oxygen if he doesn't need it because that can cause him more harm than you would want to know. Laurie suggested that you have him sleep in a recliner or propped up at night if it's more bothersome then and I agree. Even with my CPAP and oxygen, I sleep on with my head elevated on two pillows. Anxiety can cause it to be worse as I've experienced this myself. It's a vicious circle. It starts and you get anxious which makes it worse and the more it continues, the more anxious you get. I know about Lorazepam and wonder if he needs another med to handle this. I know my PCP considered taking me off Lorazepam and giving me something else when I was so bad a few months ago but I'm doing pretty well now so we never made a change. I definitely think he should be seen for a sleep study. If he is put on CPAP at night, he could use it in the daytime if he started having a problem. I sure hope things settle soon. Having difficulty breathing is no fun at all. Alice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Hi Jan, I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. When Laurie's answer came thru I saw it for the first time. I am very sorry that Duane is dealing with air hunger. It can be uncomfortable and scary. The testing they have done does indicate that he doesn't need oxygen and you wouldn't want him to have oxygen if he doesn't need it because that can cause him more harm than you would want to know. Laurie suggested that you have him sleep in a recliner or propped up at night if it's more bothersome then and I agree. Even with my CPAP and oxygen, I sleep on with my head elevated on two pillows. Anxiety can cause it to be worse as I've experienced this myself. It's a vicious circle. It starts and you get anxious which makes it worse and the more it continues, the more anxious you get. I know about Lorazepam and wonder if he needs another med to handle this. I know my PCP considered taking me off Lorazepam and giving me something else when I was so bad a few months ago but I'm doing pretty well now so we never made a change. I definitely think he should be seen for a sleep study. If he is put on CPAP at night, he could use it in the daytime if he started having a problem. I sure hope things settle soon. Having difficulty breathing is no fun at all. Alice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 CPAP and BiPAP are basically the same with the exception of the change in pressure for exhaling with BiPAP. Some people do better with CPAP and others with BiPAP. They thought I needed BiPAP too but I felt as if I was suffocating on it so I am better on CPAP. Just the other day, the MDA doctor suggested again that I go oni BiPAP and I see the sleep study doctor in a couple of weeks and will ask him about that because the MDA doctor told me to but you find out which is better for you by going thru the sleep study. Maggie - you shouldn't need a diagnosis for insurance to cover BiPAP. You need to go to the sleep study doctor, tell him that you are having problems and ask for another sleep study and consider BiPAP. Lot's of people have sleep apnea and they don't have a diagnosis of a MD or a similar disease. Alice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 it can be brought on by just sitting, that is what he does most days is sit and walk to the bathroom and sleep. thanks Jan Question about air hunger > > > > Hi every one > > > > Duane is having a real hard time with air hunger he is constantly gasping for > > air and says that he can not breath and wants me to call 911 this is an every > > day occurrence. > > > > The Dr ( his pcp and mito Dr) says that it is anxiety and physiological, > > his 02 is 99,98 % most of the time, and his ekg is normal they are now testing > > his blood but I am not sure for what. > > His mito Dr said that no one has died of air hunger, but Duane is so > > uncomfortable and this is very hard to watch. > > they wont give him oxygen, I have asked. > > They wont give him a c pap or bipap because that is for sleep apnea, and he > > has not been tested for that. > > I have given him lorazapam an anti anxiety drug and that did not seem to help > > either. > > I am at my wits end and need help, suggestions. > > > > > > MY QUESTIONS > > What and Why is air hunger. > > What does your Dr say if you have this? > > What helps you? > > and any thing else that might help me > > > > thank you > > Hugs Jan > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 it can be brought on by just sitting, that is what he does most days is sit and walk to the bathroom and sleep. thanks Jan Question about air hunger > > > > Hi every one > > > > Duane is having a real hard time with air hunger he is constantly gasping for > > air and says that he can not breath and wants me to call 911 this is an every > > day occurrence. > > > > The Dr ( his pcp and mito Dr) says that it is anxiety and physiological, > > his 02 is 99,98 % most of the time, and his ekg is normal they are now testing > > his blood but I am not sure for what. > > His mito Dr said that no one has died of air hunger, but Duane is so > > uncomfortable and this is very hard to watch. > > they wont give him oxygen, I have asked. > > They wont give him a c pap or bipap because that is for sleep apnea, and he > > has not been tested for that. > > I have given him lorazapam an anti anxiety drug and that did not seem to help > > either. > > I am at my wits end and need help, suggestions. > > > > > > MY QUESTIONS > > What and Why is air hunger. > > What does your Dr say if you have this? > > What helps you? > > and any thing else that might help me > > > > thank you > > Hugs Jan > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 I think that my next step would be to ask to see a pulmonary Dr we have a great one that my daughter saw. Thanks Jan Question about air hunger > > > > > > Hi every one > > > > > > Duane is having a real hard time with air hunger he is > constantly gasping for > > > air and says that he can not breath and wants me to call 911 > this is an every > > > day occurrence. > > > > > > The Dr ( his pcp and mito Dr) says that it is anxiety and > physiological, > > > his 02 is 99,98 % most of the time, and his ekg is normal they > are now testing > > > his blood but I am not sure for what. > > > His mito Dr said that no one has died of air hunger, but Duane > is so > > > uncomfortable and this is very hard to watch. > > > they wont give him oxygen, I have asked. > > > They wont give him a c pap or bipap because that is for sleep > apnea, and he > > > has not been tested for that. > > > I have given him lorazapam an anti anxiety drug and that did not > seem to help > > > either. > > > I am at my wits end and need help, suggestions. > > > > > > > > > MY QUESTIONS > > > What and Why is air hunger. > > > What does your Dr say if you have this? > > > What helps you? > > > and any thing else that might help me > > > > > > thank you > > > Hugs Jan > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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