Re: Shortness of breath with normal sats

[Guest guest]

Beth

I think thats also another part of the value of rehab too. The better

the condition of our muscles which use oxygen and the better our

breathing techniques and skills, the less of this we seem to experience.

I know my breathing habits often contribute and find sometimes I can

feel short of breath, then get on the treadmill and exercise with good

breathing techniques, and then after feel much less short of breath. The

aerobic exercises just really help me make better use of the capacity my

lungs do have. I find how rested and refreshed I am plays a role as

well. When I've overdone it or had an especially tough day the day

before or slept poorly I feel so much shorter of breath. But when I feel

rested and refreshed I'm surprised sometimes how much better I feel.

It's amazing how complex our bodies are. This is another reason to

emphasize our oximeters so we really know if our sats are dropping.

Sometimes I can know quite well, but then there are those times I check

and I'm quite surprised in both directions.

>

> Sher brought up this phenomenon....feeling short of breath and then

finding your sats are well above 90. It's happens to me and I think it

probably happens to most of us from time to time. As Bruce pointed out

there are several things that can cause shortness of breath, I only

offer what follows as another possibility. This explanation has been

given to me in both pulmonary rehabs I have attended and also by all the

pulmonary docs I've seen in the last few years.

>

> Those of us with pulmonary fibrosis have scarring in our lungs. The

scarring causes our lungs to be stiff and hard in areas. This means it

takes more work for our bodies to move air in and out of our lungs. Just

by breathing we're physically working harder than other people have to.

Our brains interpret this extra work as shortness of breath. So we feel

short of breath, can't catch our breath, can't get a deep breath etc etc

because our lungs are scarred. Our sats may be perfectly fine but that

doesn't make the feeling go away.

>

> What helps me at times like this is both diaphragmatic and pursed lip

breathing. Sometimes just be focusing on the act of breathing the sob

feeling subsides.

>

> As I said, just another possiblility. As always keep an eye on your

sats and don't ignore symptoms like sob. Check with your doctor and if

everything else is ok maybe its just the stiffness of the lungs making

it too much work for our bodies to keep up with comfortably.

>

> Beth

> Moderator

> Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

>

[Guest guest]

Beth

maybe this explains the funny feeling that i get and can't describe

you described it

thanks

Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: Shortness of breath with normal satsTo: Breathe-Support Date: Monday, October 19, 2009, 9:25 PM

Sher brought up this phenomenon.. ..feeling short of breath and then finding your sats are well above 90. It's happens to me and I think it probably happens to most of us from time to time. As Bruce pointed out there are several things that can cause shortness of breath, I only offer what follows as another possibility. This explanation has been given to me in both pulmonary rehabs I have attended and also by all the pulmonary docs I've seen in the last few years.

Those of us with pulmonary fibrosis have scarring in our lungs. The scarring causes our lungs to be stiff and hard in areas. This means it takes more work for our bodies to move air in and out of our lungs. Just by breathing we're physically working harder than other people have to. Our brains interpret this extra work as shortness of breath. So we feel short of breath, can't catch our breath, can't get a deep breath etc etc because our lungs are scarred. Our sats may be perfectly fine but that doesn't make the feeling go away.

What helps me at times like this is both diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing. Sometimes just be focusing on the act of breathing the sob feeling subsides.

As I said, just another possiblility. As always keep an eye on your sats and don't ignore symptoms like sob. Check with your doctor and if everything else is ok maybe its just the stiffness of the lungs making it too much work for our bodies to keep up with comfortably.

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

[Guest guest]

Interesting. While in rehab I have found I need upwards of 6 liters of oxygen

for the aerobic activities (treadmill, bike and stepper activities). Once I

finish my aerobic and switch to the weight side (anaerobic activities) I find I

need no oxygen at all but that the breathing is extremely important at that

juncture. My sats between weight bearing sets fo 12-15 reps will dip to 90, but

with the breathing, will rise to 96-98. And, as Bruce noted, and Beth will

attest to, the refreshed feeling after exercise makes it all worth it. The

rehab folks try to push me each time I go in. Add a minute to the aerobic

workout every week or so, add another rep to your set or up the weight

resistance 2-5 pounds. Look at adding a new exercise every two weeks or so.

Strive for 5-6 days of exercise a week. But, oh so worth it!! Generally, I

" feel " like I am inhaling deeper and feel so much better oxygenated even at sats

of 94-95. My blood pressure is lower too after and hour and a half.

Stefani 61 year old Utahn

ILD 2/2006, NSIP (cellular) 6/2009, UIP 9/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea

4/2009

> >

> > Sher brought up this phenomenon....feeling short of breath and then

> finding your sats are well above 90. It's happens to me and I think it

> probably happens to most of us from time to time. As Bruce pointed out

> there are several things that can cause shortness of breath, I only

> offer what follows as another possibility. This explanation has been

> given to me in both pulmonary rehabs I have attended and also by all the

> pulmonary docs I've seen in the last few years.

> >

> > Those of us with pulmonary fibrosis have scarring in our lungs. The

> scarring causes our lungs to be stiff and hard in areas. This means it

> takes more work for our bodies to move air in and out of our lungs. Just

> by breathing we're physically working harder than other people have to.

> Our brains interpret this extra work as shortness of breath. So we feel

> short of breath, can't catch our breath, can't get a deep breath etc etc

> because our lungs are scarred. Our sats may be perfectly fine but that

> doesn't make the feeling go away.

> >

> > What helps me at times like this is both diaphragmatic and pursed lip

> breathing. Sometimes just be focusing on the act of breathing the sob

> feeling subsides.

> >

> > As I said, just another possiblility. As always keep an eye on your

> sats and don't ignore symptoms like sob. Check with your doctor and if

> everything else is ok maybe its just the stiffness of the lungs making

> it too much work for our bodies to keep up with comfortably.

> >

> > Beth

> > Moderator

> > Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

> >

>