Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Oxygen Therapy After Pneumonia
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
Oxygen Therapy After Pneumonia
by marvelouslou, Apr 30, 2004 12:00AM
I was diagnosed with Bacterial Pneumopnia March 30 at the ER. I was hospitalized for 4 days. My oxygen blood level was only 88 walking. They sent me home with oxygen to be used 24 hours a day. After a week I saw my physician, and he tested me again.
Walking without oxygen was still low. April 26 I visited him again, and my oxygen blood level was low again walking, but my resting level was good, in the 95, or 90's range. He said I have to exercise on a stationary bike for two weeks, and walk at least a quarter of a mile. I'm over weight, and have bad knees. He said loosing weight, and exercise is crucial to my recovery. He said I can take the oxygen off while resting, but I still need it when exercising. I'm afraid to take it off at night. Will it be ok if I still use it until I see my doctor in 2 weeks at night? I take it off while resting at other activities. Is it normal to need oxygen , and feel week after pneumonia? I'm a 55 year old woman with borderline high blood pressure. Is it realy safe to take the oxygen off at night? I feel traumatized by the Pneumonia. I was once a busy active woman.
Walking without oxygen was still low. April 26 I visited him again, and my oxygen blood level was low again walking, but my resting level was good, in the 95, or 90's range. He said I have to exercise on a stationary bike for two weeks, and walk at least a quarter of a mile. I'm over weight, and have bad knees. He said loosing weight, and exercise is crucial to my recovery. He said I can take the oxygen off while resting, but I still need it when exercising. I'm afraid to take it off at night. Will it be ok if I still use it until I see my doctor in 2 weeks at night? I take it off while resting at other activities. Is it normal to need oxygen , and feel week after pneumonia? I'm a 55 year old woman with borderline high blood pressure. Is it realy safe to take the oxygen off at night? I feel traumatized by the Pneumonia. I was once a busy active woman.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, May 10, 2004 12:00AM
, May 10, 2004 12:00AM
What you are experiencing is very normal after pneumonia!
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung. This is most commonly due to an infection. Since you had bacterial pneumonia, inhaling bacteria was the cause of your infection and antibiotics would help. Additional treatment for pneumonia may include rest, fluids, oxygen, and inhaled medicine depending on the nature and severity of your symptoms.
Recovery from pneumonia varies based on the germ, your overall health, and how soon effective treatment is started. It may be months after finishing the course of antibiotics, until your oxygen level is consistently above 90% and you’re back to your busy active self. It is possible for inflammation or irritation to remain in the lungs for 6 to 8 weeks after the actual infection is gone. A low oxygen level and weakness may linger. These should gradually improve and eventually go away completely. So it is a good sign that your oxygen level is staying above 90% when you are resting! You should let your doctor know if they worsen or do not go away. A follow-up chest x-ray is helpful to show that the pneumonia has completely gone away, but it will not show inflammation that is still in your lungs. This is most likely the cause of your lingering low oxygen level and weakness. To know if it is really safe to take the oxygen off at night, talk with your doctor about having your oxygen level checked with an oximeter during the night while you sleep. There would be no harm in continuing to use the oxygen at night until you are able to talk with your doctor.
It is difficult to tell you exactly when you will return to your full strength. Generally it will take you at least as long as the pneumonia has caused you to be less active. Certainly the physical conditioning that will occur with the aerobic activity that your doctor has suggested will help to shorten your return to your usual activity level. Muscles that are physically conditioned use oxygen and energy in the most efficient way possible. You should progressively increase your aerobic activity to the point that you are able to tolerate.
Things to do to keep you from getting pneumonia in the future include good medical control of other lung and sinus problems, good hand washing, and not smoking. Pneumovax 23 and Pnu-Immune® 23 are a polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine that can prevent pneumonia caused by 23 pneumococcal strains of bacteria. Getting a flu shot in the autumn of each year may keep you from getting pneumonia as a complication of the flu. Talk with your doctor about these preventative measures. The key is to seek medical care promptly! Please read our Pneumonia MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/pneumonia.html for more information.
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung. This is most commonly due to an infection. Since you had bacterial pneumonia, inhaling bacteria was the cause of your infection and antibiotics would help. Additional treatment for pneumonia may include rest, fluids, oxygen, and inhaled medicine depending on the nature and severity of your symptoms.
Recovery from pneumonia varies based on the germ, your overall health, and how soon effective treatment is started. It may be months after finishing the course of antibiotics, until your oxygen level is consistently above 90% and you’re back to your busy active self. It is possible for inflammation or irritation to remain in the lungs for 6 to 8 weeks after the actual infection is gone. A low oxygen level and weakness may linger. These should gradually improve and eventually go away completely. So it is a good sign that your oxygen level is staying above 90% when you are resting! You should let your doctor know if they worsen or do not go away. A follow-up chest x-ray is helpful to show that the pneumonia has completely gone away, but it will not show inflammation that is still in your lungs. This is most likely the cause of your lingering low oxygen level and weakness. To know if it is really safe to take the oxygen off at night, talk with your doctor about having your oxygen level checked with an oximeter during the night while you sleep. There would be no harm in continuing to use the oxygen at night until you are able to talk with your doctor.
It is difficult to tell you exactly when you will return to your full strength. Generally it will take you at least as long as the pneumonia has caused you to be less active. Certainly the physical conditioning that will occur with the aerobic activity that your doctor has suggested will help to shorten your return to your usual activity level. Muscles that are physically conditioned use oxygen and energy in the most efficient way possible. You should progressively increase your aerobic activity to the point that you are able to tolerate.
Things to do to keep you from getting pneumonia in the future include good medical control of other lung and sinus problems, good hand washing, and not smoking. Pneumovax 23 and Pnu-Immune® 23 are a polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine that can prevent pneumonia caused by 23 pneumococcal strains of bacteria. Getting a flu shot in the autumn of each year may keep you from getting pneumonia as a complication of the flu. Talk with your doctor about these preventative measures. The key is to seek medical care promptly! Please read our Pneumonia MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/pneumonia.html for more information.
Member Comments (2)
by Sunnydaffy, Apr 30, 2004 12:00AM
Hello! I am just curious...have you ever had an overnight oximetry test?? That would tell if your oxygen levels are low at night. I am glad you are slowly getting better, keep moving like the doc says. Mine is always after me, in fact, I go to pulmonary rehab twice a week. I have worn oxygen for about a year and a half now, tough to get used to but now I feel wierd without it. Last summer I was able to stay off the oxygen during rest, now I can't get off of it at all. I use BiPAP at night, the respiratory therapist did an overnight oximetry on me to see if I was oxygenating well enough- it was a pretty easy test, just a probe clipped to your finger overnight and the machine does all of the rest! Probably the least painful test I have had done on myself! Bring this up to your doctor and see what he thinks about it. Take care and have a good day!-Sunnydaffy
