posted
So, my doctor prescribed oxygen and I am suppose to do it at bedtime. I am not sure if I am suppose to keep it in while I am sleeping or not. I should call tomorrow and ask. The order said 24 hours, so I guess I can do it anytime, but she told me in the appt to do it at bedtime.
But anyway, she told me lyme disease hates oxygen so it should help. I also have an alpha thalassemia trait, where my red blood cells are smaller than usual so they don't carry as much oxygen.
I am just wondering how many have found oxygen to be helpful?
-------------------- Ema Posts: 394 | From Southern California | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
I would def ask your doctor. I think there are downsides to doing too much oxygen, so leaving it in all night might be a bad idea unless its on the right setting.
See how much your doc wants you to do.
Posts: 131 | From Neptune, NJ | Registered: Oct 2012
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posted
When you go on oxygen, a respiratory therapist is supposed to come out and make sure your setting keeps you at the right pulsox number.
I started oxygen almost a month ago, my situation is complicated by moving to a high elevation and having Babesia, but as soon as I got on the oxygen, I have no more symptoms except fatigue. No more muscle pain, headaches, nothing.
The humidifier or bubble infuser attached to the concentrator helps, but you may still have a dry nose. Use saline nasal spray to add some moisture to your nose.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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gigimac
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33353
posted
I thought I heard oxygen makes babs worse?
Posts: 1534 | From Greensboro NC | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
I have heard that oxygen is bad for babesia too. Is that true? I really believe I have babesia, and I don't want this oxygen to make it worse.
thalassemia doesn't always mean low iron. It's just that red blood cells are quite smaller than normal, so they don't carry as much oxygen to the tissues.
-------------------- Ema Posts: 394 | From Southern California | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
luvema, just did a quick check and yes, it means that some of your red cells are smaller-- smaller
because they don't have the usual complement of 4
heme/iron molecules to bind oxygen and is an adaptation to malaria in the environment. If you
are saturating 02 wise at 99 percent , that means all of your oxygen is attached in the cell
whether they have 3 molecules of 02 or 4 molecules. If you do not supplement 02, you may
have to circulate more blood/heart works harder, breathe more rapidly, work harder to get to 99 percent.
Regardless, those 3 or 4 heme molecules will be saturated. These heme molecules are what babesia
and bartonella need, whether or not you take supplemental oxygen, whether or not you have to
work harder to saturate fully. The red cells come out of your marrow with all of the number of heme
molecules they are ever going to have without oxygen entering into the picture.
With this long winded explanation, I would say take the supplemental oxygen.
Posts: 482 | From Oregon | Registered: Feb 2011
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
I took 5 liters per minute for 2 hours a day before bed, for a few months, before I realized my problem was lyme disease. It was very helpfuil for me, and I believe the funny dizzy and tired feeling it gave me was a very mild "herx" from killing some bugs. It slowly increased my energy.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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