Hypoxia-altitude simulation testing

Air travel and respiratory disease. 

** Hypoxia-Altitude testing...ever heard of this test before? 

Neither had we, that is until the referral came from the respiralogy doctor advising it beneficial to have. The telephone call this week notified of the test on October 1st. 

Should it be a concern?  YES!  And we're very interested in hearing from any individual out there who has already had this test performed.

How does this affect someone with a respiratory disease? 

Since even a normal and healthy person can desaturate when altitudes are reached by flying, a person with abnormal lungs (read - lung diseases), can become particularly vulnerable to risk factors such as abnormal spirometry. Those patients with a resting oxygen saturation below 92% or 92-95% on air with additional risk factors are recommended to have a formal hypoxic challenge test to identify whether they are able to compensate for the altitude.  

What is this test exactly then?

"Hypoxia-Altitude Simulation Testing is used to to assess acute cardiopulmonary responses to the inhalation of hypoxic gas mixtures (equivalent to the inspired oxygen tension (PO2) present at 5,000, 8,000, and 10,000 feet above sea level) alone and in combination with supplemental oxygen (O2), also measuring arterial blood gases."

  

Highly recommended to those suffering from lung disease. Why not ask your doctor to refer you if flying is of concern for you? 

You can find out more about it here;

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6508019

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Owning a personal Oximeter

We're in the middle of a heat wave here in Ontario, and the humidity is something else the past few days!

During times such as these when indoor living and ultra dependence on air conditioning enters the big picture, there are little reminders everywhere on how this type of climate affects folks with respiratory diseases.

The topic of air quality fills my husband's respiratory physiotherapy ward. Cautions are at the helm of his days to keep indoors.

Today, another little reminder remains in our focal point on our bathroom counter, right next to the blood pressure cuff machine.

The FED Ex man brought a little package. Such a fast delivery considering I only ordered it yesterday and it came all the way from Montreal, Quebec today.

Impressive!

This cute little device is modern technology at its best! So small and so cute! Can you guess what it is?

It's a finger oximeter machine.

Told you it was new and smaller, a wee one that rests on a finger and can calculate both oxygen levels and pulse rates.

It was strongly recommended, suggested in a stern way in fact, that my husband now requires the use of one at home to keep an eye on his oxygen levels at any given moment. Morning, noon or evening, we are going to be investigating why he plummets suddenly and hope to be able to begin charting differences in oxygen readings from various times of the day.

If anyone out there has a respiratory disease and can benefit from this little baby, here's the information for you below.

This is product number; NN9570 - GO-2 Oximeter, blue.

We found them available from both the Proresp company, and Roxon Medi-tech. For a store near you, contact Proresp using their website or to place a FED Ex order right from the company directly to your home, try;

Roxon Medi-tech
(514) 326-7780

Just a warning though, both companies preferred a referral by way of a hospital, doctor of any sort, something likened to a prescription before they would sell one to assure a necessity on the patient's part.

The cost was steep. It was 183.00 Canadian with shipping and taxes included. But for a little peace of mind and a whole lot of respiratory care, this medical device is a health staple, offering incredible benefits to the user.

We've all tried it on for size, and numbers. Standing or laying down seem to produce changes in the numbers, so all have also tried both. Normal is 98-100% just in case you don't know that. (wink)

When I tried it on, I guess I was so excited about this cute bug, and trying to take the photos, my husband told me my pulse was a bit too high. smiles...

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Hand hygiene, a forgotten art.

Every time I attend one of my husband's hospital tests and specialty appointments, there are copious amounts of signage to direct folks towards hand washing stations or antiseptic and/or antibacterial hand pumps. 

There have been instances while enduring long waits, either for myself, my husband or both of us, when we sit quietly and observe the activity around doorways and biways, and especially elevator entrances. 

Much to my chagrin, I can honestly report, the worst offenders are not those who are attending appointments because they are suffering from disease, rather I have found some clerical hospital staff will use preventative measures in donning a mask if you dare go near to them with a lung disease induced cough, because they aren't aware one is not contagious. 

Still worse, and on the flip side, many of the doctors and most hospital staff I've observed are completely ignorant to their own preaching about the importance of washing their hands in hospital and patient settings. 

Three weeks ago, I took our visiting daughter to emergency for a bug bite when a severe reaction became out of control. While waiting in the emergency department to be seen by a doctor, I was able to observe the flurry of activity and the hubbub of hustle and bustle as patients entered and hospital staff attended to those in their midst. 

Rather than to throw caution to the wind, I was amazed once again to note attending physicians roaming from curtain to curtain and not washing their hands in between, before touching the next patient when deemed necessary. 

I suppose I've earned a loving reputation for asking a doctor not to touch anyone requiring care who happens to be in my midst before moving to the sink and washing up. It used to be the rule, no touching and observing a patient unless you wash your hands first. These days, many do not. 

Superbugs aside, what about the respiratory wards then, when hospital staff run amock and not pay attention to the signage themselves? 

As the wife to a man suffering from lung disease, might I suggest to you or yours that the discomfort of uninvited (polite) confrontation is a necessary evil when one is looking out for their loved one. In fact, silence could be mistaken as acceptance when nothing is uttered. 

Oh sure, admittedly it's not the most comfortable process to be placed in a position to forge forth and kindly request they please mind washing up before examination, noting it is nothing personal of course to them, rather you're just trying to keep up the protection of your loved one. 

Smile lots and be sure to keep a cheery voice. And to be sure, there is absolutely nothing lost but plenty is gained when avoiding possible in-hospital illness and other disease through germ carriers within medical staff. 

If you're not certain on the importance of this little tidbit of attention to health detailing, here is a link directing you over to the Canadian Lung Association's article entitled; Fight germs and wash hands properly.

little daily reminders

Welcome...

There is little by way of support for this rare disease called; "Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome", either around the globe or within the big wide system of cyberspace.

Hoping to cross the universe by way of this humble little blog on the intensely personal subject, reaching out toward others with the same diagnosis of said disease, or one of the three other lung diseases which one becomes predisposed to over time from the onset of MKS;

"Bronchiectasis, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Emphysema".

Unfortunately my disease has reached a stage whereby I've recently visited a lung transplant surgeon, and the preliminary red tape towards the latter end stage of my disease, quite literally rocking my world. 

The process has begun for me towards this next step in my medical journey.

Therefore, I would love to hear from you if you are also perhaps from a medical team and/or a transplant team who has questions or suggestions. Maybe you have a story to share of a loved one with a lung disease and can offer encouragement, support, good cheer or a few warm thoughts from knowing those who have walked similarly before me.

Please come again, and feel free;

• to bookmark the blog at the link HERE

• pass along the blog address to others who might hope for lung disease information or support 

• email this blog post or blog address to others who may be interested in lung disease issues

• help us to link-up to others to offer the world some sorely deserved "Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome" awareness

• become a follower of the blog so keep abreast of news and information for others with lung diseases

• or simply offer prayer for all those afflicted by lung diseases in general.

•  drop us a note and introduce yourself. Maybe you can offer a suggestion for this blog. Either way, we'd love to hear from you. 

Thank you so much for visiting this day!

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The sunsets in our days ...

"Slip away and watch the sunset."

... there are more calls to finish

"Those will wait. The sunset won't."

~ The Guardian, Dee Henderson

For you who suffers from the effects of a lung disease;

When breathing becomes labored

know there is another who 

suffers similarly as you

Life is precious

Be thankful for all life's moments

And hug the ones you love often

When morning's sunrise appears

and the lungs beckon attention to clear

the day will always offer you 

multitudes of blessings 

and copious amounts of good cheer

No matter how tough your moments

There is always a beautiful sunset 

most guaranteed to be

an exquisite crowning glory to your day

Attitude counts!

What will yours be like today?