I just found out the hard way that I was dx with co2 retention. I was having a bad week, not being able to breathe too well, I have COPD and emphysema, but things were different this time, i was very weak, and i did not function too well. I wound up in the hospital on a ventilator because i was building up with co2 retention. Luckily, I made it off of the vent in 2 days, and now I am wondering what day to day takes me. Am I going to wind up on a vent again? Basically my biggest question, how if any way, do i prevent this from happening again??
I also should say that I use a bipap machine for sleep apnea, and prior to this event, I was not wearing it, because I too am on oxygen via nasal canula, and was using that in place of my machine, I also went to rehab for exercise that particular day that I would up in the hospital on a vent.
Should I be exercising? I have lowered my oxygen from 2 liters to 1.5 liters, I am exhaling deeply? Is there anything else that I should be doing?
Any information would be helpful
I also should say that I use a bipap machine for sleep apnea, and prior to this event, I was not wearing it, because I too am on oxygen via nasal canula, and was using that in place of my machine, I also went to rehab for exercise that particular day that I would up in the hospital on a vent.
Should I be exercising? I have lowered my oxygen from 2 liters to 1.5 liters, I am exhaling deeply? Is there anything else that I should be doing?
Any information would be helpful
You are describing my wife's condition exactly. She is on a vent right now. Trying to replace her C-pap with a Bi-pap before she leaves hospital. The respiritory gal gave me a fitting that is a tee that goes in line with the tube that goes to the mask and I can feed O2 into it. It might be helpful if you could find one.