DeansWife
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2011
- Messages
- 197
- Diagnosis
- 08/2011
- Country
- US
- State
- AL
- City
- Fairhope
Wondering if anyone else has encounter this situation. Over the past month Dean gets very short of breath after walking to the bathroom etc. He is using a walker. I've taken him to the ER twice because it's lasted longer than 15 - 20 min. both times. The last trip to the ER he was on oxygen and being monitored. While resting, his level was in the 90's however, when he stood up to use a urinal it dropped into the low 60's. Chest x-ray revealed his lungs were clear.
Because his blood oxygen is always OK when checked in the doctors office, medicare will not pay for oxygen. I called the doctor yesterday and explained how it drops only upon exertion. They are going to send a monitor to use for a 12 hour period and see it we can get it justified. I'm sure it will drop everytime he gets up and walks.
We recently moved and are now three hours away from the pulmonologist that he used. I've been working at getting him in to see one here that was recommended and finally today got a appointment for January 29th! Damn, a lot can happen in the next two months. I'm calling Monday to get on their "cancellation" list in hopes of getting in earlier.
So anyway, has anyone else experienced this same situation as far as the blood oxygen goes? It really scares me when he can't catch his breath for extended times.
Because his blood oxygen is always OK when checked in the doctors office, medicare will not pay for oxygen. I called the doctor yesterday and explained how it drops only upon exertion. They are going to send a monitor to use for a 12 hour period and see it we can get it justified. I'm sure it will drop everytime he gets up and walks.
We recently moved and are now three hours away from the pulmonologist that he used. I've been working at getting him in to see one here that was recommended and finally today got a appointment for January 29th! Damn, a lot can happen in the next two months. I'm calling Monday to get on their "cancellation" list in hopes of getting in earlier.
So anyway, has anyone else experienced this same situation as far as the blood oxygen goes? It really scares me when he can't catch his breath for extended times.