Extremely High Liters of Oxygen and Long Term Use

[monarinaldi]

My mother became sick in 2006.  She was taking Humira, which lowered her immune system, and she developed double pneumonia.  Ever since then, she has gone from wearing oxygen occasionally to full time.  At least every three months she is in the hospital for a collapsed lung or some other problem directly related to her brush with death in 2006.  Over the last couple of weeks, she noticed that her breathing had become more difficult.  I am not sure how many liters of oxygen she was on before, but when she was admitted to the hospital over a week ago, they had her at 8 liters while sitting and 15 while doing any kind of movement. They also determined that she suffers from pulmonary hypertension.  Less than 24 hours after her release from the hospital, she complained of extreme pain and fell to the floor.  She was taken by ambulance to the ER, where it was discovered that she had a collapsed lung.  She was so deprived of oxygen that she actually turned blue.  The staff wanted to air-lift her to the next big hospital, but fog was so bad that they went by ambulance.  In the meantime, they had to stick a tube down her throat, and shoved in a chest tube (7th one in the last 4 years). She was in so much pain,but the nurse refused to give her pain medication (even though her blood pressure was stable). Now at the new hospital, she is on 40 liters of oxygen, and they won't even let her out of bed.  I have never heard of such a high amount of oxygen, and even though I love her, I'm scared, and everything I hear is going to be painful, I need some real answers.  It seems like doctors don't want to divulge the entire truth, and everyone else is too afraid of the answers, so they don't ask the questions.  I am positive that I know where this is going, but I need some sound advice.  Don't try to soften the blow.  I really do want to know the truth.  Please help me.

[Katpro0801]

Hello. My mom is currently on 40-50 liters of oxygen. I have been researching and this is the only post/message I have found. Even the doctors at a top hospital are perplexed. She has pulmonary fibrosis. Anyway I know this message is from several years ago and I’m so sorry to her about your mothers tough time. We certainly have some strong moms. Thank you for sharing your moms story and take care.

[ayl291]

Why is your mom on so much O2?

[Katpro0801]

She has end stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It’s a progressive terminal disease.  It’s my understanding that it’s rare for someone to even survive to receive 40 liters. She’s just entered into an in patient hospice program. She’s also a three time cancer survivor. She’s the strongest person I know.