I'm new here and really concerned about a few things. Ten years ago my doctor said I had Chronic Bronchitis, and suggested I quit smoking. She gave me a prescription for Chantix and I decided I needed to quit pretty darn fast. I hate to admits this but I started smoking when I was 16 and stopped when I was 70.
I had convinced myself that I didn't have COPD so I didn't need oxygen. I couldn't walk from my car to the store but didn't want to tell anyone that I was short of breath.
A month ago I ended up in the hospital with the flu and my oxygen was 62%. My husband told them I had COPD also. At the time they didn't know whether I had the flu or not so they tested me and I had it. Spent four days in the hospital. I also developed pulmonary tension supposedly because of the fact that I had low oxygen.
The question I have is this. I've had cold now for about four days with a cough. It's getting better but my oxygen level goes down to 66% when I get up to do a small chore. I have a appointment with a Pulmonologist on March 6th. But until then I'm thinking maybe I should call my PCP and talk to her about this.
Up until a week ago things were going great and then I got the cold.
I'm on oxygen all the time. So I just assumed I would stay up in the 90s.