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Suggest Treatment For Breathing Problem

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Posted on Wed, 3 May 2017
Question: I am a heart patient who had a massive heart attack 13 years ago due to doctor neglect! Lost my major artery! Have stents and an implant! For 13 years I have had a breathing problem, and was recently in the hospital and put on oxygen 24/7! I am home and am having a bad breathing problem. So weal! Had to cancel my first appointment with my doctor in 13 years! He claims I don't need oxygen! I cannot get to his office for him to see me! Can you get oxygen without doctors approval?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You may use oxygen at home for short periods of time.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome on HCM!

I passed carefully through your medical history and would explain that your breathing problem seems to be caused by heart failure decompensation.

You have suffered a massive heart attack and heart failure has ensued as a consequence.

Coming to this point, an optimization of your chronic heart failure therapy is necessary and in addition oxygen supplementation for a short period of time.

You may use oxygen even at home setting with the caution of administering it with repeated short periods of time (for example every 10 minutes) and avoiding increased flows per minutes.

But, in addition it is also necessary to adjust your daily diuretics (water pills) dosage; most commonly increasing the dose and also many times switching to intravenous administration.

If such is the case and no other causes has exacerbated the chronic heart failure (such as a potential arrhythmia, a pulmonary infection, etc.), then you may continue your therapy at home (even taking oxygen, also increasing diuretics daily dose).

But, if your breathing problem becomes worse and no improvements are seen, then you need to ask medical assistance to the nearest ER service at your living area.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (2 hours later)
You didn't answer my question! Can you get oxygen without a doctors approval?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

I said you above that:

“You may use oxygen even at home setting with the caution of administering it with repeated short periods of time (for example every 10 minutes) and avoiding increased flows per minutes.”

So, considering your chronic diagnosis (heart failure), oxygen supplementation would be beneficial, and you can use it at home even EVEN ON YOUR DECISION (if you could provide a portable oxygen delivery system), but in small amounts (low flow per minute, such as 1-2 L/min and in short intervals, such as 5-10 minutes).

In case this will not improve your clinical conditions, it is necessary to ask medical assistance to the nearest ER service (as I mentioned above), because heart failure often needs increased doses of diuretics and/or additional therapies when exacerbations occur due to several triggering factors (arrhythmia, superimposed acute infection, uncontrolled high blood pressure, etc.).

Hope to have been clear for you!

Nevertheless, in case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again!

Regards,

Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (7 hours later)
NO, YOU DIDN'T! MY QUESTION WAS CAN YOU GET OXYGEN WITHOUT A DOCTORS APPROVAL! I JUST NEEDED A YES OR NO!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Without a doctor's approval the answer is NO!

Detailed Answer:
OK!

I tried to be comprehensive to you. That's why I made some explanations on how to better handle with oxygen delivery considering the fact your doctor has recommended you such a practice in the past.

But, as you insist on the indication of prescribing a therapy such as oxygen, my answer is definitely: NO!

You may handle oxygen delivery even at home settings but you can't decide by yourself when to use it or not.

That's the professional medical statement regarding oxygen.

Hope to have been clear for you and to have calmed your mind!

Best wishes,

Dr. Iliri

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9541 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Breathing Problem

Brief Answer: You may use oxygen at home for short periods of time. Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome on HCM! I passed carefully through your medical history and would explain that your breathing problem seems to be caused by heart failure decompensation. You have suffered a massive heart attack and heart failure has ensued as a consequence. Coming to this point, an optimization of your chronic heart failure therapy is necessary and in addition oxygen supplementation for a short period of time. You may use oxygen even at home setting with the caution of administering it with repeated short periods of time (for example every 10 minutes) and avoiding increased flows per minutes. But, in addition it is also necessary to adjust your daily diuretics (water pills) dosage; most commonly increasing the dose and also many times switching to intravenous administration. If such is the case and no other causes has exacerbated the chronic heart failure (such as a potential arrhythmia, a pulmonary infection, etc.), then you may continue your therapy at home (even taking oxygen, also increasing diuretics daily dose). But, if your breathing problem becomes worse and no improvements are seen, then you need to ask medical assistance to the nearest ER service at your living area. Hope you will find this answer helpful! In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again. Kind regards, Dr. Iliri