In the last couple of months I have noticed I don't seem to get enough oxygen through the cannulas. When I use a mask I feel like I am getting enough oxygen. This condition is only a problem part of the time. I sleep with a Ventilator, oxygen was titrated at 2LPM, now 3.5 LPM at sea level, 5 LPM at high altitudes (we stayed at 6300 ft for 2 months...Oct-Nov 09). I have woke up gasping for air when titrated at 2LPM, but sleep fine when titrated at 3.5LPM. Something seems to have shifted around and I now sleep, at sea level, with 3.5LPM and we switched to the green oxygen line (high flow rate I think).

All of this is new to me. I have used oxygen as a supplement for years, but not nearly as much as I am using it now. Have any of you went through a situation like this? Where cannulas just don't seem to deliver enough oxygen any more?

Oh yeah, another thing, my SPO 7500 Oximeter said my pulse ox was 96/70 when I went from cannulas to the mask. So the cannulas are delivering oxygen, my brain just doesn't seem to recognize it. Very, very odd.

In the summer of 2007 I was at the National Jewish Hospital, in Denver, CO for almost a month and a half. They ran my pulse ox down to 18, that would be 15 at sea level. My brain did not know it was low on oxygen. I kept talking to them the entire time. Fast Forward and here is my brain saying it needs more oxygen when the meter says my pulse ox is 96/70. So in 2007 my brain did not have oxygen and thought it was fine. In 2009 my brain HAS oxygen and thinks it is not getting any oxygen. I hope I said that correctly.

Any ideas??

cant explain the difference, though could of course have a psychologic component.....but you cant depend on the #s alone, you need to be sure you are not anemic as well.

Pabb, thanks for the idea on Anemia, but they checked me for that a few months ago and I was not back then. Hmmmm, might be now though. I will ask my doctor, thanks again.

Here's one possibility.

If your mouth is open when you breathe you'll be inhaling air as well as the nasal oxygen, which would dilute the concentration that you're receiving.

If you use a mask then the mouth is covered so it doesn't matter if your mouth is open or not. You will only be inhaling the oxygen and not room air as well.

Koala77,
I have lung problems, second hand smoke damage, and I expel sputum 24/7. When I tried a full face mask (I must have 12 or 15 different masks by now) I had to remove it, or at least pull it away from my face and that woke my wife up. And if it took any time at all to get the full face mask to quit leaking air, I was awake as well.

So I have stuck with the Nasal Mask.

Even while I am awake, I feel like the cannulas don't provide enough air PART OF THE TIME.
That might be 25% of the time, otherwise cannulas work fine.

Another thing is that I forget to breathe. CCHS -- By the time I realize I am out of air I am gasping and the mask gives me a "feeling" of getting more oxygen in me. Psychological I guess, but who knows.

As I have mentioned before, the National Jewish Hospital, in Denver, CO is the number one Respiratory Hospital in the USA. They tested me for many things in June-July 2007. One of which is that my brain does NOT KNOW it is low on oxygen until I am gasping for air. I just forget to breathe. Sounds dumb to me too, but........... complicating it further is Vocal Cord Dysfunction. My VC will slam shut, not allowing air in, until I pass out. Luckily this does not happen often, usually when my GERD is rampant. Speech is a secondary function of our Vocal Cords, protecting our lungs is primary (So they told me).

Life is interesting.... but it could always be worse!!!!