Oxygen

[Kim]

I am going to cardiac rehab. My EF is up to 45% but when I excersise my oxygen has started dropping down to 85%. I am confused about this because when I first started Cardiac rehab 2 mths ago this wasn't happening. I am pushing myself but I am not even able to keep up with the much older folks at cardiac rehab. Has anyone else experienced similar problems.

Kim

[SusanD]

This is a red flag and your Dr. should be consulted before you continue further...as well as your exercise program being appropriately adjusted. What is your resting oxygen saturation ? At what point are you dropping ?

[Kim]

It is happening after I added 2 extra minutes on the treadmill for a total of 19 minutes at 2.5 mph on a level surface and I added an extra minute on the transport for a total of 5 minutes. The last time it happened I began feeling nausiated. The rehab personnel said to go back to my previous times on the machines this wasn't happening. My oxygen goes back up when I rest after 3 or 4 minutes.

Kim

[SusanD]

It is happening after I added 2 extra minutes on the treadmill for a total of 19 minutes at 2.5 mph on a level surface and I added an extra minute on the transport for a total of 5 minutes. The last time it happened I began feeling nausiated. The rehab personnel said to go back to my previous times on the machines this wasn't happening. My oxygen goes back up when I rest after 3 or 4 minutes.

Kim


Who is running your rehab ? Is it an RN or an exercise physiolgist or specialist ? I agree with bumping back your exercise, but since this is a new development for you, your Dr. should be notified. Are you having any other signs and symptoms ?

[Kim]

I am having some shortness of breathe and at the time it was happening i felt nausiated. My rehab is run by excersise phys.

Kim

[SusanD]

I am having some shortness of breathe and at the time it was happening i felt nausiated. My rehab is run by excersise phys.

Kim


It has been my experience (and that of others here) that exercise physiologists in general are *great* but sometimes do not have a solid foundation for dealing with cardiomyopathy patients....there is a tendency to lump them in with the cardiovascular disease patients who have a normal ejection fraction. The exercise plan and progression is decidedly NOT the same and the monitoring is not the same either.

I suggest you speak with your MD about this.