Gasping for breath because its "too hot"

Thank you all for your replies.

Your dh needs to see doc/respiratory team but I can't offer any suggestions as to how you get him there I'm afraid.

What I can say is that these little oxygen cylinders are not designed to relieve breathlessness such as your dh is experiencing. They're primarily for a quick burst of oxygen to re-energize and hold a very small amount of oxygen. A 1ltr can dispensing in 1 sec bursts can be gone in a day if using for medical purposes.

I've recently had experience with oxygen supplementation following a bout of pneumonia. To put it into perspective I was on 2 ltrs per minute when moving around and 1 ltr per minute overnight. Others on the ward were on much higher flows of 8-10ltrs per minute. A fireman friend told me that they use 15ltrs pm if they rescue someone who has inhaled smoke. This will perhaps give you an idea of how little these cans are, you'd be wasting your money and not getting to the root of the problem.

Hope you can persuade your dh to go to the doc, he really needs to be seen by respiratory team.

OK, OK, I won't persue that idea.
I won't buy one.
Surely, though, these canisters can't be as evil and even life threatening as some of you are suggesting?
As there's no way (and I mean that) he'll go back to his GP it looks as though all I can do is watch him struggling to breathe until he dies.
Please, please don't anyone say 'get him to the doctor's.
Please don't say it again.
And please don't suggest I talk to his doctor, I have tried, although I have written a letter to the surgery so it's at least on record.
It really doesn't help to keep saying MAKE him see a doctor. You've heard of 'taking a horse to water ....'?

Others have mentioned the finger oximeters that tell how much oxygen is in his blood can buy in pharmacy. At least that way you could tell if he's really not getting enough oxygen. Could he be extremely unfit?

You say on the one hand that his 'heart and lungs are strong' but on the other hand he has had many cardiac investigations and 3 x cardioversions. If he is 'gasping for breath' rather than just being a bit short breath then it rules out most of the above suggestions.
Its important to realise that 100% oxygen shouldn't be given randomly - its dangerous to give it to those with COPD for example as their stimulus to breathe is triggered by the CO2 level in the bloodstream.
If your DH won't engage with a doctor there's really not much you can do but I can appreciate how frustrating that must be.

Calipso

You say on the one hand that his 'heart and lungs are strong' but on the other hand he has had many cardiac investigations and 3 x cardioversions. If he is 'gasping for breath' rather than just being a bit short breath then it rules out most of the above suggestions.
Its important to realise that 100% oxygen shouldn't be given randomly - its dangerous to give it to those with COPD for example as their stimulus to breathe is triggered by the CO2 level in the bloodstream.
If your DH won't engage with a doctor there's really not much you can do but I can appreciate how frustrating that must be.

Sorry, that's not quite accurate, random 'C' crept in there. This explains it better

"Supplemental O2 removes a COPD patient's hypoxic (low level of oxygen) respiratory drive causing hypoventilation which causes higher carbon dioxide levels, apnea (pauses in breathing), and ultimately respiratory failure"

Yes, this is an accurate summary but to redress the balance it sounds like the O2 cylinders on-line are very small and sound pretty much useless.

I think you will have to accept that you are a powerless observer in this situation and to retain your sanity you will have to tell yourself, like the partner of an alcoholic must do, you didn't cause it, can't control it and can't cure it. Much sympathy, but step back and don't buy an oxygen cylinder. He probably won't use it and it could cause harm.

I had something similar about 10 years ago. I did go and see my GP repeatedly and I really like my GP but like yours I was sent for all sort of tests on my heart and lungs all showed nothing. I knew it wasn't my heart etc. My GP persevered and performed lots of blood tests. Apparently although my haemoglobin levels appeared fine, my ferritin levels were not. I still don't fully understand the difference between my circulating levels and my whatever it was but I'm no longer suffering, we got to the bottom of it and in the process discovered I had an autoimmune condition that I was completely unaware of and still receiving treatment for.

Flexiblefriend, your experience is common. Auto immune conditions often lie unknown but causing all manner of odd symptoms

Waiting for my chemotherapy to start I became very anaemic and although my iron levels were very very high my haemoglobin was dangerously low. Extreme fatigue, a constant dry cough, weight loss and breathlessness with a high heart rate were symptoms. But I expect he has had blood tests so I expect anaemia has been ruled out.

But the OP said that her DH will not see a doctor.

Those canisters are supposed to be for athletes. I considered buying one for my DH but got him in to the doctor instead. They found he had blood clot in his lung. He is on blood thinners now. Also his lung later collapsed. He has an oxygen tank now which helps with breathlessness in hot weather and he loves it because not being able to catch your breath is very scary. If you want to buy something on Amazon to help your DH buy an oximeter. Every home should have one because when your oxygen levels are too low you are getting permanent brain damage.

A bit off topic but my DH refuses to go to a doctor anymore too. Why do they do this ?? I told him, that's fine. I'll just call an ambulance instead.

I wonder if you could get him an albutrin inhaler from the pharmacy as it could just be seasonal allergies as someone suggested.

Good points keeping quiet. I live in the same area and have asthma and struggle with breathing especially at this time. Also swelling of left ankle.