I’m sure ya’ll are wondering WHY I have to use oxygen at such a young age. Well, first let me say, when I was 17 years old, I started using oxygen at night only at 1 liter/minute. This was because I would have blackouts throughout the daytime and fall asleep during my senior year of schooling. I was always tired. I woke up every morning with a severe headache that went away after being up out of bed for about 15 minutes. Though, running to the bathroom having to dry heave every morning sucked!
I’ll start at the beginning of my life and tell you what health problems I was born with to help you better understand why my lungs & heart need the extra help of oxygen. Here’s the majority of my problems:
•Born with 2 holes in my heart (Atrial Septal Defect -ASD, Ventricular Septal Defect – VSD)
•Pulmonary hypertention
•Scoliosis – severe, but have ONE Harrington Rod. Scoliosis deformed my rib cage to the point that leaves less room for my lungs to expand when I breathe. I wore a Milwaukee Back Brace for 11 yrs as a toddler up to my teenage years.
•Born with only one kidney
•Born with no left ovary and no uterus (so, no kids)
•Lung volume is 24% of a person my age, weight, & gender.
With all of this, I also inherited my mother’s migraines which I get every month and started when I was aproximately 17/18 years old. Since I have serious health problems, I can’t take heavy pain medicine or imitrex/maxalt. Now I use oxygen at 5 liters/minute. It’s a large amount, especially for someone who is still able to get out and about. I try to lead as close to normal of a life as I can. I think that’s what helps keep me alive so far.
I know this all may sound dreadful but I survived it. So, ask your questions. I’ve even been stopped by people everywhere to ask about what kind of oxygen I use or even the tacky question: “What’s wrong with you?” I always cringe internally when I’m asked that last one but I always answer. There are so many people who have friends or loved ones who are using or about to start using oxygen and they need help with information on how to get what I have.