On 6/25/2025 at 3:55 PM, simon43 said:

Right now, my blood oxygen level is around 88%, heart rate normal.

 

I have bronchiectasis (widening of the lung bronchi, caused typically by previous pneumonia).  Because my bronchi are very sensitive to air irritants, I moved to Khanom Beach, with clean, salty air, and that suited my lungs.

 

Last week I had to go to Jomtien Beach to finish up my rented condo.  The location was nice, the condo was cheap, but the smell of cannabis was everywhere, and my lungs definitely didn't like it!

 

I came back to Khanom with bad bronchitis, which I've had dozens of times previously.  Bad cough, tons of thick mucus in my lungs, very tired, and I still need to teach online 🙂 I had to abandon some lessons due to uncontrolleable coughing attacks.

 

Today, things seem a little better, after taking anti-biotics and mucus thinners and 'huffing' exercise.  But I bought a pulse oximeter from Lazada to check my oxygen % level.

 

88%, sometimes 90%.  Hmm...... Dr Google told me to get to the nearest hospital!

 

I have been short of breath, due to the mucus partly blocking my bronchi, but no worse than what I've experienced with this poxy illness over the past 25 years.

 

Does anyone with a lung condition use an oxygen concentrator?  I might buy one to help me a little during these flare ups.  Does anyone have experience of these?  Thanks.

Buy a new Oxymeter.......

I’m not sure if it’s available but you could try buying Beetroot or Beetroot juice as many Dr in the UK recommend, it should increase your grading above 95.

On 6/25/2025 at 9:31 PM, simon43 said:

I never feel faint or light-headed - the shortness of breath is due to the damn mucus blocking up my airways 🙂  BTW, my lungs themselves are fine - hence I can briskly walk 10km every day without getting short of breath, (even with chronic bronchitis I start short of breath but after 10km it hasn't got worse.

 

I stand by my original suggestion to go see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. 

 

By way of personal experience, after I got my 4x bypass surgery at Bumrungrad, they x-rayed my lungs pretty regularly to see my progress.  Turns out the reason my lungs were filled up with fluid is because my heart wasn't beating strong enough to keep them clear.  So it was a question of what was causing which.  In my case, it was plugged arteries causing the fluid buildup in my lungs. 

 

But YMMV.  Get ye to a doctor.  At least before you pony up the $1000 USD or so to try out an oxygen concentrator.  Which may do nothing for you.

 

On 6/25/2025 at 4:52 PM, simon43 said:

Thanks!  Happily I have never felt faint at any time.  My typical heart rate is rather slow at 45-55 beats/minute, but doctors have attributed this to a healthy heart as a result of the daily exercise that I do (5-10km brisk walking every day for the past 25 years!) to keep my lungs clear.  At night, my heart rate can drop to 35, but doctors have checked and said that this is not due to any heart problems, but is solely because of my good heart health. I only feel slightly short of breath when the damn mucus sticks in my bronchi 🙂

 

As an aside, many years ago I took up playing the Lao khaen musical instrument to help my lungs, since one can play songs by breathing in and out without needing to take an 'external' breath.  I can't say that my ability to play the khaen has improved though!

I have COPD, I have used a device called Airofit, where you do breathing exercises that you follow on your phone via Bluetooth.  I have used it basically for 4 years now on a daily basis, except when sick or on holidays.  It strengthens your auxiliary breathing muscles so you’ll find breathing easier. This device is used by athletes,  but many people with lung problems have found it helpful.  Indeed I have. You will be able to improve your lung volume, hold your breath on both inhale and exhale, thus making you more carbon dioxide tolerant which has many advantages.

 

i also use an OPEP device, which you exhale into, it forces you to cough, and with the vibrating metal ball inside the device it helps loosen up flegm in the lungs so you cough it up.

I also have an oxy/pulse meter, I have good levels 98-99%.  But one would expect this seriously deteriorating whilst having a lung infection.  So test again when you don’t have an acute infection. I use several other tools, won’t go into here unless you’re curious/interested.  
 

There are useful supplements, NAC (helps thin mucus), Mullein leaf, Boswellia (LOX-5 inhibitor), all of these help lessen the production of mucus in your lungs.  When inflammation is in your airways, your body tries to over compensate with the production of mucus, so those supplements work on dampening the constant inflammation.

Best of luck, take care.

On 6/25/2025 at 3:55 PM, simon43 said:

Right now, my blood oxygen level is around 88%, heart rate normal.

 

I have bronchiectasis (widening of the lung bronchi, caused typically by previous pneumonia).  Because my bronchi are very sensitive to air irritants, I moved to Khanom Beach, with clean, salty air, and that suited my lungs.

 

Last week I had to go to Jomtien Beach to finish up my rented condo.  The location was nice, the condo was cheap, but the smell of cannabis was everywhere, and my lungs definitely didn't like it!

 

I came back to Khanom with bad bronchitis, which I've had dozens of times previously.  Bad cough, tons of thick mucus in my lungs, very tired, and I still need to teach online 🙂 I had to abandon some lessons due to uncontrolleable coughing attacks.

 

Today, things seem a little better, after taking anti-biotics and mucus thinners and 'huffing' exercise.  But I bought a pulse oximeter from Lazada to check my oxygen % level.

 

88%, sometimes 90%.  Hmm...... Dr Google told me to get to the nearest hospital!

 

I have been short of breath, due to the mucus partly blocking my bronchi, but no worse than what I've experienced with this poxy illness over the past 25 years.

 

Does anyone with a lung condition use an oxygen concentrator?  I might buy one to help me a little during these flare ups.  Does anyone have experience of these?  Thanks.

 

I have a poc which I use quite a lot. My oxygen reading is same as yours 88/88/90 when I use the poc it rises to 92/93/94 if you can get one get with continuous mode, more expensive but means you don't have to breave in to get air in your lungs it will kind of force the air in whereas with a pulse mode one you have to take a breath in order to get your air.

On 6/25/2025 at 4:55 AM, simon43 said:

Does anyone have experience of these?

Nope. But I typed your OP into ChatGPT for advice ... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also asked ChatGPT to recommend specific models. It gives models and reasons why they are better than others. You can play around with ChatGPT yourself. 

 

Mucus clearing tips ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks very much for the consultation with Chat GPT 🙂  Since I've had this illness for 25 years, I'm already fully aware of the various lung exercises, medicines and precautions that I need to take.  Because I follow these recommendations, my illness has not got worse in these 25 years, but I do have 'flare-ups' and at these times I can get a little short-breathed, but nothing that concerns me greatly - an oxygen concentrator is cheap to buy on Lazada, (or a small oxygen tank) could help.

 

Right now, I have no flare-up. The bronchitis/flare-up slowly receeded (as it always does), but it takes a few weeks to fully recover.  so now I am in good health and just waiting for the next flare-up!  I'm wearing a good quality N95 facemask when close to others, and that should help to reduce airborne infections.

 

Also, note that this is not an illness of my alveoli.  My lung x-rays are always clear.  It is an illness of the bronchi that passes air to/from my lungs.  They are wider than normal and therefore my body naturally produces more mucus.  So when I have bronchitis, a lot of mucus gets stuck in my bronchi, thus making breathing more difficult.  The best treatment is mucus-thinning medication, so that I can cough up the sticky mucus 🙂

On 6/25/2025 at 4:14 PM, simon43 said:

Ah, an answer from a moron!!  Living with a serious lung condition requires regular monitoring of my state of health, and one aid is a pulse oxymeter......

A doctor visit might help too.

Mine is 86 /65

13 hours ago, simon43 said:

good quality N95 facemask when close to others, and that should help to reduce airborne infections.

Good idea. I got a bit relaxed about masks,  and as a punishment I am just recovering from 10 days HMPV. Nothing serious,  but certainly not enjoyable. 

Masks in elevator, taxi, BTS and when waiting at a pedestrian red light together with a crowd of 25 others. 

 

I actually got this infection from a foreign friend, because in farang and Chinese countries it is socially accepted to sneeze, cough and spit into the face of others.  Thais don't do this (how do they do it??).

 

I will have to learn.  If I meet a friend for a coffee and when I come I see a sneezing and coughing wreck, I will have a very urgent emergency and have to leave immediately. 

I cannot change them, but I am sick of their infections. 

 

BTW you should get a RSV vax, if you don't have it yet