Breathing Tests at St. Boniface

Dad did some tests to find out about his low oxygen levels that doctors discovered before his aneurism correction surgery. His oxygen levels are in the low 90s instead of the high 90s. Chest X-rays showed some scarring of the lung tissue. So some follow-up breathing tested were ordered.

The first test he aced, the walking test, which required him to walk for 6 minutes to see how out-of-breath he would get. He talked during the entire six minutes of walking and was never out of breath. This test was done twice, once with regular air and once with an oxygen tank. Definitely no need for him to be on oxygen!

For the second test he sat in a booth and was hooked up to a computer monitor which recorded the amount of air that he was able to breath in and out. This measured his lung capacity which looks good. Then another part of that test measured the gas exchange, that is the oxygen in and carbon dioxide out. Not sure of those results. I couldn't read the monitor on that test. :)

Dad's respirologist will send the results to Dad's family doctor, but everything looks good. Dad's body has probably adjusted to the low oxygen level by producing more red blood cells, and more hemoglobin (which carries oxygen in the blood).  Who knows?  He may have had low oxygen levels all of his life.

So what should he do to stay healthy?  Walk lots. Yahoo!  He already does that!

Dad at St. Boniface getting ready to do some breathing tests.

Dad chatted to the technician for the entire walking test.
Don't think he was having trouble breathing while walking!?

Dad has nose plugs on ensuring that all the air goes in and out of his mouth
 so the equipment can measure his lung capacity.