Chronic Breathing Issues
Original Post: I was born with polio. I was in a hospital for one year; that was 1949, and there was no vaccine. I am now 66 years old, and I am having chronic breathing problems, and am on oxygen 24 hours a day; I am having trouble breathing without oxygen, and although some improvement with oxygen, I still feel like I'm not breathing easily or completely.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: I would recommend that you be evaluated by a physician who knows polio survivors. Oxygen can actually decrease your drive to breathe and in fact makes your lungs functionally smaller if you retain carbon dioxide.
You may have a condition requiring oxygen that has nothing to do with polio. Unfortunately, without a doctor who knows polio, you may be getting exactly the opposite treatment that you need.
John R. Bach, MD is easily accessible and widely known for his expertise in this area. I recommend his article: The Hazards of Oxygen.
His videos are easily available in Living with Post-Polio Syndrome.