Oxygen use.

[pollyjj]

I have only been using ambulatory oxygen for a few weeks, I wondered how long the people on here have been using oxygen.

polly xx

[naturelover]

Hi there Polly,

Have only had mine a few weeks too. I have only just started taking it out with me but find the tank far too heavy...I have osteoporosis too and have to have the tank in a cotton shopping bag close to my body to carry it. (not ideal) I was using mine last thing at night before I went to sleep but kept waking up with a terribly dry mouth, and no amount of water seemed to help...have stopped doing that now. Saying all that I am so glad to have it to use, have been using it this morning already. Did some exercises last week upstairs and was able to use it with the long lead, that was very helpful.

[Toci]

Hello Polly. I have used oxygen for 6 years. It becomes a 'normal' part of your life very quickly.

[Hidden]

Hi Polly, I have been on 24 x 7 Oxygen for about 18 months and I have to agree with Toci. My only problem is trying to remember to reorder my oxygen before bank holidays but apart from that I have no problems. Berwick

[Tigree]

The dry mouth is so uncomfortable. I have been advised to put a bowl of water in the room and I also found that the sparkling water flavoured lemon and lime really does help day and night.

[imelda16]

Ive only been using oxygen for a few weeks and it does take time to adapt . It is heavy for me to carry so I got a shopping trolley and place it in and make it secure then put any shopping in as well and im finding that suits me at the moment. It really does make walking much easier and I can use the trolley as support when stopping for a rest. I have used oxygen at night sometimes,but as you say it causes a dry mouth and I also I cough more.

[happyfeet59]

6 weeks so far on continuous at night 15hrs on 5Lpm. Ambulatory assessment today and another disappointment. Seems I need 8Lpm on pulse for walking! So I can only have cylinders and not the fancy electronic ones. My small cylinder on pulse will last 1hr - so no more long walks (been a while anyway). I suppose I should be pleased my need was picked up on before I passed out from lack of oxygen! How did I manage all summer with such low oxygen?

Why has it dropped so low so quickly? I am to have a scan of my arteries next week for some reason. When the consultant said she'd send me for a scan, I assumed it would be a lung scan. But the letter says 'scan of the arteries'. Wonder what that is?

Adjusting is hard - but I guess we all adapt, we have to.

[Hidden]

Polly, I have been using Ambulatory Oxygen for almost 3 years. I started out with compressed cylinders but found them too heavy so asked for liquid oxygen. The carry cylinders you use are very much lighter than the compressed oxygen and are easier to carry.

I then moved to using a Portable Oxygen Concentrator as this is allowed to be use used when flying. This was brilliant until earlier this year when my SATS suddenly started to drop into the low to middle 70's.

I was reassessed and my Oxygen was upped to 5litres - SO, back to compressed Oxygen. This was just no good for me as I really do find the cylinders far too heavy and one only lasts for 1hr 40min maximum on 5 litres. I contacted my Respiratory Nurse and asked her to prescribe liquid Oxygen for me.

Today, I got my Liquid Oxygen again and I hope it is going to help me!!! I have also been given two containers I can fill to use when I go out.

I know I can turn my rate of Oxygen down to 4 or even 3 if I am not doing anything too active. Example is I can manage on 3litres when going slowly around a supermarket. When walking around a shopping centre, I usually need my full 5 litres.

Good luck with your Oxygen.

Thérèse

[jamierees]

god my lungs are killing and i have to work again unlike the man in my village whom gets a house with benefits because hes got a drink problem. how bad do my lungs have to get before somebody class's asthma as a disability as most days my inhalers just don't work. treharris surgery is a benefits fraud surgery where there giving people with bad ears sick notes but bad lungs get up get to bed we need that inhaler money which is worth billions we need to fight asthma and bad lungs are classed as jokes and not disabilitys