A Better Explanation About Me Oxygen... - Lung Conditions C...

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A Better Explanation About Me Oxygen...

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When I read the posts on the forum I'm always struck by how we are all much the same with our breathing difficulties but on the other hand we're all completely different...

Especially when it is in the use of oxygen.

I read through the comments you left on my article yesterday about not being allowed longer tubing and that brought it home even more that our oxygen usage very much depends on our condition and probably on our respective Consultants...

It was when I told the respiratory nurse at the hospital that my concentration had all but vanished and I was going to bed at six in the evening completely knackered...then sleeping for twelve to fourteen hours...that she said she'd have a word with the Consultant...

And this is where the 'but' comes in. I'm a retainer, so too much oxygen could quite possibly be lethal...and my lungs are dry...so I have to have a little gadget fixed to the main supply of oxygen which moistens it as it enters my lungs...a humidifier. It's refilled with boiled water every day and there's various bits of tubing attached to it which in turn are attached to the tank.

And I have portable oxygen as well for when we go out...the tanks are the smallest ones available...for the frail and elderly said Malachi cheerfully, though he did soften it with a wink and a smile...they last for about four hours...not long really, and at present I can only have six a month. Though I'm going to be asking for an increase during the summer when we go out more often.

Because of the humidifier, I can't have a longer length of tubing for the main stationery tank...the humidifier wouldn't work...can't use an extension lead for the plug either because it would weaken the flow.

I have just a smidgen over six feet of tubing...so I'm more or less tethered to my desk, though I can just about reach the front door. It's fine for night time because I sleep on the settee which is beside the desk... the back door, kitchen and bathroom are within feet of me... but too far for the tubing to reach.

However...I can now get up at about nine o'clock without feeling the need for another three hours sleep...can stay awake comfortably until ten in the evening and even better I can grasp new crochet stitches and read avidly...as well as sorting out who is related to who in family trees. Before I went onto oxygen, I couldn't even do a Word Search puzzle...

It's a bit of a head game isn't it? Making the very best of whatever you happen to be lumbered with.

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Cardiovascular disease

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12 Replies

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O2Trees9 years ago

Do you have a conserver for your cylinders Vashti? They make the cylinder operate on a breath activated basis, so oxygen isn't wasted, e.g. gushing out while you are actually breathing out.

Four hours is very short, another form of tethering i'd say. If its 4 hours on continuous flow, then you'd get far longer from the cylinder if you could use it with a conserver.

in reply to O2Trees9 years ago

I do have a conserver...but still the ambulant oxygen doesn't last any longer...

hufferpuffer9 years ago

Hi Vashti, I have the lighter bottles ( for the elderly and child size) because the first ones they gave me were too heavy with my dodgy back, they don't last long on 3ltrs per min. But I get 8 at a time and have 1 in reserve, with that I can get outside every day and I have my concentrator as well for if I nip off for the weekend or whatever. I feel so lucky after seeing my Mum tethered to a huge bottle in her flat for years, if she went out it was in a wheelchair without any oxygen and that was hard for her, how things have changed since she died in '95, I feel she would be happy that so much has improved since then. Have a lovely Sunday, huff xxx

in reply to hufferpuffer9 years ago

Thank you Huff...if I can't get outside I swear I'll go quite mad!

winebuff9 years ago

I don't think with the extension of the mains lead will have any effect on your humidifier .wound around London a few times might make a difference. Look up Ohms law. The increase in resistance would be very small.

Regards. Dick

DecD in reply to winebuff9 years ago

It must be something in the wine, Winebuff. I too have been known to tipple and the first thing I thought of was no perceptible increase in resistance, when lengthening the power cord. So I think that was some duff info given to Vashti. The breath-activated conserver would seem to be the way to go, unless you can get a portable (battery-driven) oxygen concentrator, which is (usually) automatically breath-activated. I don't know if they can be fitted with humidifiers (mine isn't) but I'm sure some 5 year old prodigy will come up with the way forward, if not already.

Keep writing, Vashti

in reply to DecD9 years ago

Thanks Dec...it'll get sorted.

in reply to winebuff9 years ago

That's what I was thinking Dick...going to make a point of asking.

Offcut9 years ago

It is like chains without locks. I hope an answer can be found.

Be Well

in reply to Offcut9 years ago

I'm going to ask Malachi when he brings more ambulant oxygen tomorrow...he's very approachable.

9 years ago

There must be a way to give you a longer lead Vashti and you must keep insisting they come up with a solution. It's inhumane to expect someone to manage with six feet of tubing. You wouldn't tether one of your animals with a short leash would you ? I know you wouldn't, so why accept that for yourself ? Speak to them and describe your circumstances with the same skill and powers of description that you use in your writing here. They will listen, I know they will.

in reply to 9 years ago

Someone is coming tomorrow with more ambulant oxygen so I'll ask them...

Thank you Argana xx

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