Portable Concentrators.

[Tatters]

Morning All, I think this site is marvellous and has been of great help to me, thanks to all. I am on 24/7 Oxygen and coping pretty well but find my mobile cylinder on the heavy side. I have now decided to look into purchasing Portable Concentrator, I haven't spoken to the supplier yet but I feel that the Inogen One G3 or the Activox 4L would be suitable for my needs, the prospects seem great and would give me back a lot of freedom, may even start going out for the odd meal again !

My question is have any members of the site had experience of these two models ? The cost is very high and so the right decision is crucial. Tatters.

[Toci]

Don't be too quick to buy as many oxygen companies will supply a portable concentrator for you in place of the cylinders. Ask you respiratory nurse and they can order one for you.

[Tatters in reply to Toci]

Thanks Toci, so quick to answer, I'm noted for taking my time making decisions especially where money is involved !!! Thanks for the advice so much appreciated.

[stone-UK]

Hi

Although you may be able to obtain a POC from your oxygen provider, they are quiet heavy upto 10 lbs but do come with a trolley.

Not much advantage over cylinders which are actually lighter.

The models offered are

Imogen one G2 or Philips I-go.

I use a Imogen one G3

It is suitable upto to 4lpm, very quiet at setting 4 ( the one I use)

Very comfortably to carry, easy to charge in home or car.

Less bulky looking than the Actovix.

The following do offers mine was £800 discount, you need to keep checking prices.

intermedicaldirect.co.uk/pr...

Before you make any decisions, speak to your respiratory nurse for suitability.

POC deliver oxygen in ml per breath not all are the same.

[Tatters in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks for your input all sound and knowledgeable advice. Much appreciated.

[Bryju124 in reply to stone-UK]

I have a portable oxygen concentrator, it has a spare battery plus car charger. Yes it is a bit heavy but my hubby or my grandson carry it for me lol I got this from BOC my oxy provider after I talked to my resp nurse who organised it. I love it

[mich11020]

Hi, I don't know what portable cylinder you use but I use a liquid oxygen high flow stroller which only weighs 5lb and at 2 litres per minute lasts 8 hours. I pull it along on a trolley. I also have freedom 300 cylinders as a back up that only weigh 5.7lb. I think the portable concentrators weigh considerably more and I'd b worried how long the batteries would last when out and about.

[ChrismasHolliday]

I bought the Activox 4L in July this year and I'm very pleased with it. I'm on oxygen 16 hours a day at the low rate, but I guess this will go up in time, and the 4X goes from 2 litres to 4litres in stages. I bought this model as I take a lot of short 2 or 3 night breaks away from home and the Intermedical staff, who sold me it assured me that this was the smallest model that can be used overnight while still charging. Before this I had to give my oxygen supplier 4 weeks notice whenever I wanted to go away, which meant I wasn't getting away as often as I liked, as I used to get a lot of last minute trips.

I don't drive, and also found the portable cylinders too heavy to carry about, so I had to use a 3 wheeled walker to carry them on shopping trips and such. This is bulky, and felt that it made me look stupid as apart from my breathing I am still pretty active even though I'm 68, so on more than one occasion I have set of to run for a bus pushing this trolley. That's turned a few heads!

I do find that the Active4L is a bit heavy for me to carry all of the time, but I can pull it about in a small shopping trolley and only have to carry it if I need to use it while I'm outside (you mustn't use it while in the bag). Around the house it's great if I need to do anything where I'm moving from room to room as I can use that and not keep tripping up over my cables. I got the extra battery with mine, so on setting 2, which I use, my batteries last for 12 hours. I love mine, I call it my little Freedom Machine. I hope this was some help in making your mind up. I is a big expence, in fact it's the most expensive thing I have ever bought, but I don't regret it. I feel theres no point in having money in the bank and being miserable at home because I couldn't get out to enjoy myself. Ive since bought an electric cycle, which I can carry the Activeox on, and between them I'm reliving my childhood.

[Tatters in reply to ChrismasHolliday]

Hi Christmas Holiday,

What a nice and informative reply. The AcivOx 4L seems to cover all my needs including the odd night away. I am on 2 lpm 24/7 and 4 lpm when active, no I don't have a bike but you never know, but then at 78 getting a bit past that will just have to watch the super cyclists going past my house. I'm just wondering about the weight as whilst I am pretty big, not much fat though, I have got weaker but my physio is doing a good job getting muscles working a lot better. With the replies I have received I have a lot to think about. Thank you. Tatters.