About oxygen concentrator

[Mendy]

Could anyone help me please? If on oxygen concentrator says 15 lt with inhaler and if recommended oxygen is 3 lt per minute, does it mean that the oxygen in 15 lt concentrator ll be enough for only 5 minutes?😳

[stone-UK]

Hi

Don't quite understand question. A oxygen concentrater will deliver oxygen for as long as there is a power source, either mains or battery. Mains will work 24/7 , battery according to size and oxygen requirements.

I use a portable unit which supplies 1/4 LPM, on 4 LPM which I use with battery it will last 2 hours.

[Mendy in reply to stone-UK]

Hi Stone, thank you very much for reply. I didnt know that concentrators deliver oxygen from the air, i thought they should be refilled with oxygen, like with oxygen tanks.

[Mooskie in reply to stone-UK]

Are you on pulse or continuous?

[Mendy in reply to Mooskie]

Mooskie, we dont have any yet. I m thinking to get one.

[Toci in reply to Mendy]

If you are in the UK your oxygen supplier should be able to supply what you need. Speak to your respiratory nurse.

[Mendy in reply to Toci]

No Toci we arent there. And here they dont want to give oxygen because blood test shows 97%. 

[Hidden in reply to Mendy]

So why do you want oxygen?  It's not really to help you breathe but to protect your organs if your sats go down below 84%.  With sats so good I can't see you need it?   x

[Mendy in reply to Hidden]

Because he cant breath when he walks.For emergency case, in case he ll be breathless. After 3 days they ll do that blood test again to check if there wasnt laboratory mistake.

[Hidden in reply to Mendy]

Well if his stats regularly go below 84% and stay there for any length of time he might need oxygen.   How about a nebuliser?  x

[O2Trees in reply to Hidden]

88% is the standard cut-off cough xxx

[Hidden in reply to O2Trees]

I bow to your greater knowledge O2  

Is it 84% and under when your organs could be affected?  x

[O2Trees in reply to Hidden]

Ive only ever heard 88% mentioned as the standard cut off point in relation to organ damage, both by my nurses, physios, consultants etc and often on lots of posts here on the forum. Ive had several oxygen assessments via 6 minute walk tests and that's what they always say.  (And another thing some now say - well, my physios do - is that you shouldn't de-saturate on exertion more than 4% below your usual resting saturation, which for me would be 89%.)

However some say that it doesn't matter if it's at 87% for a short time on exertion as long as it comes up quickly after you stop.

However, having said all the above, I remembered Parvati's account here on the forum of desaturating to 82% while doing the Great North Run and her nurses were with her then.  Which makes me think that maybe sometimes you can take a calculated risk if you just can't get to 88% but still really want to do something like she did.  Maybe you couldn't do it too often though and you'd need to clear it with your medics.

I would like to understand more about it too.  xx

[Hidden in reply to O2Trees]

Ah I am sure I have heard the figure of 84% and below which can lead to organ damage,  but 88% regularly needed keeping an eye on as getting towards that figure.

Perhaps someone will come in who knows?  x

[O2Trees in reply to Hidden]

Do you remember where you might have heard that Bev?  I'd love it to be right

[Nottobad in reply to O2Trees]

The last time I was admitted to hospital I was told the normal rate for someone with COPD is between 92/88 under 88% you need to be admitted to hospital for oxygen. 

[Hidden in reply to O2Trees]

On here O2 some time ago.   I am sure stone-UK  knows.  x

[stone-UK in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bev 

456-789 Rule. This explains why your doctor doesn’t always need an ABG to check your oxygen levels. Generally speaking, your SpO2 matches up with your PO2 as follows:

90 percent SpO2 = 60 PO2 (this is your normal range, and usually no oxygen therapy is needed)

80 percent SpO2 = 50 PO2 (this is your hypoxemic range, meaning oxygen therapy is needed)

70 percent SpO2 = 40 PO2 (this is severe hypoxemia, immediate treatment is needed to prevent tissue damage and death)

- See more at: healthcentral.com/asthma/c/...

[Hidden in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks stone  Not sure what Sp02 and PO2 mean?  x

[stone-UK in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bev

SpO2 is oximeter readings

PO2 is Aterial Blood Gasses reading

[Hidden in reply to stone-UK]

Ah thank you.  x

[Mendy in reply to Hidden]

I thought nebulizers used for inhaling? He uses it in hospital now infaling steroids. Strange that oxymeters show low sats and blood test normal. 

[Toci in reply to Mendy]

Mendy, using oxygen rarely, if ever, helps with breathlessness and taking extra oxygen when his levels are so high can cause a dangerous level of carbon dioxide build up in his blood. Oxygen is a medication - would you prescribe yourself other, dangerous medication you did not need? Be very careful.

You are right O2, sats regularly below 90 should trigger an oxygen assessment as sats regularly below 88 causes organ damage, though short term drops can be managed.

[tulips123]

I use an oxygen concentrator, at 2litres per minute, which means the machine absorbs the air, concentrates it down and chucks out some of the rubbish because my lungs are not efficient enough to do the job on their own, to keep oxygen sats above minimum of 93%.  I also have asthma, separate condition, for which I use the blue Ventolin inhaler to relieve tightness symptoms in the lungs,  and the Seretide 250 which has steroid and needs to be taken regularly ie in my case 2 puffs twice a day.  This keeps things stable, but if something causes problems eg a cold, I may need emergency nebuliser, and if this continues I may need oral steroids to calm irritation or inflammation in the lungs.  Regardless, a Dr. needs to make assessment and advise appropriate treatment.  Self treatment for breathlessness symptoms could be highly dangerous.  Also, as far as i'm aware Suppliers for Concentrators are referred by qualified Medic as to what is appropriate.  Also, Concentrators need to be serviced regularly by the Supplier, and most importantly, safety rules explained, advice given on how it works, eg. keeping the filter cleaned regularly. 

I would strongly advise against trying to treat these symptoms without qualified advice.  I asked my Dr. about getting my own Nebuliser but I was informed they would be reluctant to do that because if I feel a need for it I should be seen by a Medic to confirm appropriate treatment.  Very best wishes.   Tulip xx

[Mendy in reply to tulips123]

Thank you very much for reply. Thank you for letting me know all these details. Need to talk to doctor again.

[Tatters]

I think that you have had some excellent advice from Group Members, I, and I suppose many others, thought it was straight forward going onto Oxygen but believe me as has been pointed out it is very complex and needs sound medical advice. Too much oxygen can be as dangerous as too little, so take heed of the sound advice given and seek medical help.  Best wishes for the future.

[O2Trees in reply to Tatters]

Too much O2 can trigger CO2 retention Tatters, not nice to have.

[dianehill]

I'm so frustrated with my respiratory nurse i'm on liquid oxygen and cannot walk very far without it my sats drop and my heart rate goes up . I have not been on holiday in 12 yrs mainly due to finance .

finally i decided because my condition is getting worse i would book a small break and so i have a few days in Belgium drive over from Dover stay in a cheap hotel me and a friend she helps me a lot it's costing us £250 for both her and me altogether a great price you may say mmm. I thought i could take my oxygen with me get the small version ( R4 mini lol ) i'd be OK... Nope not allowed i have tried my best to arrange oxygen abroad hopeless, so OK i asked about a concentrator from my respiratory nurse "ho no your not prescribed one you will have to hire one here are the numbers " .

I rang around these company's each telling me it would cost me £275 plus vat when i told the nurse this she said "Oh well"... Hmmmm they (Nurse ) have access to these machines and could have ones on loan surely for people like myself and other ...

It makes me feel because I'm disabled i am being penalized for it and so feel very frustrated and stressed Grrrrrrrrrr.

[Nitap]

Hi Dianehill, I have the same problem too. We have been going to Jersey at least 3 times a year and Christmas, I have amazing friends there who we are very fond of. Last Xmas we moved house middle of December and as you know it is a stressful time, hence the first time we did not go 😢 We have been trying everything we can and friends have also got in touch with the hospital (which is wonderful. I had the privilege of having 3 nights there two years ago, due to an accident, another story) I asked on being released how much - The Sister said "nothing, we have a reciprocal arrangement with the UK !!!). Now they want £169 per week plus have to go to Boots to get my portable canisters for £60 ???? I am on 2lt and these last for 1 hour 45 Mins. I am looking at 5/6 per day geeeze- for two weeks -have to now win The Lottery methinks ?.

So how comes there are lucky ones who can go on Holidays - Sorry for the rant xxx good luck for you xx