Liquid oxygen

[Issma]

Hello all. I read your posts with interest daily you are all so helpful. I would like your opinion on liquid oxygen as apposed to the cylinders. Hubby has become quite a recluse due to the anxiety caused by ( will my oxygen last). After 10 years and nearly dying in June with pneumonia and sepsis suddenly we have outside help ie respiratory nurse, community matron, even our Dr is now taking us seriously. Anyway I digress, respiratory nurse suggested liquid oxygen, any thoughts on yay or nay. Many thanks x

[stone-UK]

Hi

If you look to the right of your post you will see related post. There are several post on the subject.

To consider the Dewar as to be placed in a suitable location, and the flask have to be self filled, not an easy task. The flask have to be carried can weigh upto 3.3 kg.

With the contents gauge I would think cylinders are more suitable as they come with bag and trolley there is no problem moving around, you already know the duration based on your requirements.

[Issma in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks stone. X

[Tenter]

Hi Issma,

I tried Liquid Oxygen, but, during the Dolby Vivisol (my oxygen supplier) installation found it did not work for me..

The problems I found were:

-the Dewar, the big storage bottle, had to be stored in my garage which is about 20m away from the house ( this is the limit of my walking distance);

-as stone-UK has said, the filling takes a few minutes standing up pressing the cylinder on to the Dewar (I almost passed out after a minute);

-I use Oxygen At 15 lpm, it was calculated that I would have to refilling every 1.5 hours;

- after refilling the cylinders have to be left to warm up for up to 30 minutes

- once filled, they will start to lose oxygen. So you can't fill on a Monday and store it for use later in the week.

In the end, it was decided that I would be better off having 10 standard cylinders and being able to order an extra 10 in the same week.

Depending on your oxygen needs, some of the latest Portable Oxygen Concentrator's will go up to 5 lpm (pulsed). So may be another possibility, but, suspect you would have to buy privately.

So for me liquid oxygen was not a workable solution. There may be different solutions from other oxygen suppliers, as each part of the country has different companies. I would discus with your oxygen supplier about the physical installation and the use of liquid oxygen, before, they come to install.

Hope this will highlight some things to think about.

Best Wishes, tenter

[Lizlee28 in reply to Tenter]

How long does liquid oxygen cylinders last thanks

[PastMeBest]

Hi Issma i am so sorry to hear that your husband is ill and has become reclusive due to this awful illness. I also have Pulmonary Fibrosis and although not at the same stage of your husband I use Ambulatory Oxygen.

I use DD size Oxygen bottles in my home but got some of them changed to the smaller ZA size bottles to use when out and about as the larger ones were too heavy for me to carry and I couldn't get them on by back either.

When I asked for the smaller bottles I was offered Liquid Oxygen as an alternative but declined their offer after they explained what it entailed. I was told that a large tank would be installed in my garden shed containing the liquid oxygen and that I would need to fill the portable bottles from it myself. They said that the portable bottles once filled leak over a period of time so it's a case of filling them when needed. It didn't sound very safe to me and I was having problems with my hands at the time so would have found it difficult to fill the bottles myself. Also it might have been alright going to the shed in Summer the fill the bottles but what about Winter.

I have also talked to a few people using liquid while out and about. Apparently the bottles are very cold and tend to freeze on the outside. One person carrying it on his back in the bag sullied complained has back was very cold and was causing him problems. You also need to consider how you are going to use then as they can be quite heavy.

I hope I have been of some help.

Regards. John

[Issma]

Thank you all for your valuable input think we'll give the liquid oxygen a miss. Thanks again for your help x Hubby on 3ltr at rest and up to 15 on exertion. Hay ho back to the drawing board.

[stone-UK in reply to Issma]

Hi

Can you limit the level of exertion either with a mobility scooter ot electric wheel chair.

I only use Ambulitory oxygen at 4lpm. I have my own portable concentrater. I use oxygen when going to local shop, but use my scooter for supermarket then I don't need to use oxygen, of course you husband would need 3 LPM , one or even two cylinders can easily be attached to scooter or wheelchair which will give you peace of mind if an extra boost is required.

[Issma in reply to stone-UK]

Hi stone, thanks for your suggestions. All gratefully received. Will be sticking with the normal tanks. The oxygen co are going to unlock the concentrator do we can use it higher than the 3ltr mark, that should help save the cylinders for going out visiting etc. Thanks again.

[mich11020]

Hi Issma, sorry to hear your hubby not well. I have been using liquid oxygen 2 years now but I also have portable filled cylinders supplied as a back up. I keep the large drum in my shed and fill about an hour b4 goin out. I am only 4ft 6 but I manage do it though I keep a filled portable cylinder in the shed so I don't have to come off my oxygen to fill it. You don't have to carry the liquid flask - I strap mine on to my trolley that Bayswater health supplied. The flask I use is a high flow stroller and at a 3lpm flow rate will last 5 hours and 20 mins. There is a button on the top which lights up & lets you know how much oxygen you have left. I have found this a godsend when out all day as before I had to drag 2 cylinders on a trolley! You may have decided to stick to filled cylinders for now but it is possible to have both (with the help of your respiratory nurses).

[Issma in reply to mich11020]

Many thanks for your help mich11020.its good to hear how others manage. Will defo keep everything in mind for the future.

[Lizlee28]

How long does liquid oxygen cylinders last thanks

[mrsmummy in reply to Lizlee28]

Hello Lizlee28. This is an old post and you are more likely to get replies by making a post. The short answer to your question is that it would depend on the lpm used.

This may help in making a post:

healthunlocked.com/blf/post......