oxygen concentrators

Has anyone, or do you know of anyone, who has used / is using an oxygen concentrator, portable or other. to help with debilitating coughing. ??

[Toci]

Hi George. Welcome to the site. I am an oxygen user and have never heard of it being prescribed to help coughs, only for people with low oxygen saturations. However, if the coughing is heavy and takes a lot out of you I can see that that may lower your oxygen levels. But I still don't think oxygen would help with the cough.

[Plumbob]

Hi George I agree with Toci - I have 2 concentrators in the house, and there used to maintain oxygen levels. As Toci said it is doubtful if they can help a cough but might be used to maintain oxygen levels during/after coughing fits. I know when I have coughing fits my oxygen can drop to low 70% at times

Hope this helps

Plumbob

[Hidden]

Hi both, I hear what you say, and my Respiratory people tell me the same.

But a friend told me they had read of someone with COPD being prescribed one of these machines to help with the coughing. (I'd never even heard of them until then).

my Sat levels aren't registering low enough for oxy. therapy. But they do swing dramatically over the day ( 83 - 95) depending on conditions. However my Theory, after hearing about these, was that it may well help, because, my coughing is 24/7 and has been for past 4/5 yrs. and is made worse by any changes in air flow etc. be it air pressure (as in the door/window being opened in the room I am in) or someone else entering that room, and outside air just lays me out for up to 3 days (after hospital visits etc) ( I'm housebound) I can't even go in to the garden. And any smells, fumes, odours of any kind all have the same affect.

I use a nebuliser 4 times a day to get some relief (only for a couple of hours max, before it builds up again). I feel if I could have a flow of good/ pure, filtered air I stand a chance.

[Toci in reply to Hidden]

But it is not 'good/pure filtered air' it is pure O2 and as such is dangerous for anyone who does not have low sats. If yours are dropping so low I would ask to be assessed for ambulatory oxygen (the 6-minute walk test). If you make them aware of when, how often and how far your oxygen levels drop they may assess you as needing the supplemental oxygen.

[Greatbanks in reply to Hidden]

I have same problem Hidden walking is a real chore just room to room has me breathless and coughing , I've got yet another chest infection again , don't seem to of had many good days at all this year now say I have diabetes ? Have other probs to I sometimes think when will it end sick of feeling so crap . Dread bed time lying down is real problem even with extra pillows . The neb dose not give same relief as it use to , one proper nights sleep would be good .

[Hidden in reply to Greatbanks]

Hi Greatbanks.

I can sympathise with you, it never seems to end does it, one "good day" would be great. I more or less resolved the bed problem with an adjustable bed so i can sleep propped up ( pillows etc. were useless ) but still go a long time without an undisturbed night. i think it's some thing we have to live with!!

[Greatbanks]

I've come to same conclusion