Advice

[Margie2553]

advice wanted going on oxygen soon practically are there things or places you cant go with it id it heavy to take around

[stone-UK]

Hi

Any where you can go you can still go with oxygen.

Suitable equipment would depend on your oxygen requirements and whether you can use pulse delivery or need continuous delivery.

Typical cylinder with bag and trolley weighs about 3.7 kg

Liquid oxygen flask from 2.2kg to 3.4 kg

Portable concentrator older models about 5kg comes with trolley, newer models 2.2 kg.

The main recommendation it to keep away from naked flames, and petroleum products.

[Margie2553 in reply to stone-UK]

what about the theatre there wouldn't be room for equipment would there or cinema for example just wondered if other peeps could do these things it is mainly because my son does ameteur dramatics and I like going to ser him

[stone-UK in reply to Margie2553]

Hi

If using a cylinder.

Contact theatre before hand, they can arrange suitable seating.

A liquid oxygen flask or light weight portable concentrator will sit on your lap or under seat.

[Margie2553 in reply to stone-UK]

thanks for comments very helpful

[mskpjb in reply to Margie2553]

I`ve gone to most places with my oxygen. If your oxygen is for ambulatory use you`d turn it off while you were sitting in the theatre. Public transport is ok as long as you can lift it on yourself. The only problem I had when travelling by train (Do ask beforehand for Passenger Assist ! ) was that I wasn`t allowed to change at Euston or some of the major London stations. I was going to Hatfield so went to Milton Keynes and picked up from there. Think of the oxygen as a means of letting you do even more. Sheila x

[Maureenpearl in reply to Margie2553]

I go to the theatre and i take the cylinder which is in a bag that you carry over your back or shoulder, I can lay it down under the seat or stand it up between the seats. I do not use the trolly bag because it's bulky for the theatre.

You can go shopping, restaurants, church, hotels, and just about anywhere.

All the best.

God bless

Maureen x

[Rhonda2121]

I have a portable oxygen concentrator by Respironics weighs about 2 1/2 pounds. Inquire with your doctor if you qualify. Comes with A/C and car charger adapters. Ok for airline travel also.

[skischool]

Margie the world is your oyster,go out and enjoy it,most decent people will accomadate you and your kit,as advised sometimes a quick phone call to certain venues will smooth the way and hopefully even get you a better seat.enjoy your new freedom.......love skis

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One point - if you like going to theater/cinema then best not to have portable concentrator as they make a noise and those sitting near you may complain (this happened to head of USA's COPD Foundation when he visited a Broadway show with his portable). Liquid O2 in a backpack, or a cylinder runs silent so would be best option for theatre goers.

[sarcoid1234]

There are different kinds of oxygen equipment. Your Respiratory Nurse will decide which would be best for you.

There is compressed oxygen. You phone your oxygen supplier when you have nearly used it up (you will be given more than one cylinder) and they deliver the next day. Some tanks are smaller than others. You can have a conserver attached which only delivers oxygen when you breath in (pulsed) so the oxygen lasts longer.

I have a liquid oxygen container (dewer) which is kept in the garage and I fill up my portable tank just before I go out as it evaporates over 24hours.

I can use it either on continuous or pulsed.

Both come with a special bag so you can use it like a rucksack.

I have been to the cinema many times with my oxygen.

I wasn't given a trolley with my oxygen but I bought a shopping trolley with a seat (lots on Google) and if I am going to the shops etc I put the cylinder with bag in that.

There are also portable oxygen concentrators. It plugs into the electricity while you are using it and it charges a battery at the same time so you can go out and about with it. They are very expensive to buy but I believe some oxygen suppliers in the UK will lend them on the NHS. There are different suppliers in different parts of the country. I am supplied by Dolby Vivisol; other parts of the country (UK) are supplied by Air Liquide or British Oxygen Co (BOC). There may be others.

If you are on long term oxygen (I am 24/7) there are static oxygen concentrators which plug into the electricity and filter out the oxygen from the air, so you receive nearly 100% oxygen in your tubing.

If you are going on holiday you phone your oxygen supplier company about 3 weeks before and they will arrange for your usual oxygen prescription to be delivered to your destination accommodation.

An advantage is that in the UK I can 'hire' a mobility scooter at shopping precincts for free which saves on the oxygen as I can turn it down when sitting - Google Shopmobility.

So, all in all life on oxygen is not much different from life without it. We are very lucky to have it! In my way of thinking, with oxygen my other organs in my body are being kept very healthy as they all need oxygen!

As mskpjb says above: Think of the oxygen as a means of letting you do even more.

Christine