Holidays

[Poppy2525]

Hi everyone,

I don't know if anyone has any experience or advice. I am on a Bi-pap and concentrator at night for 10 hours and minimum of 15 x hours a day on a concentrator. I have oxygen flasks filled from a large liquid oxygen tank. The flasks depending on litre output will last on 3x litres about 3-4 hours. So I can get out for day trips but that seems all.

my question is I used to love holidays in the sun, but now it looks like that's all finished, unless someone knows differently. It would be nice to sit in the sun sometimes and get away from the long gloomy damp Winter days.

[Ian1967]

Hi Poppy2525,

Do you mean you are on BiPAP and concentrator overnight for 10 hours and use your concentrator for a further 5 hours during the day?

I also use BiPAP and concentrator on 1 litre the night, normally 9 hours and 6 hours during the day, I also use a portable oxygen concentrator to get around when walking or exercising.

Have you been tested for using a pulse flow POC when walking? Pulse flow is triggered by your breathing, whereas the bottled oxygen you use is continuous flow.

I have managed to book a holiday in Gran Canaria next March and I have been able to book oxygen free whilst I’m there for a week through the EHIC scheme, I will use my own privately bought Inogen one G3 for the flight until I get to my accommodation, you can take your own BiPAP abroad like I am but unfortunately you cannot take your NHS oxygen abroad.

I hope I have been some help.

Ian.

[eleena100 in reply to Ian1967]

The Portable concentrators like Airsep work really fine.....

And they have chargeable batteries and can also run on AC, DC, car battery, etc.

You can carry the concentrator where ever you like.

[Poppy2525 in reply to eleena100]

thank you Eleena

[JasperDylan in reply to Ian1967]

You can also get a converter for your bottled oxygen to convert it to pulse flow ask your oxygen therapist to see if you are suitable .

[Poppy2525 in reply to JasperDylan]

many thanks Jasper

[Poppy2525 in reply to Ian1967]

Hi Ian1967

Yes I am the same as you, I seem to retain too much CO2. I have'nt been tested for pulse flow but did mention it and they didn't seem to think it was suitable. I know the flasks last a lot longer on pulse flow whereas I normally have my flask on 3-4 litres when walking or doing gardening etc I thought if there were delays at airports I could be in trouble and very expensive to hire concentrators and liquid oxygen abroad.

also what is EHIC scheme, I have never heard of it. I have looked at buying private flasks but most are for the pulse flow.

[Ian1967 in reply to Poppy2525]

Hi Poppy2525,

EHIC is the scheme agreed by the EU, whereby when you travel in other EU countries you get reciprocal medical cover, you should also have private travel insurance as well, but if you use oxygen providing you give them at least 30 days notice, they will provide free oxygen where you are staying.

You will need to provide your own oxygen for your journey, including your flight and transfer to your accommodation, I don’t really know if you can buy oxygen bottles to fly with, you can get a continuous flow POC, but they are a lot heavier and bulkier, needing to be wheeled around and they also only supply up to 3 litres per minute, with a much shorter battery life.

You can rent these in the UK for about £400 per week from: healthoxygen.com/

Hope I have been some help.

Ian.

[Poppy2525 in reply to Ian1967]

Thanks Ian I will look into all that, certainly food for thought. Thanks again everyone