Oxygen usage

[breslin]

I started using oxygen on Wednesday, has anyone any tips about tubing and cylinders. I find the cylinder quite heavy

[O2Trees]

Assume you are talking about ambulatory oxygen breslin? The standard adult cylinders are heavy. You can ask to be prescribed paediatric ones which are half the weight - I use those ones. The argument to use is that the heaviness of the cylinder you currently have is preventing you from doing as much exercise as you would do with a lighter one.

If you are also talking about tubing for indoor use there will be others who are better experienced who can advise you on that.

[Spacecat1]

For going out with i do have a half size one it does make a clicking noiseewhen in use. In the house I have a concentrator which is in the hall we measured the tubing so I could get in and out 2 reception rooms and kitchen and downstairs loo. So do have tubing following me around which I don't mind as its just the 2 of us so not a problem. The smaller cannister I use as I say is mainly when I go out. I do have another tubing which goes along hall ceiling so that it can be attached to my Niv mask.

[Margot13 in reply to Spacecat1]

Just a little observation, I would not use oxygen in the kitchen or near naked flames of electric bars or rings as it's considered dangerous. Keep safe 🙄

[gingermusic]

I have used oxygen now for many years and yes the tubing around the house gets caught on things trod on tripped over etc but you learn to get used to it. As for the cylinders for going out I use the heavy size tanks but not a problem as I walk with a mobility walker which ahs a bag and I slip the oxygen into the bag so I am not carrying the weight of it.

[Fircone]

I’ve been using ambulatory o2 for about a month and I too find the concentrator very heavy. I only weigh just over 6 stone and carrying the concentrator around all day is exhausting me. I have an oxygen review this week so I think I will do as O2Trees suggests and ask about a paediatric cylinder. Good luck with yours Breslin.

[Fircone]

My tubing keeps getting caught on anything that sticks out so I’ve taken off all the door knobs on my kitchen units!

[Grayjay]

I think that you can get trollies for the cylinder. Ask your respiratory nurse when you next see him/her.

[siouxbecket in reply to Grayjay]

I tried talking to RESPS to get a trolley, as I believe they are available in America but they looked at me as if I was mad. Tried Amazon, UK & USA various disability retailers but couldn't find anything. Surprising really as there would seem to be demand.

[Grayjay in reply to siouxbecket]

Hiya, Try the oxygen store .com. They have a place in the UK. Worth a try.

[HollyBoyd]

Hi Breslin. I use ambulatory O2. I have a homefill equipment which has a concentrator which I can use on it's own, if necessary. Then there is a converter which sits on top of concentrator from which I can fill my 2 bottles. One is a one and a half litre and the other just one litre which I use when I'm out and about. I find I can manage the small one but the other too heavy for me to use outside. Hope this helps. Good luck . Carol xxx

[breslin in reply to HollyBoyd]

Thank you, your converter sound the same as mine, which I refill my cylinders from. I haven’t used the large bottle outside and have been using the small one. So thank you for your advice. The only thing I find is the connector part of the tube keeps coming out any advice on that?

[HollyBoyd in reply to breslin]

Hi. As I'm partially sighted my husband does any fixing!! Maybe you should ask the engineer to check it out next time he comes or phone the supplier if you are worried about it. xxx

[Maureenpearl]

Hi breslin, I use a cylinder when I go out from the house and I did find the backpack I was given to carry the cylinder very heavy and I found a trolley bab on Amazon which cost me over £100 plus charges when it was delivered because it came from the US.

The Trolley Bag is called 02 Sidekick Oxygen Roller Bag/Backpack. This is still too large and heavy to use as a backpack.

I was very happy with the trolley and I didn't need to use a hand bag when using the bag because I could fit everything into the same as a handbag. However my oxygen provider then asked if I would like to be the first to test their new trolley bag.

The trolley bag was the same as the one I bought so I put mine away and started using theirs until the zip broke on the front pocket. I am now back to using mine.

Why not ask your oxygen provider if they have a trolley. I also use a flask that i fill with liquid oxygen and I have a little trolley so I can pull it around inside the house and the garden.

Hope this is of some help.

God bless

[Muzzy5]

I purchased a strong wheeled shopping bag - it cost under £10 and works fine - plus there is room for shopping