Oxygen in hospital- how do you know its on?

[Robinface]

hi elderly mum in hospital she has COPD and been told she has pneumonia- collapsed at home last weekend. Copd managed normally with inhalers. On IV antibiotics and potassium sometimes when we visit, has the nasal oxygen tube that is attached to wall at all times- cant hear it or see any movement on the gauge on the wall- how do you know its on?

Mum not had nasal feed before only mask. Mum also has delirium and some hallucinations bless her. They said she hadnt been compliant with nasal tube- she has poor memory so if taken off to visit loo she doesnt remember to put it back on!! Thanks

[leo60]

Hi Robinface, I am sorry to hear your mum is in hospital, it will be very worrying for you. Re the "piped" oxygen, the guage is the rate of oxygen flow eg: if it is on 2, it means your mum is getting 2 litres of oxygen per minute through her nasal cannula, so it doesn't move unless the rate given is changed. If you are concerned that it is not on, take the end of the cannula and hold it against a wet finger, you will feel the flow. As far as her forgetting to replace the cannula after a visit to the loo: When I was in hospital, my tubing was long enough to be able to keep the cannula on (I would have collapsed without it!). Maybe they are worried about her tripping on the tubing? Perhaps she needs accompanying to the loo, which isn't always easy for nurses, but given she has delirium sounds necessary. However, a lady next door to me had an alarm whenever she moved from her bed! Perhaps you could discuss this with the ward manager? I hope I have helped, if a bit long windedly! Good luck and hope your mum is soon better. xx

[Robinface in reply to leo60]

thank you so much for posting, the loo is too far hence tube removal. Yes she has assistance from staff if you can find one! Dr has said she needs oxygen at home nos so whole new ball game x

[leo60 in reply to Robinface]

No problem! I hope your mum is out soon and that the oxygen at home does its' job , You will get support with the process, if it's not enough ask for more!! Or ask us !! xx

[Dumba in reply to leo60]

I got no support ended up ill with too muck oxygen. Eyesight loss and muscle loss. Awful. No review as promised.

[mauschen in reply to Dumba]

OMG ! What happened?

[KC2222 in reply to Robinface]

Hi, I have copd and got double pneumonia and sepsis last March in hospital on iv antibiotics oxygen etc over 3 weeks.Has to switch to portable oxygen tank when I needed loo

Just to let you know I was on 4l oxygen at home for 6 months ,now off completely, so don't despair

[Susan1200 in reply to KC2222]

Hello congratulations your off Oxygen,how did you do it .So happy for you.

[KC2222 in reply to Susan1200]

They said it takes that long to recover from pneumonia.i did nothing reallyIt didn't really help breathlessness but they said it was ensuring I got enough oxygen into vital organs eg heart kidney liver whilst recovering

[Susan1200 in reply to KC2222]

Thank you so much for replying,I wish you all the very best,stay healthy and lots of happiness ❤️

[Alberta56]

Hope your mum is soon on the mend. xx

[Robinface in reply to Alberta56]

Thank you x

[garshe]

If you put the tube to your lips you will feel the air coming out .

[Dumba in reply to garshe]

Put it in water

[garshe in reply to Dumba]

I am advised never get canula wet by my Consultant. Have to be very careful as use it to bath. Never go near flame or cook when wearing it and never get wet. X

Why put it in water. All you have to do is put it by mouth and you can feel air coming out.

[Susan1200 in reply to garshe]

I agree ,just put it by your mouth or squeeze into your nose .

[garshe in reply to Susan1200]

👍👍👍👍💕⚘

[mauschen in reply to garshe]

I disagree, don’t touch it, you could introduce infection.

If in doubt, ask a nurse to check it

[garshe in reply to mauschen]

???? Sorry don't understand what you are implying . My oxygen is at home ,I am not in hospital. I was replying to post. Dont know why you are replying to me saying dont touch it.??

[mauschen in reply to garshe]

I didn’t mean to offend you.

I assumed that you were answering the question in the original post where the person is receiving oxygen in a hospital setting.

The question wasn’t about home oxygen or are you answering someone else’s issue?

[garshe in reply to mauschen]

No offence taken.. I presume you replied to wrong person. .

[Dumba]

Hi I always lut the cannula in water, you can then see bubbles. Maybe she is on morphene, this can cause delirium. I have been in hospital too with pneomonia. I gradually came off oxygen ss I recovered. In fact wss left on it too long. Make sure of regular oxygen reviews. Hope Mum a bit better

[garshe in reply to Dumba]

I also weaned myself off oxygen by exercising and breathing techniques. Still have my oxygen at home and my portable cylinders but here for emergency only . I totally agree need regular oxygen assessment at hospital with Respiratory oxygen nurse. I go every 3 to 6 months

[Dumba in reply to garshe]

Where you supplued with portable electric concentrators

[garshe in reply to Dumba]

Yes I have a concentrator upstairs with long tubing reaching all around house. Not portable as too heavy to carry. My portable oxygen are cylinders. I have 3 spare cylinders and one very large one incase of power cut.

These I can carry, usually have one in my car incase of emergency.

Havent used any for months thank goodness. It's great to have it at home as its my comfort blanket.

I have Never had to call an ambulance since having it installed. That's 4 yrs ago.🤞🙌

[jackdup in reply to garshe]

That is certainly great to hear you were able to come off of oxygen. You mentioned you still have it at home for emergencies, how would you determine if you need it?

Thank you

[garshe in reply to jackdup]

My Respiratory team let it remain here as I sometimes suffer health anxiety and panic attacks. I can control these most times but if I do suffer an episode I have the oxygen as back up. I only have to use it for minutes and my oxygen is back up to 96. But can drop to low 80's during panic attack.

I am able to slow my breathing down with practice . It's all in the mind. X

[jackdup in reply to garshe]

Thank you for the reply. I was on oxygen for a bit after surgery in Dec but really didn’t know when to use it and actually haven’t been using it for a few weeks now but just wasn’t sure what to watch for to tell me if I should be using it. I still have everything here but have ABG test on Monday and hope that will tell me I don’t need it anymore.

[garshe in reply to jackdup]

Oxygen is not really for breathlessness it is to protect your other organs . Mainly your heart rate . My heart rate used to go through the roof when I had an anxiety or panic attack . Fortunately controlling breathing can slow the heart rate down. I am so very fortunate as have both a Respiratory team and a COPD team whom I can contact daily and will call to my home if I have any. concerns. usually it's just a chat on the phone can reassure me. 💕

[jackdup in reply to garshe]

Thank you

[Robinface]

thank you for replying, mum is fairing better sometimes so yesterday dr reduced concentration of oxygen but mum struggled! We were helping her to the loo without oxygen all week until yesterday when a small oxygen bottle was attached and we carry that with us. I could hear the wall oxygen as we waited for nurse to reattach once back ! Dr thinks delirium is due to pneumonia but funny no trace of it for first 36 hours until antibiotics given!? Thank you for responding much appreciated x

[Dumba in reply to Robinface]

Yes prob pneumonia I was the same. It is a slow recovery, but she will with your help. Good up to toilet xxx

[gingermusic]

If you take the cannula off her and hold it to your ear you will hear the oxygen going through. Hope that helps

[Tykelady]

Oxygen at home was a godsend for me and is not as complicated as it sounds. I have Baywater Healthcare to supply mine and they are wonderful. The technician will explain it all when he installs it.

[Robinface in reply to Tykelady]

thank you as mum is in north west england i think it will be Baywater too! X

[anng18]

Hi Robin,

I was very concerned by your post. My mother was given oxygen, when in hospital, but clearly too much, as she then suffered from the hallucinations you are referring too. At that point, once the medical staff, who were not very nice in this ward, had been alerted, she was put on a bipap machine to reduce the carbon dioxide build up that was caused from too much oxygen being administered. I would suggest you are very pro active - my son in law had already alerted the staff 6 hours previously as to her mental state and was ignored. It was only when I came in and found her walking up and down the ward - furious that someone had painted her flat a different colour - that they begrudgingly took action. Things improved greatly when a new team of nurses started a new shift.

Very worrying for you.

[Robinface in reply to anng18]

thank you so much ! i will chat to staff today, just asked brother mum wasnt on oxygen in a&e! Hard to know as she has early stage dementia we think!! Although with the onemonia and copd didnt know if this was expected! Thank you so much x

[Izb1]

I hope your Mum gets better soon and out of hospital, it seems they are in more danger in there than at home x

[Karenanne61]

I'm sorry to hear about your mom. I just wanted to say I had horrid hallucinations during and after coma, life support etc following respiratory failure. Some were just weird but some so scary. I can still remember them. We were told it's not uncommon and can, unfortunately, leave a patient with a form of ptsd. Help is available though. I hope your mom recovers soon and can be back home where she feels safe.

[Patk1]

Hope mum soon improves & gets home.peumonia can cause confusion/agitation probs plus antibiotics - strange noises+surroundings in hospital dont help.id think mums temporary delirium etc is why 02 isn't on but staff shld notice& put it on x

[Susan1200]

How's your Mom hope she is doing better,I know when I was in hospital the staff were also not very nice, I think your Mom will feel better when she is home in a better atmosphere. I shall be praying 🙏🏼for her .

I wish you and your family peace ,good health,and happiness. ❤️

[Robinface in reply to Susan1200]

Thank you Susan, mum seems better somedays than others so a bit up and down! Some staff are lovely but mum hates having to ask to go the toilet- she doesnt want to bother anyone! Our aim is to get her home with lots of help 🤞🏻thank you for your lovely kind words much appreciated x

[Susan1200]

I pray 🙏🏼she can go home soon ,I understand how she is feeling,I used to hate having to ask the nurse if she could take me to the toilet. Lets hope she's home soon.

Love and many blessings to your Mom and your family ❤️🙏🏼❤️