oxygen

[Osha]

I have been told not to use ambulatory oxygen during the day unless I’m going out. How can I manage to do anything? Does anyone else have this problem please tell me Thank you

[CDPO16]

What reason were you given?

[O2Trees]

What exactly is your oxygen prescription, Osha? I use ambulatory oxygen for exertion only at 2.5 lpm (ie for aerobic exercise only, walking, biking etc) which is mostly outside the house. When walking round the house I don't need it. But if you were to do something very energetic inside the house, I'd have thought you might need it then.

Do you have an oximeter? That way you can keep an eye on how low your oxygen sats go. If they are falling below 88% on a regular basis while moving around the house, I'd suggest getting back to your oxygen nurse / consultant / GP and ask for further advice. Remember though that oxygen is not given for breathlessness, but to protect your organs from damage, which can happen if your oxygen saturation goes too low.

Your respiratory team may be making wrong assumptions about how you live in your house, so use an oximeter to check your levels and let them know. Another possibility is that you may need a medication review if your condition is not being as well controlled as it should be. This might address any breathlessness. Let us know what happens!

EDIT: Re Tillie's post below, you don't say whether you have a concentrator, Osha. Nor do you say what problems you experience in the house when you aren't using your oxygen cylinder so it might be hard for members here to compare their situations with yours.

[Osha in reply to O2Trees]

Thank you for your reply. My prescription is 2lL on concentrator overnight and 6 on ambulatory but only for outdoors use. Otherwise I should use inhaler when needed. She obviously does not know that Salbutamol is next to useless with bronchieactesis I’m waiting to hear from my respiratory nurse at the moment who has previously disagreed with assessment. If I do something like empty washing machine I become very breathless and sats can go down to 77 my normal reading is 88/89

[O2Trees in reply to Osha]

Ah, so you do use a concentrator. I was assuming since you didnt mention that, that your ambulatory prescription would be much lower than 6 lpm outdoors. Since it is 6 lpm, I cannot see how or why you would not also need O2 for activities indoors especially as you desaturate to 77.

I know little about the O2 requirements of people with bronch, but I assume that O2 regularly going below 88 risks damage to internal organs whatever condition you have. Seems very odd to me and I do hope you can get it sorted.

[tillie]

I have a concentrator I use inside for daily activities. Ambulatory for outside. Would perhaps they prefer you to use your concentrator more inside, reason being you go through too many of ambulatory cylinders my resp nurse told me. Still can't fathom why the 'no oxygen ' through day. Hope you find the why soon.

[Patk1]

Did u raise Yr concerns with the nurse x

[Osha in reply to Patk1]

Yes I have emailed respiratory nurse and waiting for her reply. Thanking you

[LissacFrance]

I hope this is not a silly reply, but if you use bottled oxygen during the day, would a longer length of tubing enable you to move around a bit more? Just don`t trip up over it, Chris.

[Tykelady]

I am on 2 ltrs resting and 4ltrs on activity. I was also told that I could go without oxygen for up to 7 hours a day but I only switch my portable off if I am in the car or out for a meal. At 4ltrs on the portable I find it runs out fairly quickly so need to keep an eye on it.

[Osha]

thank you Tykelady. It’s all very confusing as we are all different

[BreatheasyBe]

Hi I was told only to use the gas bottles for emergencies and use the compressor and liquid oxygen primarily for everything else. I think there’s a stock problem in uk regarding the gas bottles. Or maybe it’s down to cost. I do know I had proplems with getting bbq gas- again down to manufacturing production stopped during lockdown so supplies are low there too. I know it’s a different gas but it’s possible these two bottles are manufactured in same factory’s.