HiyaI've been a member for a number of years and read and take on board a lot of advice. I have severe COPD and it has got worse as the years go by. My exacibations are closer together and they all leave their mark on my lungs.
I was wondering if anybody has advice about a home oxygen concentrator I bought from amazon. I'm not sure how I should be using it. I bought it because the last 3 chest infections I have had have left my oxygen sats below 70 and I have had to wait for an ambulance with oxygen to help. In the time I wait for the ambulance I feel certain I am going to die. I bought the concentrator as a bridge to help for that wait time. I don't understand the workings or mechanics of it, just thought I could buy it, plug it in and it would give me what I needed . I try the avoid hospital at all costs. Anyone have one that could help me? Thanks for reading to anybody that does.
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Festie
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HI Festie. Personally I wouldn't have bought a concentrator but would have contacted my GP to refer me to the respiratory team. They will do a full assessment of oxygen needs and advise accordingly. Everyone is different and needs different levels of supplementary oxygen.
I would do this now and not use the concentrator. If it was decided that you needed one, it would be provided on the NHS. They need servicing periodically and the electricity used is rebated once the use is established. It may be that you don't need a concentrator at all, just supplementary oxygen cylinders.
Please get in touch with your doctor and go through the proper channels to ensure your safety.
Hi - so sorry you are going through such a tough time. I am in similar situation but lucky enough to have regular reviews by hospital respiratory team who took up the oxygen levels/ambulatory/supplement oxygen services needed at home and when out and about for me so I now have concentrators at home and back up tanks etc all organised by NHS. I totally agree with the other replies. Do not beat yourself up about taking your own path as you did the best you thought at the time but seriously you must contact GP /respiratory team asap as you cannot have oxygen % levels as low as you describe without action by them. Much love and best wishes to you xxxx
I seem to remember reading that it is impossible for you to die in the way that is worrying you. Apparently when you become unconscious in the circumstances you describe, your body takes over the breathing process, a ‘muscle memory’ reaction. Perhaps your doctor can confirm this to stop you worrying. In any case send that concentrator back and get a refund right away. You can do serious damage to yourself using it without medical supervision. CDPO16 is bang on with her advice.
Sorry Festie, they are absolutely right. Oxygen is a prescribed drug and you can do yourself a lot of harm using it incorrectly. Please do as CDPO16 and Donald advise, send it back for a refund.
He is also totally correct in that your body WANTS to survive and you will carry on breathing. I know exactly how you feel waiting for an ambulance and it is horrible, scary. I also know how it is to have had too much oxygen (I was incorrectly prescribed) , I spent two and a half months in hospital last Christmas because of it and am only really recovering now.
I am so sorry this can't give you the backup you want, but talk to your doctor (better than hospital!) and tell him how you feel and ask if, as you have had bad exacerbations more closely together, you may need to have your medications looked at. I, for example, take a prophylactic antibiotic three times a week and haven't had a bad infection since. Talk about inhalers and, yes oxygen too, see if your treatment is as it should be 😃
Hope all goes well, and do keep in touch, Laurie xx
If you required oxygen your respiratory nurse would do an oxygen assessment at hospital. You cannot assume you need it as can do more harm. Do Not use a concentrator that has not been prescribed. You also have to be told how many litres etc. Over use of oxygen can cause serious irreversible consequences. One being affecting the brain leading to confusion which is also irreversible..
Speak to your GP or Respiritory team the team have trained oxygen nurse who will test you. Also have to make sure you are not a retainer.
The NHS will provide you with a concentrator free of charge if you require one.
Hi festie yes I was referred to hospital by my gp,they did lung function tests and had a appointment to see oxygen therapy nurse, who decided I would benefit from ambulatory Portable Oxygen I now have an inogen,which I am starting to get used to . Yes this is all done by NHS. Good luck.
I completely agree with all the advice given here.Oxygen doesn't help you breathe in my experience ,if i'm really struggling i find a couple of sucks on the salamol reliever and a concentrated effort of telling myself to relax is the only thing that works...Get to the nurse and she will refer you to BOC or whoever is suplying ambulatory oxygen in your area for assesment.Good luck..
Hi can I suggest you do as others on here have suggested and do not attempt to use that concentrator until you have had a talk with your GP. Tell them what you have bought and why and follow their instructions. Using unsubscribed oxygen can indeed be very dangerous for you, so please make that appointment and get things sorted, I wish you well
First of all you should be assessed by your consultant ; if he/she agrees then the NHS will supply one to keep at home (you will be reimbursed the electricity cost) ; you can also ask for a portable one to use when you are outdoor.
If you decide to do it alone then you can , but do not overdo it, it can make the problem worste.
Is very easy to manage , switch it on , connect the tube and wear the cannula.
The only problem is the dosage ; just to be shure regulate it on number ONE (means one liter of oxygen per minute) that is the standard given to almost everybody, and should sort the problem ..but better be sure than sorry , so ask first advice to the respiratory consultant or to the respiratory nurse.
I repeat , is very helpful but an overdosage could be dangerous.
Furthermore it shoul be used for hours a day meaning that , in my case(15 hours) , I get a reimbursement of nearly 250 pounds of electricity usage every 3 months for the usage of the NHS machine.
If you are given a NHS concentrators , you will also rely on a long rubber tube thet will let you to move freely indoor/sleeping / showering.
If you are given an NHS concentrator keep the one you bought as a back up , you never know...
I hope is enough , do not hesitate to ask for more info , mate.
Sorry you have low oxygen levels and yes can well understand that you feel like you are going to die! Those oxygen levels won’t be helping your major organs at all!
For information those concentrators which can be bought off the shelf are not calibrated for medical use oxygen and the world oxygen movement are trying to get them banned because they are dangerous - either under or over oxygenating patients.
Everyone here has offered you great advice which is to seek an appointment via your doctor, with your local Home Oxygen Assessment Service and they will see what you need in the way of equipment should you need it.
Let us know how you get on won’t you? Hope you get sorted soon.
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