I am helping to look after my 88 year old sister at present. She has been prescribed ambulatory oxygen therapy following a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, I think related to her Protein S Deficiency. She is frail and even the small oxygen cylinders are heavy and difficult for her to use but oxygen does help when she is breathless following the smallest amount of exertion. She is particularly breathless when she wakes up but has found it difficult to start using oxygen before going to the bathroom. The trolley she has been provided with does not allow for easy access to the cylinder and I would appreciate advice as to what alternatives others have found helpful. Also, and this might be a silly question, but would it be helpful on waking to use oxygen, then go to the bathroom without using it followed by resumed use when she returns to bed? Generally, we are very new to oxygen therapy and any advice would be appreciated.
Oxygen therapy: I am helping to look... - Lung Conditions C...
Oxygen therapy
Hiya 😃 Yes I do believe that the cylinder can be quite heavy to carry for her. I believe within the UK you get the oxygen from dolby? You can ask for a longer extension lead, call them and explain the situation, or call the oxygen nurse to might get a generator with longer extension lead. Then she just can walk around were ever she goes in her house with the oxygen n can rake the cylinder when she goes outside, she also can get cylinder that she can fill up herself with the generator.
Best wishes hope something will be available for her. 🌻🌸🌻🌸🌻🌸
Thank you MELNEL. I suppose a concern with longer tubing is the tripping hazard especially because my brother-in-law lives at home. He has dementia, movement problems and a history of falls. We haven't been given an "Oxygen Nurse" as such but I am going to talk to the Hospital that prescribed the oxygen today to discuss the problem with them.
Oh my, yes that's not goid that he tripping on them. That's a dilemma....mpf...I hope you will find a solution, well the cylinder you fill up they a bit smaller and easier to carry.
This one is 2 L and and it delivers in puffs every time you breathe in the oxygen comes. Actually quite good, keeps me going around 2hours if on no 2, on 1, 3hours
Hi Mozart. The cylinders are quite heavy to carry around with you. At home, I have a concentrator which is just plugged in at the wall and I have long tubing so I can walk anywhere around the house and garden without having to carry a tank. When I'm out and about, I have a pull along trolly on wheels so I don't need to carry the tanks around. If she has been prescribed oxygen on exertion, she would definitely benefit from a concentrator.
Thank you MoosterMoo. Please see my reply to MELNEL's kind suggestion. Long tubing seems to be the answer subject to my concern about the risk of falls
It would be easier if your sister had an oxygen concentrator which works off electricity. She can have an extra long tubing which will enable her to walk around the house without carrying a cylinder. She will also be provided with cylinders for when she goes out. The electricity used is refunded by the supplier. Contact her respiratory team and they will advise xx.Sheila
best wishes. I hope you find a satisfactory solution to this problem,
To answer your original question, your sister can certainly try relieving her morning breathlessness with the oxygen then visiting the bathroom without it. Ambulatory oxygen is for when you are exerting yourself. Several of these replies relate to oxygen for much or all of the time. I too find the cylinders heavy, even with a trolley. However, I can access the on/off switch on my cylinder so it may be worth asking for a different trolley.
I’m just waiting for my home ambulatory oxygen assessment, you can get portable rechargeable concentrators which are easier to carry than the small cylinder but I’m not sure it they are provided on prescription. I believe the concentrator plus long tube is the standard offering at home. If she is on permanent oxygen taking it of to go to the bathroom is something to talk to the nurses about, if on ambulatory oxygen then taking it if for short periods should be ok, you can always check the sats with a pulse oximeter
I cant advise on your query mozart but must say this must be hard on you especially with your brother in law having dementia living at home as well. I am sure you must be entitled to help at home and really hope you are getting this. You could also ask on the helpline above for advice x
Thank you Izby1. I actually live a long way away from my sister and have been staying with them for a couple of weeks to help sort things out. I actually have to go home on Wednesday and there's still a lot to do.
Thank you all for replying to my post. I spoke to the hospital this morning and they will speak to the consultant on Thurs when he returns from holiday about arranging a home visit by the community team and they have also arranged for a delivery today of something which should make it easier for my sister to turn the oxygen on and off
Hi mozart27
You are welcome to call us for a chat with one of our Clinical Team if you wish. They are have experience in oxygen use and can help answer questions you may have.
Take care
Helpline Team
normally when first put on oxygen apart from tanks your sister should have a machine thats piped around her home. So she can use regular without have to carry anything.
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