Maybe I am not well enough informed on this - hope I'm not being silly asking this question. I have been on 2L of oxygen at home for nearly three weeks now. This is via a Concentrator machine. The tubing attached to it, ending in the canula, is about 10 metres. A nurse visited again a few days ago and checked my sats in various situations and said it would be advisable to use the oxygen for probably 24 hrs a day with maybe an hour or two break whilst sat quietly. I said that whilst the oxygen is helping enormously, even whilst I'm wearing it I still get out of breath doing simple things like making hot drinks, getting dressed, etc. She seemed to think this was understandable. HOWEVER, I have now had portable oxygen delivered. My friend came around yesterday to check that I was turning it on correctly and we set it at 2L then I drove 4 miles to Lidl, we put the oxygen in the trolley and I never got out of breath once!! It was fantastic. My friend said it was like looking at me 3 years ago! We got home, switched back onto the concentrator, I went into the kitchen and made a cup of coffee. The effort of making the coffee left me, as usual out of breath. My friend and I were amazed. The difference on portable oxygen to the concentrator was immense. I can remember my poor Late Husband saying the same thing. My friend and I have come to the conclusion that the length of piping/tubing around the house is leading to a loss in the deliverance of oxygen. I understand this can happen in electricity - so does this happen in oxygen? We spoke to someone who works in a hospital and she said yes, you are right. Are we being silly or can this happen? Does the concentrator need to be set slightly higher to compensate for the length of pipe? The nurse is coming again on Tuesday and I'd like to raise this with her but I don't want to look silly. Has anyone got any experience of this please? Sorry I've written at length I just don't know how to explain it. Thanks everyone.
Querying Loss of Oxygen Flow In Tubing. - Lung Conditions C...
Querying Loss of Oxygen Flow In Tubing.
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Sorry I don't seem to have this problem. My concentrator is upstairs and the tubing comes down and over the bannister to the ground floor, maybe that helps. Hope you get sorted out!
Thanks Mocarey - that's interesting. The tube must be fairly long then to accommodate a house. Mine is only a small bungalow.
Mine goes the same route as Mocarey's. It's about 10 metres and I don't have a problem. It's only on half a litre as well so not a lot of pressure.
Mine is the same route as yours Gucci and I find I can walk easier with my portable tank in a trolley or in my rollator than I do when on the concentrator or carrying the tank I think this is because you have the support of the trolley or rollator and are not carrying so much body weight round if you get what I mean. I lean a lot in the kitchen even if only on one arm while making a coffee. If you lean on a flat surface it is called a position of ease and it does help to stop you getting breathless or getting your breath back when you are sob. I got my rollator through occupational therapy, perhaps they could get one for you.
I do not usually experience any drop in ability using my concentrator as compared to using portable oxygen. But this did happen once. It turned out the tubing was twisted and had formed a kink which was restricting the flow. Your oxygen engineer has a small tool which will measure the amount of oxygen coming through the tube. Ask your oxy company for a check. Auntymary
Thanks to Puffthemagicdragon,auntymary and caroleoctober. Yes, I have a rolIator but it's too heavy for me to lift into the car boot. I live on my own. I wasn't actually pushing the trolley much - my friend did that and I mainly walked alongside it. It was such a HUGE contrast to the way I am at home that I and my friend are shocked! It is really good to get the answers here on this site so I can compare. What a useful site and what lovely members. Thank you.
This has made me think. Looking back I also find breathing easier using the portable when out, I walk around M & S (with the portable in a trolley) with relative ease then back to the car.
At home on the concentrator it's different, maybe because I'm out and about and not just thinking about my breathing.
Lib x
Dear Gucci,
Many moons ago when i worked in a motor repair garage it was always recognised a long run in a air line reduced pressure by 2-4 pounds per square inch , when applied to your question i have also got a long run from a concetrator and the question did cross my mind as i am a c/o retainer and the Hospital did advise me to run between 1800--------2200 saturations, i have a Oxymeter that i bought off the internet, tested against the Hospitals when on a regular check up and it stays accurate. So returning to your question yes there is a drop but i dont think its enough to usually worry about.
Tubing in my home had to be replaced recently as it was leaking. The allowed maximum length is apparently 15 metres from the concentrator. The maximum length from other machines, eg, an XPO2 differs and each method of supply should be checked for optimum length.
The engineer who changed the tubing told us of a quick way to check for leaks. Take the cannula out, put thumb over end of tube to prevent gas coming through. if concentrator flow indicator drops to zero then there is no leak; if there is still some level of flow indicated and definitely no gas coming through end then there could be a leak somewhere in the tubing.
I think the purity of oxygen delivered from concentrator has to be minimum 95%, but from a cylinder it would be 100% near enough.
Good luck with the oxygen. The best way to keep going and fit is to keep getting out and moving around. So your post was wonderfully positive. Use it or lose it!
Best wishes
Elizabeth
hi, I have o2 delivered from a concentrator at 2litres which is piped around the house from the conservatory where the machine is to a switch which redirects it upstairs.to a seperate pipe which is long enough to reach in all the rooms. There is a seperate tube for downstairs. I do get short of breath when I try to do too much. i am supposed to have 2l at rest and 6l for activity be it walking, cleaning or whatever.I use the portable tanks for this with a conserver. (this enables the oxygen in tank to last longer)
Maybe you need to talk to your respiratory nurse about using the portable on a different level.
Regards veejayess
Thanks to everyone for the VERY helpful answers. Thank you veejayess - as I am so new to ozygen the changing of levels when resting or being active sounds very sensible. I will definitely be raising that with the nurse when she comes on Tuesday. I am trying to gain as much knowledge as I can by then so I can take a bit more of an educated view on it. I am really grateful for your helpful comments. Thank you.
Gucci - you could also have a chat to the BLF helpline on Monday as they might suggest other questions you may want to ask your nurse. Never be worried about asking silly questions. You might want to keep a notebook handy and note down any questions or comments you need clarifying
I too use a rollator which I bought myself and is aluminium thus not at all heavy, they are quite reasonable on the internet. I also keep a perching stool in the kitchen so I can sit whilst I work in there - your OT might be able to get one for you?
M
my husband also has a lot of piping so he can go on stair lift to use the bathroom ...never considered this ...
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Oxygen tubing nightmares!
Oxygen tubing
Oxygen tubing 
Portable oxygen concentrator - continuous flow
