portable oxygen

[Sootydix]

does anyone know where I can get hold of portable oxygen cylinder medical grade to hire or buy to help my elderly father who has copd and is struggling with his breathing in this heat

[RufusScamp]

I would have thought your GP surgery would be able to help, if he hasn't got a specialist.

[Sootydix in reply to RufusScamp]

Thank you will try his gp

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sootydix]

I have oxygen which needs to be prescribed by your GP. I had to have my arterial blood gases checked first.

Contact your father's GP or Respiratory Nurse.

As your father has COPD it's really important to have your father properly assessed as oxygen can cause more harm than good.

If your father is having breathing problems, I suggest you contact 111 if he is becoming distressed.

[Jako999]

You can’t just get them . I’m medical and although you wouldn’t think it oxygen is only available as a prescribed drug and therefore can only be given out by GP or a registered person. This is done for the safety of people like your dad I’m not saying he doesn’t need the oxygen but he needs his levels checked first if they are within HIS normal perimeters it would be very dangerous to give him O2, when you have copd your body get used to a certain O2 level your may be 97-98% his May be as low as the mid 80,s. It would be very dangerous to increase his levels, don’t just get a cylinder or borrow one if you have any concerns call 999 and get his levels checked, or see a gap or walk-in centre.

Hope he is ok and good luck.

[Hidden]

Dear Sootydix

I really can understand your concerns about your dear dad, but oxygen and how its given and what point his blood saturation is can only be undertaken by the medical profession.

Hard to believe but what we class as simple oxygen can cause serious illness. I am not medically trained but have had dealing with this with my late Mum who kept getting her saturation wrong leading to all sorts of complications.

If at anytime you feel your Dad is suffering then call for an ambulance, they are trained to deal with it, if he was ok during the night then call your Drs this morning and explain the situation to them, ask what his saturation levels should be for his lung condition.

You can buy a good quality blood Oxygen meter now at most chemists, sure they are a guide but it will help you know what’s going on, because his breathing problems maybe caused by other things and not { as you suspect } just lack of oxygen.

Take care and please keep us informed on Dads progress, remember to look after yourself as well.