Sorry but who told you that you need oxygen? Surely if you are seeing either a Consultant or Respiratory Nurse they are the ones to inform you of your need not someone on a PR course. I think you need to speak to someone else.

Janet xxx

PR is basically exercise, so it might be the case that whoever is running it thinks it would be too high a risk to accept you without supplemental oxygen. If you want to do PR than why not just accept the oxygen and use it for the course? There's no law that says you have to use it for anything else - it's your choice. I don't know about liquid oxygen and flats, it would depend on access. The drivers need to be able to get the large and very heavy dewar with the liquid oxygen supply into your property and all they don't have any mechanical lifting equipment to help them get it up stairs, etc. If you had somewhere else on your property that was secure and away from a source of heat or flame - like a storage unit or garage they might be able to store the dewar there.

PLEASE don't be afraid! I LOVE my oxygen! it's MEDICINE! I have a 'concentrator' this marvelous little electricity charged easy to move about device makes oxygen and is easier than the bottles to carry. Yes its sad to have to have it but at least we can keep getting out and about, stay fitter and not let our other organs suffer from lack of oxygen! Ask your respiratory nurse about getting one if your on a low dose ( I'm on 2ltrs a minute) read about it, educate yourself and you will be glad of it believe me, back in the 90's my poor Mum was just stuck in with her huge tank of oxygen, a prisoner in her own home, maybe that's why I love my 'portable' so much!wishing you well,huff xxx

Hi Dedalus, although it's very nice to see your name for the 1st time since the BLF makeover I'm very sorry you've had this shock.

I take it it was the lung specialist physio doing your assessment who told you that? Did they test your oxygen levels before, during & after your assesment walk with the oximeter? Also, did they do a spirometry test? They must base their views on something. They often work closely with the practice respiratory nurses to speak to yours asap for their views.

Try not to worry too much until you get word from your email to BLF (easy for me to say). I too live on 1st & second floors so can understand your concern. Hopefully, someone with more experience of oxygen than I will be along very soon to allay your fears.

Coincidently I just recieved in the post a copy of a letter from my PR team to my practise nurse informing that on the pre assessment I did 540 metres in the walk and post assessment it was a whopping 750 metres! So it is hugely beneficial. I do hope it works out and you get to go on it.

All the best to you for getting through the weekend with this. xxxpeeg

The others beat me to it, so some of this is just repetition but I’ll say it anyway.

I’m guessing that your oxygen levels dropped significantly when you did the walk element of your assessment, and this is why they think you need supplementary oxygen during your PR. Also, perhaps the reason you are feeling under the weather is that your organs are not getting the oxygen they need as soon as you do anything strenuous. This is different from being out of breath. The oxygen doesn’t help with that. Like you I prefer to just wait and get my breath back rather than puffing away on the ventolin.

I don’t know anything about liquid oxygen. If you can’t have it in your flat I should think you’d be supplied with the usual generator that runs off your household electricity supply. For getting out and about, some suppliers will provide portable concentrators which are fairly lightweight and unobtrusive, but if not they can be bought (I don’t like to assume, as they are not cheap, but as you are working full time, perhaps you would feel it was worth it). I find mine ideal, and a lifesaver. The battery lasts a few hours depending on how many litres you need, and it can be plugged in anywhere or into a car lighter socket. You can also get spare battery packs to increase the time before the concentrator needs to be charged up again.

I don’t know if any of this helps, but please – don’t panic! There are plenty of people here who will have other helpful ideas for you. All the best, Jan 

Hi

Do not worry to much. You will need your oxygen for your PR

I went through the same process, I was put on 2 lpm when excercising , it is. purely to maintain your oxygen levels at a acceptable level. I rarely use mine out side of the course. I also live in first floor flat.

As I bombarded the poor nurse with question, In relation to my option, whether I can use a pulse delivery system as oppossed to continuos, this would allow the use of a conserver , givening twice the time on each cylinder.

Liquid oxygen is not a option, they not will carry the base unit up stairs.

The other option is a portable unit, most supplyiers do these but it may a early version

The only way to fully understand your option is to ask your PR respiratory nurse to refer you for a full assement with the oxygen team at you local hospital.

I have been referred, it is a one hour assement , which I will sure to be asking about all of my optio

GP are no longer involved in oxygen therapy . It is done by your respitory nurse. Who is stationed at the local hospital . They are your first point of contact. There are qualified in this field. They also run the PR classes .

Hi - my husband has liquid oxygen, they won't take it above ground level due tot he weight of the storage dewar according to their blurb. Gill

Hello

I was first told I needed oxygen when I started rehab to protect my other organs last December. I was really upset at first but used it to learn the exercises at rehab, by the time I had finished I felt fantastic, improved my fitness level and breathing I continued exercise at home very day. It is a shock and I came on here the same as you really upset, but like everyone says its just another medicine.

Kim

Hi Exactly the same happened to my husband a month ago at the assessment for pr. It was all very shocking BUT we got over the shock and the oxygen has been delivered. He is only using it for the pr classes at the moment and has been told he will be assessed at the end of the course again. Please don't panic this is not because you are getting worse it is to protect your organs. The lovely people here really helped me and I hope that you feel a bit better now. Take good care TAD x x x

I think you should make an urgent appointment with your doctor before you go on any oxygen. Its up to them not the PR nurse.

Bev x

hiya pam x it was the the phisio who got my hubby on his oxygen . his sats were falling down to 82 he looked terrible . struggled for air never had the blue inhaler out of his mouth . couldn't be bothered at all . he still not well but at least he can get about more with his oxy and it gives him peace of mind . hopefullt you wont be on it long . some people get fit enough and come off it . good luck pam be happy x x

When I went to PR and they found my O2 dropped on walk tests and other exercises they gave me I got extreme pain in my calfs. I have become much worse of late and slight inclines do the same very quickly. I do not use ventolin unless I really have to as this can mess up my heart condition. I mentioned in an earlier post that seem to have a problem of my O2 dropping when flat. Hospital put me on O2 all the time I was lying flat when I had an Ablation. This might be why I feel so lousy in the mornings.

I hope you can find away around this the tanks are very heavy and it is a H&S issues of lifting above ground levels. But I have seen peeps walking around with little bottles in a trolley or holster many times in Coventry. A Fellow suffer at PR told me that they have a machine with small plastic pipes around his house so he can plug in every room.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Be Well

Phill

Hi I am on oxygen up to 15hrs a day, I have a small trolley 2 wheel it in, but I have other disabilitys I have to use wheelchair when out now. But no ome to push me...?

Having O2 is wonderful with excellent service fromNHS. The blood test which they do from the ear lobe gives readings in single figures. This I believe, is more accurate than the finger test. Apparently there are national criteria to decide if oxygen is needed. Normal readings are between 8 and 12. If lower than 8 oxygen is necessary. Mine was 6.1 and after oxygen is now 7.1. I have a concentrator at hone at 5lpm and 7 cylinders to use when elsewhere. Holidays in UK are no problem. All home equip is supplied to holiday destinations. A life saver which enables patients to live a normal life