Ambulatory oxygen

[Thomac]

Hi my husband has been prescribed 24/7 oxygen. He has a concentrator in the house and two small tanks that last about 3hrs each. How do others manage o2 outside the house, particularly for longer trips? how often do you order new tanks? He is seeing his consultant again in January and fingers crossed he will only need the oxygen for a short while to recover from a couple of nasty infections but if not do you recommend a portable concentrator? Sorry for all the questions but we are very new to this.

[etch45]

Hi I'm on o2 24/7 have been for a couple of years. I have the house concentrator and a large canister for emergency use, i.e. Power cut.

Also I have 4 cylinders ( yes the oxygen doesn't last) I phone the company up when I need new ones and they are delivered the next day. Very good service.

I have a portable concentrator which kept in the car, it gets charged whilst driving, and that is used for shopping.

Have a chat with your nurse they should advise you.

Take care Sheila aka etch45

🦋

[Dedalus in reply to etch45]

Hi Sheila, is the POC your own or is it an NHS one?

[etch45 in reply to Dedalus]

Hi Dedalus

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

Time of year .....POC is from the NHS, I had to fight for it but having spinal problems think that’s why I was successful ( or maybe I smiled nicely) 😂

Keep on at them good luck.

Sheila 🦋

[Dedalus in reply to etch45]

Thank you Sheila (absolutely no prob re delay). Hope you get the answers you need x

[mskpjb in reply to etch45]

Hi to etch45 from one Sheila to another ! Sheila x

[etch45 in reply to mskpjb]

Hello mskpj6

Good to get your text from this Sheila to another Sheila. x🦋🎄

[RibvanRey]

Hello Thomac. Welcome to the Community. The length of time that a cylinder will last depends upon the rate of O2 per minute that has been prescribed (and the size of your cylinder). On longer trips some people find that they can turn the flow rate down 1 click and remain well oxygenated all the time they are just sat still travelling.

Obtaining extra cylinders depends upon the Consultant or their clinic or your designated nurse (if you have one).

Reorder tanks as and when you need them. If you have been out that day and you are well below enough to go out next time, then reorder. Practice will bring the ability to judge your consumption. If I know that I will be into the red by the time I get home then I ring and reorder the number of empties I will have as I actually travel so that I don't forget in the mayhem of getting home.

Regards Rib

[gingermusic]

I am also on oxygen 24/7 but I have 6 DD size cylinders delivered at a time as and when needed. Have a word with your oxygen supplier about having a conserver fitted to the oxygen bottle as this means you only get oxygen each time you breathe in and it lasts double the time. I am on a flow rate of 2 and gives me several hours, so if going out for a day we take an extra cylinder. Hope this helps

[mskpjb]

Hi Thomac . Your oxygen nurse is the one to allocate you more cylinders if you explain that your husband needs them so you can get out more. Also a lot depends on whether you are on "pulsed delivery" which means you only get oxygen as you breathe in and will have a conserver fitted. If, like me, you are on "constant delivery" meaning oxygen is going into my nose all the time not only when I breathe in ( Constant delivery is needed by "mouth breathers" ) your oxygen cylinders won't last as long.

Portable concentrators are mostly for pulsed delivery. The few for constant are very heavy and quite limited in range. You`ll soon get the hang of it all, welcome to the club by the way ! Sheila x

[warwickstag]

First of all I would not recommend buying a portable concentrator yet as it is still early days and you don't know your future needs. Some patients can get portable concentrators supplied on prescription but these are fairly basic machines and not available to all. You need to ascertain via your oxygen assessor whether or not you are suitable for pulsed delivery, in which case they can prescribe a conserver unit which attaches to your portable cylinder and makes it last up to 3 times longer. On 2lt/min you should get at least 7 hours out of one portable cylinder. Have you got a bag to help you carry the oxygen?. Your oxygen supplier can provide this on request.

[Saramana]

My first 6 months on oxygen were very much as all have described, 4 or 5 hours from the tanks, but I soon realized that wouldn't work if I have to do any traveling. In the USA most oxygen providers will give you a home concentrator, up to 6 tanks, with refills, for portable use and that's it and Medicare pays for most of that. It didn't take me long to discover the portable concentrator that answered my need but the cost came out of your pocket, around 2 to 3 thousand - I bought one. Mine weighs about 5 lbs with battery and I have two 8 hour batteries and a 4 hour battery. When I have to go by air you must show the airline that you have more than enough battery power for the trip so I carry both 8 hour batterys plus the 4 hour, just in case. I hope you are able to find a solution.

[PollyP]

Thomac, where do you live ?

I only use Ambulatory Oxygen and in the UK. I was prescribed an Inogen One G3 concentrator on NHS.

It comes with a 4 hour battery and I bought an 8 hour battery to help me go further both of which I can charge in the car

Hope you get something worked out.

Pp

[dall05]

Hi Thomac,

Sounds like you should get in touch with your oxygen team and ask for more cylinders to be prescribed. Maybe a conserver also if your a nose breather and it is suitable for your needs.

[Thomac]

Thanks so much everyone for your replies we feel much more confident now and once we see the consultant we can discuss long term requirements much more knowledgeable.

[Sjf129903]

Not sure where your located but I'm on 02 24/7 my concentrater has a refill machine attached to it where I refill my own tanks plus my tanks are on demand where it gives you puffs of air when you inhale threw yor nose they last 5 to 6 hours and are smaller