Oxygen

[Looseloafers]

Hi everyone. Can anyone tell me what difference oxygen has made to everyday life don’t want to pin my hopes on it if it makes little difference x

[mikeadams51]

It doesn’t make any difference in being short of breath. However it prevents your other vital organs from early failure. Having bad lungs is bad enough without any other problems. My advice if you need it use it. Good luck and always look on the bright side.

[BreatheasyBe]

Hi looseloafersi have been prescribed ambulatory oxygen for getting out and about since October. You have to try to overcome any hurdles or embarrassment and embrace it. I found it scary at first. It is just medicine after all. I have found walking a lot more comfortable with it. There are limitations to what I can do and for how long I can be out and about for but I can honestly say I’d have struggled without the additional oxygen. I wish I had it years ago as I have become quite unfit and I am slowly building myself back up. Friends and family were alarmed initially but now I’m Dora the explorer and they know I’m not letting anything hold me back. I’d recommend using a back pack to alleviate any potential posture gate problems developing as the cylinders are quite heavy. Go for it x

[Looseloafers in reply to BreatheasyBe]

Thank you so much for your reply it sounds very doable so I will try to embrace it. All the best x

[Spacecat1 in reply to BreatheasyBe]

Totally agree. I can go.out for hours since I started using the pulser more for your money so to speak.

[Spacecat1]

I agree with mikeadams51. If you need or been advised to use it. Then think about your vital organs.

[jmsutt73]

Peace of mind that my heart, kidneys, other major organs are being protected has been the most satisfying for me. I am required 15 hrs daily, but I have become so used to it that I forget that I have it on. I wear it at night and for another 7 hours during the daytime. The positives far outweigh the negatives....J

[Caspiana]

Hello Looseloafers . All of the above, and ENERGY oxygen gives us more energy and lessens the fatigue a bit. xx 😊

[joyce74]

I have a cannister in a walker I push about outdoors and wouldn’t cope without it. The best medicine I have.

[gingermusic]

I could not walk about as I do without it it is my way to a better life and it is protecting my heart and other organs so use exactly as told. Do not ever be fooled into changing how much you get leave the setting as prescribed

[Hacienda]

Good Positive replies for you Hun, Wouldn't be here without my mate Oxygen, Sleep with it, Exercise with it, Everything I do my Mate is always with me, apart from my Hubby he's my Best Mate. have a Good day Hun & Breathe. xxx C.

[Hidden]

Hi Looseloafers.

Go for it! I am on oxygen 24/7 and know that without my "Best Buddy" I possibly wouldn't be here and certainly wouldn't have the quality of life that I have.

Admittedly it takes a bit of getting used to, especially if you have to trail a length of tubing around behind you, but you soon realise that life would be so much harder without it.

Don't be embarrassed about going out in public with your new friend. Without him/her you'd be stuck at home vegetating and feeling sorry for yourself! You will still be able to do a lot of things that you have always done but may need to do them in a different way and at a slower pace. Always make sure your glass is half full and you have a positive attitude. There is always somebody worse off than yourself and they are still coping with a smile on their face !

[Looseloafers]

I hear you Apach2 I just worry a little that it’s not going to help as much as I hope! 😃but will give it a good try x

[Jomo46]

I can walk further with oxygen. They say it doesn’t help breathlessness, but I find it does quite a bit.

If you use tanks, they give you a rucksack for it. Twisting to get it on and off and look at dials was difficult. I made a shoulder bag that goes over my Head and one shoulder. The tank goes at my front and easy to control

That way. The long lead in the house is a pain but you get used to it. The noise of the concentrater has to be got used to too. You’ll get there, keep smiling. 20 minutes a day outside, keeps my spirits up. Just take your time.

Xxx jo

[Oldspark]

I was in the same boat as you, but joining this community has helped me enormously. I am now on oxygen 24/7 as my condition has got a lot worse, but if I didn't have the concentrator or oxygen cylinders, I wouldn't be here now, yes the leads are a pain in the proverbial butt. It's something you can get used to. Keep thinking positive and you can overcome virtually anything.

I now have to slow down to a snails pace when doing anything, but I still manage some things.

Take care and good luck.

God bless

Ernie

[Maureenpearl]

Hi Looseloafers,

It took me sometime for me to start using the oxygen but once I got going I realise I could go out for lunch, to the garden centre and church etc.

People did stare but I soon got use to that and sometimes I think wow! 😄I must be looking very pretty today and then I remember it's my shadow (the oxygen bag) they are looking at.

I use it for walking, talking, singing and even having a bath/shower. I find if I hold my arms up I get breathless so I tend to use it most of the times except when i'm sleeping and sitting still.

Now I have a trolly bag that I use outdoors with the cylinder and this holds everything that i would have had in my handbag so I don't bother with a handbag anymore. You could ask if you can have a trolly bag or look for one on the internet.

Using oxygen does not hold me back, I have gone on long haul flight to Jamaica and back and I have the oxygen that I need for the flight provided free of charge by the airline. I also go on a lot of cruises and I have bought a oxygen concentrator because you cannot take the oxygen the NHS supplied out of the country.

Hope this is of some help and I pray you will be out and about as soon as the weather is better.

God bless.

Maureen

[Looseloafers]

Thank you Maureen you have really put my mind at rest. I go next week for my assessment but have been told I will definitely be given oxygen so onward and upward 🥴🥴

[Billf]

Oxygen has allowed me to do many many more things than I ever could do before

[Mosco]

Hi. I’m 68 and on oxygen 24/7. I have a portable POC, (favorite) can charge anywhere including my car) refillable cylinders and home oxygen machine. Without oxygen I couldn’t live the life I want to, spending time with my family and precious grandchildren, meeting friends, holidays abroad, no guess what my advise is. Go for it and enjoy life!

[Rich1957]

Hi Looseloafers , for me it’s a total game changer and enables me to go out anywhere with confidence. As I have quite a high dose 6-8 litres , each bottle only lasts about an hour which can restrict me a little . Fortunately I only need oxygen upon movement so if I stop I turn it off as quick as I can to conserve it ( I always keep a spare in the boot of my car in case I need it ) .

Also I’m a mouth breather which restricts what’s available to you so fingers crossed you breathe as we all should in through you nose and out through your mouth .

I had my yearly oxygen assessment a couple of weeks ago and as I’ve not been using it as much as I should have I’ve deteriorated a little and during my walking test I had to have 10 litres ( which they don’t like putting people on ) to maintain my oxygen levels above 88 . So its not really good news 🙈for me , so now it’s listen to the oxygen team and do exactly what they say .

Listen to them and try your best to do as they say , don’t be like me and think you know best ❤️