Anyone Ever Used An Oxygen Concentrator?

[cosmicfolklore]

"My Goodness! How do you function?"

If the truth be known Macaroni I barely function at all. The simplest of tasks now defeat me so often as not I don't even attempt them. Things that I have to do have to be thought out well in advance such as if I am going to the bathroom, I can take my now empty coffee cup to my kitchen thereby only having to get out of my seat once to accomplish two tasks. The hardest task by far is getting dressed in a morning, especially the pulling on of my underwear, socks and jeans.

And yes, talking can also make me breathless though thankfully I don't have much occasion to talk.

Had the respiratory nurse call me this morning to make an appointment for Monday next. I asked if I had to have the dreaded 'blood gas test ' and sure enough she said yes ?

BTW, as Jay pointed out above, I hung up my pipe quite some while ago. I did try it again circa last September just to see if I could manage a bowl or two a day but no, it just made matters much much worse.

Regards,

Jay.?

Damn Jay, I wish you were closer. It's always nice to hang out with someone who isn't going to be a jibber jabber the entire time.

 

[sumusfumus]

Due to my ever falling SpO2 readings (concentation of oxygen in the blood) due to severe COPD (from smoking RYO for thirty odd years) I have come to the conclusion that I need supplementary oxygen. (Typical readings for a healthy person would be between 90% and 100%, my readings go as low as 55%).

There are two options open to me, cylinder oxygen or an oxygen concentrator. The latter is the safest option as it extracts oxygen from the surrounding air on demand, much better than having a cylinder full of the stuff.

I spoke with my doctor yesterday on the matter and she agreed that a concentrator would be the best option for me. However I have to go through the dreaded 'blood gas test' where a nurse sticks a thick hypodermic needle into your wrist and moves it about until she finds the artery to extract the blood from. It has to be arterial blood for some reason. This 'blood gas test' is extremely painful and is normally taken after a local anaesthetic has been given. Last time I had it done in hospital I couldn't have the anaesthetic due to my current meds so I suppose the same will apply next time I have it ?

So, has anyone here had any experience of oxygen concentrators and if so how did they work out for the patient on the receiving end? I'd be interested to hear of any usage tips or indeed any tales of woe.

BTW, due to us having our NHS, I will get the concentrator at no cost to me!

Regards,

Jay.?

When my dad was still alive, he suffered from COPD, and emphysema, the results of working as a New York City Fireman for 30 years. He worked back in those days before gas masks were required. The last few years of his life tied him to an oxygen concentrator. Medicare approved a very small, very portable.... battery powered, "INOGEN" concentrator. Finger-tip oximeters monitored his blood-gas levels. Both worked well for his condition. The INOGEN was a God-send when he needed to leave the house. The unit was very portable, and no bigger or heavier than a 6-pack of soda. It also came with two, 12 hour, battery packs + charger. The self-contained battery packs slip on and off the concentrator unit within seconds.

Hope this information might help. Good luck.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Cheers Sumusfumus, ambulatory oxygen is not something I have looked into (but have seen it mentioned many times) simply because I currently cannot envisage me needing it at this moment.

However, I would dearly love to be able to go out of my front door again so who knows? First off though I need to get some supply in the house before I can consider going walkabout.

Regards,

Jay.?