oxygen use

M

Markus

Guest
sorry if there is already a post like this but wanted to see peoples experiences and what they thought...since the last time I was in the hospital my doc has said that there was a good chance that I would have to go home with it but I made it out of the hospital with just a picc line for a few weeks and my o2 levels were at 94%.

Since I have been sick these last two weeks my girlfriend took one of the 02 monitors from her mom who was a nurse and we have been monitoring it...well to say the least it seems to stay around 89-91% and she wants me to get on or at least have oxygen in the house. What is everyones experience with 02 and when did they start using it (percentage wise)? Was it a hard mental thing to get past being on oxygen?

Thanks!
 
M

Markus

Guest
sorry if there is already a post like this but wanted to see peoples experiences and what they thought...since the last time I was in the hospital my doc has said that there was a good chance that I would have to go home with it but I made it out of the hospital with just a picc line for a few weeks and my o2 levels were at 94%.

Since I have been sick these last two weeks my girlfriend took one of the 02 monitors from her mom who was a nurse and we have been monitoring it...well to say the least it seems to stay around 89-91% and she wants me to get on or at least have oxygen in the house. What is everyones experience with 02 and when did they start using it (percentage wise)? Was it a hard mental thing to get past being on oxygen?

Thanks!
 
M

Markus

Guest
sorry if there is already a post like this but wanted to see peoples experiences and what they thought...since the last time I was in the hospital my doc has said that there was a good chance that I would have to go home with it but I made it out of the hospital with just a picc line for a few weeks and my o2 levels were at 94%.
<br />
<br />Since I have been sick these last two weeks my girlfriend took one of the 02 monitors from her mom who was a nurse and we have been monitoring it...well to say the least it seems to stay around 89-91% and she wants me to get on or at least have oxygen in the house. What is everyones experience with 02 and when did they start using it (percentage wise)? Was it a hard mental thing to get past being on oxygen?
<br />
<br />Thanks!
 
E

ej0820

New member
hey there!

I just started using O2 at night relatively recently. You may end up starting using O2 that way since I'm assuming your 89-91% is being recorded while you're awake. Have your gf take your pulseox while you're asleep and see what number you get. I was told that you don't "qualify" (this I think is both for a prescription and insurance coverage) for home O2 therapy unless you hit 88% or under. For me, I dipped down to 80% while sleeping without even knowing. Has your doc ordered a sleep or pulseox study? I had to have the O2 company send a meter that I slept with all night on my finger. They picked up the meter next day and two days later, my doc had gotten the results and ordered the O2 for nighttime use. I use it also if I'm particularly winded or exercising during the day, too.

I didn't have any trouble adjusting to having to be on O2. I looked at it as a means to maybe feel even better than I thought I could and to get a better night's rest. The machine itself might take some getting used to...O2 concentrators are kind of noisy, and depending on the amount of O2 you're on, you may need a humidifier bottle with it because it tends to dry out the nose.

Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better!
 
E

ej0820

New member
hey there!

I just started using O2 at night relatively recently. You may end up starting using O2 that way since I'm assuming your 89-91% is being recorded while you're awake. Have your gf take your pulseox while you're asleep and see what number you get. I was told that you don't "qualify" (this I think is both for a prescription and insurance coverage) for home O2 therapy unless you hit 88% or under. For me, I dipped down to 80% while sleeping without even knowing. Has your doc ordered a sleep or pulseox study? I had to have the O2 company send a meter that I slept with all night on my finger. They picked up the meter next day and two days later, my doc had gotten the results and ordered the O2 for nighttime use. I use it also if I'm particularly winded or exercising during the day, too.

I didn't have any trouble adjusting to having to be on O2. I looked at it as a means to maybe feel even better than I thought I could and to get a better night's rest. The machine itself might take some getting used to...O2 concentrators are kind of noisy, and depending on the amount of O2 you're on, you may need a humidifier bottle with it because it tends to dry out the nose.

Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better!
 
E

ej0820

New member
hey there!
<br />
<br />I just started using O2 at night relatively recently. You may end up starting using O2 that way since I'm assuming your 89-91% is being recorded while you're awake. Have your gf take your pulseox while you're asleep and see what number you get. I was told that you don't "qualify" (this I think is both for a prescription and insurance coverage) for home O2 therapy unless you hit 88% or under. For me, I dipped down to 80% while sleeping without even knowing. Has your doc ordered a sleep or pulseox study? I had to have the O2 company send a meter that I slept with all night on my finger. They picked up the meter next day and two days later, my doc had gotten the results and ordered the O2 for nighttime use. I use it also if I'm particularly winded or exercising during the day, too.
<br />
<br />I didn't have any trouble adjusting to having to be on O2. I looked at it as a means to maybe feel even better than I thought I could and to get a better night's rest. The machine itself might take some getting used to...O2 concentrators are kind of noisy, and depending on the amount of O2 you're on, you may need a humidifier bottle with it because it tends to dry out the nose.
<br />
<br />Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better!
 
M

mag6125

New member
First I know most insurance companies won't pay for oxygen at home if your pulse ox doesn't drop to 88% or below. When I started using oxygen it was only at night and that wasn't too bad. Now I am supposed to wear it all the time and for me that's been hard to get use to. I don't mind so much when I'm just sitting around at home but I hate having to wear it when I go out places. For me it's been hard to get use to because I dont like being so dependent on it but I have gotten to the point where I know I need it. It takes some getting use to but if you really need you will feel better with it.
 
M

mag6125

New member
First I know most insurance companies won't pay for oxygen at home if your pulse ox doesn't drop to 88% or below. When I started using oxygen it was only at night and that wasn't too bad. Now I am supposed to wear it all the time and for me that's been hard to get use to. I don't mind so much when I'm just sitting around at home but I hate having to wear it when I go out places. For me it's been hard to get use to because I dont like being so dependent on it but I have gotten to the point where I know I need it. It takes some getting use to but if you really need you will feel better with it.
 
M

mag6125

New member
First I know most insurance companies won't pay for oxygen at home if your pulse ox doesn't drop to 88% or below. When I started using oxygen it was only at night and that wasn't too bad. Now I am supposed to wear it all the time and for me that's been hard to get use to. I don't mind so much when I'm just sitting around at home but I hate having to wear it when I go out places. For me it's been hard to get use to because I dont like being so dependent on it but I have gotten to the point where I know I need it. It takes some getting use to but if you really need you will feel better with it.
 
L

Ldude916

New member
I started using O2 more because I was feeling out of breath at home, even though my O2 level was 92-94% ( I did not do a sleep study, so while I was sleeping it very well could have dipped).

I started using it when doing house work and at night at first and found I slept a lot better. As a few months went on, I started using it full time and my O2 levels are around 98%. It took a little getting used to dragging the hosing around everywhere, but I find it much easier to do daily tasks and feel better knowing my O2 levels are at a safe place.

You quickly get over the 'mental' aspect of it when you embrace that you feel better!! Going out of the house with a tank takes some getting used to (people looking, kids pointing and asking loudly why I have a tube on my face)...but after a few times you just really don't care anymore, especially when I'm with my handsome husband who loves me - who cares what the world thinks =)

Good luck!
 
L

Ldude916

New member
I started using O2 more because I was feeling out of breath at home, even though my O2 level was 92-94% ( I did not do a sleep study, so while I was sleeping it very well could have dipped).

I started using it when doing house work and at night at first and found I slept a lot better. As a few months went on, I started using it full time and my O2 levels are around 98%. It took a little getting used to dragging the hosing around everywhere, but I find it much easier to do daily tasks and feel better knowing my O2 levels are at a safe place.

You quickly get over the 'mental' aspect of it when you embrace that you feel better!! Going out of the house with a tank takes some getting used to (people looking, kids pointing and asking loudly why I have a tube on my face)...but after a few times you just really don't care anymore, especially when I'm with my handsome husband who loves me - who cares what the world thinks =)

Good luck!
 
L

Ldude916

New member
I started using O2 more because I was feeling out of breath at home, even though my O2 level was 92-94% ( I did not do a sleep study, so while I was sleeping it very well could have dipped).
<br />
<br />I started using it when doing house work and at night at first and found I slept a lot better. As a few months went on, I started using it full time and my O2 levels are around 98%. It took a little getting used to dragging the hosing around everywhere, but I find it much easier to do daily tasks and feel better knowing my O2 levels are at a safe place.
<br />
<br />You quickly get over the 'mental' aspect of it when you embrace that you feel better!! Going out of the house with a tank takes some getting used to (people looking, kids pointing and asking loudly why I have a tube on my face)...but after a few times you just really don't care anymore, especially when I'm with my handsome husband who loves me - who cares what the world thinks =)
<br />
<br />Good luck!
 
C

CountryGirl

New member
When I first started using O2 it was just at night and they had to do a sleep study first. We use Apria. After that I had to start using it daily and they were very very helpful with helping me decide on whether or not to use liquid oxygen or an oxygen concentrator or the gas tank. Up until I needed more than 3 ltrs I used a concentrator. The ones they have available thru Apria and most of the companies are pretty big, they're heavy and bulky, but I was able to find a pretty small one online, one that I could carry and ride horses with. Now I'm using liquid O2 and its a lot heavier, so my mom carries it and I'm attached to her like a little dog lol.

It was hard at first getting over the fear of wearing it in public!! I was dating a new guy and woke up one day and needed it 24/7. He helped me SO much to break my fear of wearing it in public, then I didnt need it during the day for a while. We later broke up and he turned into a jerk but when I started having to wear my oxygen out in public and I can honestly say he was good for helping me get over my fear of what others thought...they just ignore you and when they stare at me, I've become outspoken and say something like "Stare too long and your face will get stuck." But usually its like they dont notice. I did have one person ask, a sales person and it stroke up a convo and she and the rest of the sales people at MK cant wait for me to get my tx and want to know all about it! Be proud, show your battle scars!
 
C

CountryGirl

New member
When I first started using O2 it was just at night and they had to do a sleep study first. We use Apria. After that I had to start using it daily and they were very very helpful with helping me decide on whether or not to use liquid oxygen or an oxygen concentrator or the gas tank. Up until I needed more than 3 ltrs I used a concentrator. The ones they have available thru Apria and most of the companies are pretty big, they're heavy and bulky, but I was able to find a pretty small one online, one that I could carry and ride horses with. Now I'm using liquid O2 and its a lot heavier, so my mom carries it and I'm attached to her like a little dog lol.

It was hard at first getting over the fear of wearing it in public!! I was dating a new guy and woke up one day and needed it 24/7. He helped me SO much to break my fear of wearing it in public, then I didnt need it during the day for a while. We later broke up and he turned into a jerk but when I started having to wear my oxygen out in public and I can honestly say he was good for helping me get over my fear of what others thought...they just ignore you and when they stare at me, I've become outspoken and say something like "Stare too long and your face will get stuck." But usually its like they dont notice. I did have one person ask, a sales person and it stroke up a convo and she and the rest of the sales people at MK cant wait for me to get my tx and want to know all about it! Be proud, show your battle scars!
 
C

CountryGirl

New member
When I first started using O2 it was just at night and they had to do a sleep study first. We use Apria. After that I had to start using it daily and they were very very helpful with helping me decide on whether or not to use liquid oxygen or an oxygen concentrator or the gas tank. Up until I needed more than 3 ltrs I used a concentrator. The ones they have available thru Apria and most of the companies are pretty big, they're heavy and bulky, but I was able to find a pretty small one online, one that I could carry and ride horses with. Now I'm using liquid O2 and its a lot heavier, so my mom carries it and I'm attached to her like a little dog lol.
<br />
<br />It was hard at first getting over the fear of wearing it in public!! I was dating a new guy and woke up one day and needed it 24/7. He helped me SO much to break my fear of wearing it in public, then I didnt need it during the day for a while. We later broke up and he turned into a jerk but when I started having to wear my oxygen out in public and I can honestly say he was good for helping me get over my fear of what others thought...they just ignore you and when they stare at me, I've become outspoken and say something like "Stare too long and your face will get stuck." But usually its like they dont notice. I did have one person ask, a sales person and it stroke up a convo and she and the rest of the sales people at MK cant wait for me to get my tx and want to know all about it! Be proud, show your battle scars!
 
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