portable oxygen

[ej0820]

First of all, let me say thank you for all of your relpies! You guys are all so helpful!
I'm only on O2 at night, but I'm thinking I'll be needing O2 all the time, or at least during activities like grocery shopping or going to the doc, etc. in the near future. I'm calling the doc on monday. That being said...
When my grandmother was on O2 a couple years ago, I remember her portable tanks that she would take to the store had a maximum of about 2 1/2 hours in them for her (I realize it's related to how many liters you use at a time). Is that it? I don't necessarily take two hours to grocery shop, but it's not unheard of. What if I run out while I'm out? What do you do if you have to go out for a long while and you only have an hour left in the tank?
What do those of you do on O2 full time do when you want to go visit someone for a long period of time? Do you just not visit people for a long time anymore? An example I'm thinking of is christmas or thanksgiving (aside from just spending the day at parents' houses or other family gatherings). I usually go to these places and stay for HOURS. How do you have enough O2 for a good long visit or celebration? I remember my g-ma only getting two portable tanks, so at most she had about 5 hours of O2 to travel with...spending the day away from home is longer than 5 hours for me, especially if I'm visiting my mom. Will I just end up having to give that up? I'm under the impression that a portable O2 tank wouldn't allow anyone to last through a movie at the movie theatres, especially if it's a particularly long movie. Is this the case with most of you?
Thanks again!

 

[ej0820]

First of all, let me say thank you for all of your relpies! You guys are all so helpful!
I'm only on O2 at night, but I'm thinking I'll be needing O2 all the time, or at least during activities like grocery shopping or going to the doc, etc. in the near future. I'm calling the doc on monday. That being said...
When my grandmother was on O2 a couple years ago, I remember her portable tanks that she would take to the store had a maximum of about 2 1/2 hours in them for her (I realize it's related to how many liters you use at a time). Is that it? I don't necessarily take two hours to grocery shop, but it's not unheard of. What if I run out while I'm out? What do you do if you have to go out for a long while and you only have an hour left in the tank?
What do those of you do on O2 full time do when you want to go visit someone for a long period of time? Do you just not visit people for a long time anymore? An example I'm thinking of is christmas or thanksgiving (aside from just spending the day at parents' houses or other family gatherings). I usually go to these places and stay for HOURS. How do you have enough O2 for a good long visit or celebration? I remember my g-ma only getting two portable tanks, so at most she had about 5 hours of O2 to travel with...spending the day away from home is longer than 5 hours for me, especially if I'm visiting my mom. Will I just end up having to give that up? I'm under the impression that a portable O2 tank wouldn't allow anyone to last through a movie at the movie theatres, especially if it's a particularly long movie. Is this the case with most of you?
Thanks again!

 

[ej0820]

<p>First of all, let me say thank you for all of your relpies! You guys are all so helpful!
<p>I'm only on O2 at night, but I'm thinking I'll be needing O2 all the time, or at least during activities like grocery shopping or going to the doc, etc. in the near future. I'm calling the doc on monday. That being said...
<p>When my grandmother was on O2 a couple years ago, I remember her portable tanks that she would take to the store had a maximum of about 2 1/2 hours in them for her (I realize it's related to how many liters you use at a time). Is that it? I don't necessarily take two hours to grocery shop, but it's not unheard of. What if I run out while I'm out? What do you do if you have to go out for a long while and you only have an hour left in the tank?
<p>What do those of you do on O2 full time do when you want to go visit someone for a long period of time? Do you just not visit people for a long time anymore? An example I'm thinking of is christmas or thanksgiving (aside from just spending the day at parents' houses or other family gatherings). I usually go to these places and stay for HOURS. How do you have enough O2 for a good long visit or celebration? I remember my g-ma only getting two portable tanks, so at most she had about 5 hours of O2 to travel with...spending the day away from home is longer than 5 hours for me, especially if I'm visiting my mom. Will I just end up having to give that up? I'm under the impression that a portable O2 tank wouldn't allow anyone to last through a movie at the movie theatres, especially if it's a particularly long movie. Is this the case with most of you?
<p>Thanks again!

 

[Ldude916]

Hi
I'm on 4 liters, sometimes I bump it to 5 liters when walking and the tanks last me 3-3.5 hours. If I'm just running errands and stuff, I just put a few back up tanks in the car and switch them out between stops. Unfortunately, you just have to plan in advance when going out and estimate how long you'll be out and just grab enough tanks to hold you over. It's a little adjustment, but not too big of a deal once you figure out how long the tanks last for you personally. A tank WILL last me through a movie, so that's good!!!

When I visit someone for a long time, I bring a large tank on wheels that lasts wayyyyy longer. If I'm just sitting around then it's not a problem to use a big tank. So, no, you don't have to stop going places for a long time, you just have to plan it and bring enough tanks. You don't have to give up doing things that you like to do, you just need to pack enough tanks =)

 

[Ldude916]

Hi
I'm on 4 liters, sometimes I bump it to 5 liters when walking and the tanks last me 3-3.5 hours. If I'm just running errands and stuff, I just put a few back up tanks in the car and switch them out between stops. Unfortunately, you just have to plan in advance when going out and estimate how long you'll be out and just grab enough tanks to hold you over. It's a little adjustment, but not too big of a deal once you figure out how long the tanks last for you personally. A tank WILL last me through a movie, so that's good!!!

When I visit someone for a long time, I bring a large tank on wheels that lasts wayyyyy longer. If I'm just sitting around then it's not a problem to use a big tank. So, no, you don't have to stop going places for a long time, you just have to plan it and bring enough tanks. You don't have to give up doing things that you like to do, you just need to pack enough tanks =)

 

[Ldude916]

Hi
<br />I'm on 4 liters, sometimes I bump it to 5 liters when walking and the tanks last me 3-3.5 hours. If I'm just running errands and stuff, I just put a few back up tanks in the car and switch them out between stops. Unfortunately, you just have to plan in advance when going out and estimate how long you'll be out and just grab enough tanks to hold you over. It's a little adjustment, but not too big of a deal once you figure out how long the tanks last for you personally. A tank WILL last me through a movie, so that's good!!!
<br />
<br />When I visit someone for a long time, I bring a large tank on wheels that lasts wayyyyy longer. If I'm just sitting around then it's not a problem to use a big tank. So, no, you don't have to stop going places for a long time, you just have to plan it and bring enough tanks. You don't have to give up doing things that you like to do, you just need to pack enough tanks =)

 

[theLostMiler]

Yea, I get as many tanks as I want at least that I am aware of. I generally dont need them for resting, at least now, so I dont need them when visiting friends if we are just doing a lot of sitting around lol.
The smaller tanks, the C tanks, like the size of a 2 liter bottle of soda generally, last me about 2-3 hours I think, but I typically only use 2-3L on them.
Like Ldude916 said, I just bring extra tanks (though it is a pain) if I am worried about running out.

I know for trips especially in airplanes you can get portable concentrators somehow through insurance and the o2 company, but I think you have to apply in advance. And I am not sure if you can get them w/o having to 'travel'... but I think thats coming up for me... I mean why not ask b/c those tanks really dont last that long of time... I dont know.

of course ideally it would be awesome to just buy one but they are a couple thousand I think? But I see quite a few older people with the concentrators now than the old style tanks...

anyways.. thats not much help haha. but whatever its something <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> bwhaha

 

[theLostMiler]

Yea, I get as many tanks as I want at least that I am aware of. I generally dont need them for resting, at least now, so I dont need them when visiting friends if we are just doing a lot of sitting around lol.
The smaller tanks, the C tanks, like the size of a 2 liter bottle of soda generally, last me about 2-3 hours I think, but I typically only use 2-3L on them.
Like Ldude916 said, I just bring extra tanks (though it is a pain) if I am worried about running out.

I know for trips especially in airplanes you can get portable concentrators somehow through insurance and the o2 company, but I think you have to apply in advance. And I am not sure if you can get them w/o having to 'travel'... but I think thats coming up for me... I mean why not ask b/c those tanks really dont last that long of time... I dont know.

of course ideally it would be awesome to just buy one but they are a couple thousand I think? But I see quite a few older people with the concentrators now than the old style tanks...

anyways.. thats not much help haha. but whatever its something <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> bwhaha

 

[theLostMiler]

Yea, I get as many tanks as I want at least that I am aware of. I generally dont need them for resting, at least now, so I dont need them when visiting friends if we are just doing a lot of sitting around lol.
<br />The smaller tanks, the C tanks, like the size of a 2 liter bottle of soda generally, last me about 2-3 hours I think, but I typically only use 2-3L on them.
<br />Like Ldude916 said, I just bring extra tanks (though it is a pain) if I am worried about running out.
<br />
<br />I know for trips especially in airplanes you can get portable concentrators somehow through insurance and the o2 company, but I think you have to apply in advance. And I am not sure if you can get them w/o having to 'travel'... but I think thats coming up for me... I mean why not ask b/c those tanks really dont last that long of time... I dont know.
<br />
<br />of course ideally it would be awesome to just buy one but they are a couple thousand I think? But I see quite a few older people with the concentrators now than the old style tanks...
<br />
<br />anyways.. thats not much help haha. but whatever its something <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> bwhaha

 

[Tammy15]

We learned how long tanks would last as my daughter started on 4 then went up to 5 then nine , she started with small tanks then had bigger. That being said she would tell me about how long she would be out shopping usually a friend went with her on long shopping trips or her brother. We would load extra tanks based on that. We also took into account extra each time just in case one or two of her tanks were empty when she got them, we had that happen a couple of times.  Now if she was going say to family or frinds for an overnight or say dinner we would load up her concentartor and she would only need enough tanks for when she was driving to and from.

 

[Tammy15]

We learned how long tanks would last as my daughter started on 4 then went up to 5 then nine , she started with small tanks then had bigger. That being said she would tell me about how long she would be out shopping usually a friend went with her on long shopping trips or her brother. We would load extra tanks based on that. We also took into account extra each time just in case one or two of her tanks were empty when she got them, we had that happen a couple of times. Now if she was going say to family or frinds for an overnight or say dinner we would load up her concentartor and she would only need enough tanks for when she was driving to and from.

 

[Tammy15]

<p>We learned how long tanks would last as my daughter started on 4 then went up to 5 then nine , she started with small tanks then had bigger. That being said she would tell me about how long she would be out shopping usually a friend went with her on long shopping trips or her brother. We would load extra tanks based on that. We also took into account extra each time just in case one or two of her tanks were empty when she got them, we had that happen a couple of times. Now if she was going say to family or frinds for an overnight or say dinner we would load up her concentartor and she would only need enough tanks for when she was driving to and from.

 

[JennifersHope]

It depends on the tank, my portable oxygen that I was prescribed last November did not have a regulator on it, or what it is called when it is not breath induced, mine was continually flow and a big tank lasted about two and half hours on 3 or so liters. If I had to be out for longer, we just left tanks in the car or I had a double stand that held two of them. It does last a lot longer if it is breath induced though.. Sorry I can't think of the word, my head hurts..

 

[JennifersHope]

It depends on the tank, my portable oxygen that I was prescribed last November did not have a regulator on it, or what it is called when it is not breath induced, mine was continually flow and a big tank lasted about two and half hours on 3 or so liters. If I had to be out for longer, we just left tanks in the car or I had a double stand that held two of them. It does last a lot longer if it is breath induced though.. Sorry I can't think of the word, my head hurts..

 

[JennifersHope]

It depends on the tank, my portable oxygen that I was prescribed last November did not have a regulator on it, or what it is called when it is not breath induced, mine was continually flow and a big tank lasted about two and half hours on 3 or so liters. If I had to be out for longer, we just left tanks in the car or I had a double stand that held two of them. It does last a lot longer if it is breath induced though.. Sorry I can't think of the word, my head hurts..
<br />
<br />

 

[TleighsHusband]

I think the theme you see here was true for Tiffany -- always plan ahead and be prepared with extra for the just in case like a tank running out quicker because you put it on the wrong setting or something just takes longer or you are involved in an activity where you need more oxygen. Tiffany ran out a couple times so we just started leaving extra tanks in the vehicle 24/7. We had a certain amount that we could have on hand (it was a lot but I forget the exact number) and if she used more than that a couple months in a row they would then allow her to get the portable concetrator.

 

[TleighsHusband]

I think the theme you see here was true for Tiffany -- always plan ahead and be prepared with extra for the just in case like a tank running out quicker because you put it on the wrong setting or something just takes longer or you are involved in an activity where you need more oxygen. Tiffany ran out a couple times so we just started leaving extra tanks in the vehicle 24/7. We had a certain amount that we could have on hand (it was a lot but I forget the exact number) and if she used more than that a couple months in a row they would then allow her to get the portable concetrator.

 

[TleighsHusband]

I think the theme you see here was true for Tiffany -- always plan ahead and be prepared with extra for the just in case like a tank running out quicker because you put it on the wrong setting or something just takes longer or you are involved in an activity where you need more oxygen. Tiffany ran out a couple times so we just started leaving extra tanks in the vehicle 24/7. We had a certain amount that we could have on hand (it was a lot but I forget the exact number) and if she used more than that a couple months in a row they would then allow her to get the portable concetrator.

 

[stressed]

My daughter has liquid oxygen her portable tank is a Puritan Bennett companion 1000 and it last  8.5 hours on 2 liters, The tank is about 8 pounds when filled but we have a stand with wheels to make is easy for her.

 

[stressed]

My daughter has liquid oxygen her portable tank is a Puritan Bennett companion 1000 and it last8.5 hours on 2 liters, The tank is about 8 pounds when filled but we have a stand with wheelsto make is easy for her.