share some of your wisdom

[catboogie]

i'm hoping you guys can help. my father has emphysema and is considering going on oxygen, but he has some reservations. i was hoping you all could share some of your experiences that i could then share with him. your responces could include answers to the following: what were your reservations before starting on oxygen and did these go away after you started using it? what kind of physical changes did you notice in your life? were there any unexpected benefits? any recommendations? also, do you use oxygen just at night, just during exertion? etc.

thank you all!

 

[catboogie]

i'm hoping you guys can help. my father has emphysema and is considering going on oxygen, but he has some reservations. i was hoping you all could share some of your experiences that i could then share with him. your responces could include answers to the following: what were your reservations before starting on oxygen and did these go away after you started using it? what kind of physical changes did you notice in your life? were there any unexpected benefits? any recommendations? also, do you use oxygen just at night, just during exertion? etc.

thank you all!

 

[catboogie]

i'm hoping you guys can help. my father has emphysema and is considering going on oxygen, but he has some reservations. i was hoping you all could share some of your experiences that i could then share with him. your responces could include answers to the following: what were your reservations before starting on oxygen and did these go away after you started using it? what kind of physical changes did you notice in your life? were there any unexpected benefits? any recommendations? also, do you use oxygen just at night, just during exertion? etc.

thank you all!

 

[Pumuckl]

I have been on oxygen only a few months but it has definitely made me feel a lot better.

The reserations I had were about being reliant on it, being embarassed to walk around with it etc.

I have also started a pulmonary rehab program that is attended by folks with other medical conditions to teach us how to breathe better and get in shape etc.

The worst part about being on oxygen for me is that I constantly try to rip off my ears (get my 50' line stuck on furniture as I walk <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">).

When they first got me on it they gave me the huge E-tanks, I have since switched to the smaller bottles that are about 5 lbs and easier to carry.

Hope this helps some <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Pumuckl]

I have been on oxygen only a few months but it has definitely made me feel a lot better.

The reserations I had were about being reliant on it, being embarassed to walk around with it etc.

I have also started a pulmonary rehab program that is attended by folks with other medical conditions to teach us how to breathe better and get in shape etc.

The worst part about being on oxygen for me is that I constantly try to rip off my ears (get my 50' line stuck on furniture as I walk <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">).

When they first got me on it they gave me the huge E-tanks, I have since switched to the smaller bottles that are about 5 lbs and easier to carry.

Hope this helps some <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Pumuckl]

I have been on oxygen only a few months but it has definitely made me feel a lot better.

The reserations I had were about being reliant on it, being embarassed to walk around with it etc.

I have also started a pulmonary rehab program that is attended by folks with other medical conditions to teach us how to breathe better and get in shape etc.

The worst part about being on oxygen for me is that I constantly try to rip off my ears (get my 50' line stuck on furniture as I walk <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">).

When they first got me on it they gave me the huge E-tanks, I have since switched to the smaller bottles that are about 5 lbs and easier to carry.

Hope this helps some <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Bill]

Laura, I'm the father of a 47 year old male with CF and is why I browse thru the forums. I also happen to have a bad lung problem, brought on by 40 years of smoking. As a result, I have been on O2 for 7 years now. My biggest problems have been: 1. Duration. As I recall, the larger gas bottles that you pulled, lasted about 5 hours (at 2 ltrs/hr). The smaller more portable gas bottles lasted about 3 hours. After complaining enough to my doctor and the O2 providers, I was put on liquid O2 for portable use. I have a concentrator in the house that I use for sleeping, reading, watching TV, etc. I also have a large liquid storage tank that is filled every 3 weeks. I have a small liquid portable (Helious) that I fill myself from the large tank. At 2 ltrs/hr, one fill will last me about 10 hours. The portable can be carried by a belt or by a sling over the shoulder. It weighs 3-5 pounds depending upon how much liquid O2 is still in it. 2. What use to be another major problem for me was the airlines. I HAVE to have O2 in flight! Some airlines will provide gas bottles in flight for your use. At $100/leg. I lived in Virginia and my son is near Houston, TX and at first using Delta, I had to go thru Atlanta (changed planes there). So, the cost for a round trip flight to visit my son was $400 plus the price of the ticket. For many years my wife and I have visited my son 2-4 times each. Eventually, I found out that Continental had non stop flights, so the cost of O2 dropped to $200. Within the last couple years, the FAA and the airlines have approved the use of certain portables by their passengers. One portable that is approved is the Inogen One. However, I was never able to find a provider that carried it and that I could use. This particular problem ceased for me, when my wife and I moved to Texas this past April. My son is trying to get on the transplant list and we felt we had to be closer. I'm sure like most kids with CF, you were at one time in denial, worried about appearances, etc. Same with carrying O2. However, it doesn't take long to realize you need it and are much better off with it, and you forget how you might look. If the need arrises for your father, or for you for that matter, just grin a bare it and be thankful you have it to help you breath. Good luck to you and your father. Bill

 

[Bill]

Laura, I'm the father of a 47 year old male with CF and is why I browse thru the forums. I also happen to have a bad lung problem, brought on by 40 years of smoking. As a result, I have been on O2 for 7 years now. My biggest problems have been: 1. Duration. As I recall, the larger gas bottles that you pulled, lasted about 5 hours (at 2 ltrs/hr). The smaller more portable gas bottles lasted about 3 hours. After complaining enough to my doctor and the O2 providers, I was put on liquid O2 for portable use. I have a concentrator in the house that I use for sleeping, reading, watching TV, etc. I also have a large liquid storage tank that is filled every 3 weeks. I have a small liquid portable (Helious) that I fill myself from the large tank. At 2 ltrs/hr, one fill will last me about 10 hours. The portable can be carried by a belt or by a sling over the shoulder. It weighs 3-5 pounds depending upon how much liquid O2 is still in it. 2. What use to be another major problem for me was the airlines. I HAVE to have O2 in flight! Some airlines will provide gas bottles in flight for your use. At $100/leg. I lived in Virginia and my son is near Houston, TX and at first using Delta, I had to go thru Atlanta (changed planes there). So, the cost for a round trip flight to visit my son was $400 plus the price of the ticket. For many years my wife and I have visited my son 2-4 times each. Eventually, I found out that Continental had non stop flights, so the cost of O2 dropped to $200. Within the last couple years, the FAA and the airlines have approved the use of certain portables by their passengers. One portable that is approved is the Inogen One. However, I was never able to find a provider that carried it and that I could use. This particular problem ceased for me, when my wife and I moved to Texas this past April. My son is trying to get on the transplant list and we felt we had to be closer. I'm sure like most kids with CF, you were at one time in denial, worried about appearances, etc. Same with carrying O2. However, it doesn't take long to realize you need it and are much better off with it, and you forget how you might look. If the need arrises for your father, or for you for that matter, just grin a bare it and be thankful you have it to help you breath. Good luck to you and your father. Bill

 

[Bill]

Laura, I'm the father of a 47 year old male with CF and is why I browse thru the forums. I also happen to have a bad lung problem, brought on by 40 years of smoking. As a result, I have been on O2 for 7 years now. My biggest problems have been: 1. Duration. As I recall, the larger gas bottles that you pulled, lasted about 5 hours (at 2 ltrs/hr). The smaller more portable gas bottles lasted about 3 hours. After complaining enough to my doctor and the O2 providers, I was put on liquid O2 for portable use. I have a concentrator in the house that I use for sleeping, reading, watching TV, etc. I also have a large liquid storage tank that is filled every 3 weeks. I have a small liquid portable (Helious) that I fill myself from the large tank. At 2 ltrs/hr, one fill will last me about 10 hours. The portable can be carried by a belt or by a sling over the shoulder. It weighs 3-5 pounds depending upon how much liquid O2 is still in it. 2. What use to be another major problem for me was the airlines. I HAVE to have O2 in flight! Some airlines will provide gas bottles in flight for your use. At $100/leg. I lived in Virginia and my son is near Houston, TX and at first using Delta, I had to go thru Atlanta (changed planes there). So, the cost for a round trip flight to visit my son was $400 plus the price of the ticket. For many years my wife and I have visited my son 2-4 times each. Eventually, I found out that Continental had non stop flights, so the cost of O2 dropped to $200. Within the last couple years, the FAA and the airlines have approved the use of certain portables by their passengers. One portable that is approved is the Inogen One. However, I was never able to find a provider that carried it and that I could use. This particular problem ceased for me, when my wife and I moved to Texas this past April. My son is trying to get on the transplant list and we felt we had to be closer. I'm sure like most kids with CF, you were at one time in denial, worried about appearances, etc. Same with carrying O2. However, it doesn't take long to realize you need it and are much better off with it, and you forget how you might look. If the need arrises for your father, or for you for that matter, just grin a bare it and be thankful you have it to help you breath. Good luck to you and your father. Bill

 

[greatbay]

I have been on 02 since Sept. 06....I didn't want to go on it because I was embarassed and didn't want to be dependent on it.
Well, I wish I had gone on earlier....I wear my portable tank, backpack style, during the day and I can walk further, do household chores better, go visiting, shopping, etc. all things that were very difficult before for me, I'd do them but be so short of breath, I didn't enjoy them. I am on 02 at night and it has helped my sleeping tremendously...less wakenings.
I agree about oximeter too....I check my 02 twice a day and if I am up...I sit and watch TV, eat w/o 02.
Hope this helps.

 

[greatbay]

I have been on 02 since Sept. 06....I didn't want to go on it because I was embarassed and didn't want to be dependent on it.
Well, I wish I had gone on earlier....I wear my portable tank, backpack style, during the day and I can walk further, do household chores better, go visiting, shopping, etc. all things that were very difficult before for me, I'd do them but be so short of breath, I didn't enjoy them. I am on 02 at night and it has helped my sleeping tremendously...less wakenings.
I agree about oximeter too....I check my 02 twice a day and if I am up...I sit and watch TV, eat w/o 02.
Hope this helps.

 

[greatbay]

I have been on 02 since Sept. 06....I didn't want to go on it because I was embarassed and didn't want to be dependent on it.
Well, I wish I had gone on earlier....I wear my portable tank, backpack style, during the day and I can walk further, do household chores better, go visiting, shopping, etc. all things that were very difficult before for me, I'd do them but be so short of breath, I didn't enjoy them. I am on 02 at night and it has helped my sleeping tremendously...less wakenings.
I agree about oximeter too....I check my 02 twice a day and if I am up...I sit and watch TV, eat w/o 02.
Hope this helps.

 

[LisaV]

My late husband was on oxygen for years.
I recommend the old Bill Horden stuff for folks with COPD (see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.copdadvocate.com/">http://www.copdadvocate.com/</a> ). For a user's perspection on the use of portable oxygen see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.portableoxygen.org/">http://www.portableoxygen.org/</a> ). Might want to read "The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Oxygen Therapy" <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.portableoxygen.org/overview.html#good">http://www.portableoxygen.org/overview.html#good</a>

We have a friend in his 70s with COPD who was toddling around his house using a walker before going on O2. After O2 and the rehab that made possible he was able to go bike riding with his wife (with O2 at 5 and cannister in the basket).

 

[LisaV]

My late husband was on oxygen for years.
I recommend the old Bill Horden stuff for folks with COPD (see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.copdadvocate.com/">http://www.copdadvocate.com/</a> ). For a user's perspection on the use of portable oxygen see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.portableoxygen.org/">http://www.portableoxygen.org/</a> ). Might want to read "The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Oxygen Therapy" <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.portableoxygen.org/overview.html#good">http://www.portableoxygen.org/overview.html#good</a>

We have a friend in his 70s with COPD who was toddling around his house using a walker before going on O2. After O2 and the rehab that made possible he was able to go bike riding with his wife (with O2 at 5 and cannister in the basket).

 

[LisaV]

My late husband was on oxygen for years.
I recommend the old Bill Horden stuff for folks with COPD (see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.copdadvocate.com/">http://www.copdadvocate.com/</a> ). For a user's perspection on the use of portable oxygen see <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.portableoxygen.org/">http://www.portableoxygen.org/</a> ). Might want to read "The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Oxygen Therapy" <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.portableoxygen.org/overview.html#good">http://www.portableoxygen.org/overview.html#good</a>

We have a friend in his 70s with COPD who was toddling around his house using a walker before going on O2. After O2 and the rehab that made possible he was able to go bike riding with his wife (with O2 at 5 and cannister in the basket).